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racking-up trophies and championshipsfor the previous two years. I was an unknown twenty-three-year-old neophyteamong celebrity trainers who were likemovie stars to me: Gene LaCroix, SheilaVarian, Jeff Wonnell%u2026 It was a set-up fordisaster. My first class, pleasure driving withSkorzah, was a catastrophe. Perched onthe viceroy%u2019s narrow seat in a pink satindress, I was as if frozen in place whilewarming up in the charged atmosphere ofabout twenty harnessed horses, I couldn%u2019tthink or feel.The Santa Barbara arena is open to thesky. Spectators sit in a covered space surrounding the theatre of performing horsesand judges watching, pad in hand, whilemusic plays. Tense Skorzah trotted intothis gorgeous setting as if alone. Havinga locked grip on the reins, I couldn%u2019t offerher support. The class came to an abruptend when we were half-way around thering. I heard a note of the music rise andthen, as if on cue, Skorzah bolted. Sheswung toward the ring%u2019s center. I wastossed out of the buggy to land almost atthe judge%u2019s feet. All the competitors stoodstill. Someone caught the mare and ledher with the empty buggy from the ring.The show steward escorted me to the gatewhere I was met by my grandfather%u2019snemesis, a fellow breeder of good intentions. %u201cAre you alright?%u201d Physically, yes,I was. Emotionally, not at all. I secluded myself in the tack room andspent the afternoon crying. My equestrianfuture appeared to be over before it began.At the close of day, Charlie and his wifeGinny whisked me off to a caf%u00e9 for supper.In a bleak time, they provided love andsupport. The next day I was a different person. Icouldn%u2019t do worse. I couldn%u2019t even worryabout looking good, much less winning.All I had to do was get in the saddle andinto the warm-up ring with Kay on the railto coach me. With nothing to lose, I wasfree. Skorzah and I were in our ownworld, moving and being as one. The mare sailed into the stadium for theEnglish pleasure class, trotting as only shecould trot. We were bold and flawless andpassing everyone at the extended trot andhand gallop, I had learned to %u201cfloat%u201d aboveher on flexible ankles with my eyes up andback straight. Balance and rhythm are theessential keys to riding. At the close of theclass, standing in the long line-up of aboutthirty horses, I was content but, still, surprised to hear Skorzah%u2019s name and mineannounced for first place. It meant morethan another trophy for Brusally. It meantI could show horses! The miracle of that bright afternoonwas that I had let go of fears and hopesand simply had trust in my horse and myself. It was a major step in understandingthe rider and person I wanted to be.We went on to win the sidesaddle classand place third in the large open EnglishPleasure Championship. Pony-sizedMichelle with her fancy trot and world ofconfidence garnered a second in AmateurPark and a fourth in Formal Driving. Icalled my grandparents from a booth onthe grounds with the results. They werepleased. A stranger on the show groundsapproached me to say, %u201cNot many havewhat it takes to show horses, but you do.%u201dThe future I%u2019d all but forsaken loomedahead. It would prove to be an emotionalrollercoaster and a difficult road, but oneI was willing to take. oShelley's recent books, A Riding Life %u2013 Memories, Dreams, Art and Love, also A Wordsmith %u2013 Intimate Glimpses into theLife and Work of Elleston Trevor, may befound on Amazon. Her book, The Heart ofthe Horse %u2013 How to Know Them, How toRide Them, How to Love Them is availableon Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at Greenway Saddlery. Just released and available onAmazon and Barnes and Noble is MagicalRiding - Connecting with the Extraordinary Nature of Horses.40 Arizona Horse Connection June, 2026Horses with HeartSANTORI RANCH%u2022 BOARDING %u2022 IRRIGATED PASTURES%u2022 LESSONS %u2022 HORSE CAMPS%u2022 ARENA RENTALTrainers on SiteSpecializing in lessons for all ages and abilities.Beginner to the show ring! Seasonedschool horses and leases available.955 W. Road 2 North Chino Valley, AZ(928) 848-3659 Santori-Ranch.com