To Romeo and Tommy
by Hallie

My name is Hallie, and I'm fourteen. My story is of your average horse-loving
girl who loses two of her best friends, but it still means a lot to me.

I began riding when I was seven, a friend suggested it to me. At first I
thought of it for another event to fill my schedule. It took me a long time
to fall in love with horses. I rode at a barn I didn't like. The people were
rude, the horses were old and bomb proof. Not my ideal thrill. Three years I
rode there, never getting any better, or so I felt, riding those ponies.

I was browsing websites of horse farms, seeking a new thrill. I wanted to go
from pony equation rider to the perfect eventer. I wanted to be the best,
even if I didn't love it. I clicked on a link that didn't appeal to me much.
Riding Academy-Saddleseat. What was Saddleseat? Good question. I looked at
the pictures of the barn, and I decided I'd try it.

My mom called and scheduled for me to go out there and see the barn. The
barn was wonderful. I thought it'd make me into a great rider. There was
three barns of thirty stalls, and being in Arizona, they all had misters for
the horses. There was two large outdoor arena's and one indoor arena.

Michelle, the owner and trainer explained Saddleseat to me. I was a bit
bummed it wasn't eventing, but I couldn't get everything I wanted, I
decided. She showed me her horses, and explained the American Saddlebreed to
me. The last horse I saw appealed to me. His name was Romeo.

"He's pretty." I commented, in my most immature ten year old analysis.

"This is Romeo, he's an advanced horse, and a five gaited show horse." She
said then explaining the five gaits.

"Can I ride him?" I asked, my eyes looking at the gelding with curiosity.

"Well, I guess, but I'll walk next to you." I was fine with that, I wanted
to ride the pretty chestnut.

She led me into her smallest outdoor arena, and she walked the horse with
me. Once she saw I was a quite comfortable rider she let me trot him on my
own. I know I had the biggest smile on my face, ear to ear. I'd finally
found my love for horses.

She let me canter him a bit, and then she got on him and showed me the other
two gaits he was capable of. I knew this is where I wanted to take lessons.

So I took lessons for six months with Michelle, and never complained, unless
she put me on anyone other than Romeo. That horse was everything to me, he
was the first horse I'd ever bonded with.

Then came the day she bought a new filly, and she explained I'd help
training the youngster.I was okay with that, as long as I got to ride Romeo
twice and the mare once on my weekly lessons. She agreed to that.

The first time I ever showed was a year after I started lessons with Romeo.
Me and Romeo entered the show ring, and in my first show I placed first once
and second once out of 15 riders. I was so proud, and so happy on how well
he'd done. We went to countless show's that year. We took home 15 firsts, 12
seconds, 2 thirds, 9 fourths, and 1 fifth. I was beaming with pride. I
gloated about him all the time.

Michelle published me in magazines as her best young hopeful. We started
training on how to ride five gaited horses. Until...

Until the day I found out I was moving. Moving to Ohio. I went to the barn
and was sobbing. I went to Romeo's stall, and I just wrapped my arms around
him and spent my last week at the barn, just enjoying him. I didn't want to
leave him, ever.

We moved to Ohio, and I was now 12. I took up lessons again, but it was at a
Jumping barn. It was alright, but I wanted to ride an American Saddlebred
again. I continued to ride there for a year until I finally found a
saddleseat barn. I instantly went there and for a year I rode the Morgan's.

Then in December 2005 a liver chestnut National Show Horse pranced into the
barn when I was helping teach lessons. {By now I'd become quite an
accomplished rider, and was there everyday helping out.}I looked at my
trainer curiously, and she smiled. "I bought a new horse,I thought you'd
like him." I just smiled at her. He look a lot like Romeo. I ran out to help
settle him as he started to half rear. The horse I found out was only four,
and his name was Tommy. He wasn't an easy horse to handle, infact no one was
able to ride him but my trainer for the first few weeks. I begged her to let
me try him, and she finally gave in.

I sat on that horse's back and I fell in love with him. I rode him with no
fear, I'd seen him throw four riders, but I didn't mind. I rode him hard,
and I was aching. He didn't throw me, and he didn't even buck at the canter.
I was quite proud.

Once I finished my ride my trainer was beaming. "You two looked great
together!"

I smiled at her, she rarely praised people. "He's a great ride, really a
good horse."

She nodded. "No one can ride him like that, no you have a gift with that
horse."

So for three weeks I rode that horse, and just spent time with him. I chased
him around the paddocks, and we just bonded. Complete fun. New Years eve I
went there and rode that horse. I left, giving the horse one last hug before
I left. Literally.

I came back New years eve and went to his stall out of habit, and was a bit
curious as to why there was a paint horse in there. I searched through the
forty stalls hoping he'd been moved. He wasn't.

I ran outside, and searched all the 10 pastures. I didn't see my chestnut
anywhere. I ran into the barn and started crying. "Where is he?" I asked
sobbing.

My trainer tried to comfort me and I shrugged her off. "We had to sell him,
he wasn't right for the lesson program, he only got a long with you."

"You could have sold him to me."
She didn't say any thing more.

I decided to write this and let people know how two horses touched me and
how deeply I loved them. Tommy was the best thing that happened to me, and
this is very hard to write without crying.

I cried for two days after he left, and my best friend finally dragged me to
the barn and made me ride. I may not find another horse like him, but I
still love them none the less.

I will never give up searching for him, not until I know he's safe. Or until
I own him. I will be showing this summer, in hopes of seeing my pal again
and hearing his sweet nicker, and his velvet muzzle against my face.

If you have a horse that you love deeply, do yourself a favor and don't
throw them away. Not just to better your riding standards and have top grade
horses. If you and your horse have enough heart you'll make it there
regardless pedigree, beauty, and breed. It's about heart. Maybe you and your
quarter horse cross will win the Rolex. Is it in you? Just don't make the
decision you'll regret to get to the top.