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racehorse cavort and trot as if airborne in a round pen. He tookmy breath away. I%u2019d never seen a horse move with such powerand elasticity! Little did I know what a significant influencethis noble stallion would have on my life. 1968 was a year of changes. I finished school and graduatedfrom Arizona State University with a major in art. The trainerwas fired for nefarious reasons. Charlie Carter was reassignedfrom his position managing the mountain ranch to the Scottsdaleone. A woman, Kay Braswell, who was wheelchair bound dueto polio, was hired to instruct me. That summer, we workedwith a high-strung liver chestnut mare, Skorzah, a daughter ofBrusally%u2019s famous stallion, Skorage, and a small, grey park mare,with a big step, Ed-Mar-Michelle. Kay also coached me withyoung horses like Brusally Faraonifa, a daughter of Faraon. Kay gave me the basics of position that were to be elementalin all my future riding: light hands, supple ankles and balance.My tendency to perch forward (due to years of hunt-seat riding)was converted into vertical position for saddle-seat, side-saddleand Western. I learned how to harness and drive a horse in aviceroy - a four-wheeled car. This was a far cry from the forwardseat hunter-jumper riding I%u2019d been doing on the East coast andat Stephens College. In addition, working with Charlie, I learnedhow to breed stallions and foal-out mares.My debut event was the prestigious All-Arabian Fall HorseShow in Santa Barbara, California. To say I was overwhelmedand utterly intimidated is an understatement. It was dark andchilly when the two mares were loaded in Brusally%u2019s smalltrailer. The viceroy, equipment and feed had been wedged intothe bed of the truck. Then, with Charlie driving, his wife Ginny,and I in the cab, we rolled out of Brusally%u2019s gates and headedwest. Kay in her car soon joined us. I arrived at beautiful Earl Warren show grounds in a daze,feeling completely out of touch with where I was and what Ineeded to do: groom the horses, school them, prepare to show,show. Winning was all-important to my grandfather. A highprofile breeding ranch needs wins for the sake of sales and reputation. I felt that the entire Arabian horse public would bewatching and wondering: who is this skinny little girl taking theplace of Brusally%u2019s highly successful trainer? The man had beenKathi Turnerhighdesertcreations.comCustom RANCH BRANDS on commission witha design that combines your current ranch brand or one piece of your heart from the past.775.304.6756Kathi89445@yahoo.comHigh Desert CreationsCommission Brand Concho Hat Pins Available!English & Western TackComplete Repair DepartmentTom & Darlene DroskeCorner Gilbert & Ray Rd.1605 S. Gilbert Rd.Gilbert, Arizona 85234(480) 899-752138 Arizona Horse Connection June, 2026continued on page 40