On my journey to find my partner to take on the Quarter Horse Congress Queen I came across a Facebook post that a mutual friend had shared about the RE Ride Quarter Horse Adoption Program. As a horse enthusiast I clicked on the page and started exploring. I sent a quick message to the page just seeing what kind of horses the program had for adoption and how the process worked. Honestly I never thought this would lead to something so special.

I received a message back from Kerri who had forwarded me her number and had me call her. After talking with Kerri she had invited my mom and I up to meet the horses. On a blistery cold January day my mom and I made the drive up to Re Ride. We walked through the barn and instantly I was drawn to the little sorrel gelding with a white blaze. He kept giving me a look, and I felt a connection.

Kerri introduced us to a sorrel gelding named CT. We had learned more about his story and he just seemed like more and more of a perfect fit. I brought him out of the stall and took him to the indoor to get a better feel for him. At this time CT was being rehabilitated for some lameness issues. He was still a little sore on his front feet but had been making progress. I just knew from the beginning that he was the one!

Previously CT had qualified for the AQHA World Show and has had placings at the Quarter Horse Congress. A couple weeks later we brought him home and started prepping for the 2017 show season. He’s one of the horses that wants to always please you. He gave 110% all the time. In May we took him to the first show; the All American Youth Horse Show. This was my last year to show as a youth. We showed in four classes; showmanship, horsemanship and two western pleasure classes. We walked away with four class wins.

We then went on to the Kentucky State Fair Quarter Horse Show. There we won our first AQHA All Around. Next stop was the Quarter Horse Congress for the Queens Horsemanship. CT had previously been shown in horsemanship, but only a few times, so we spent the summer practicing primarily on the Horsemanship. I remember waking up the morning of the Queens Horsemanship, my nerves were running high. We had prepped all summer for this, and everyone knew he was the “come back kid” and I wanted everything to be perfect.

We stepped out to the first cone; I took a deep breath and we trotted off. We did our pattern and all I can remember is stopping and backing at that final cone and holding my tears back. It was the best pattern I have ever had. He was an absolute all-star and I was so excited that all our hard work had shown.

That night the results were given. CT and I had ended up tying to win the horsemanship but came away as Res Congress Champions. What a special moment it was for a horse that was sent to an adoption program because he couldn’t stay sound, to becoming a Reserve Congress Champion.

CT has since become widely known as the unicorn since this accomplishment. We then finished out or 2017 Show season at the North American International Livestock Show. We tried the Equitation for the first time, and were lucky Enough to win it under all four judges. We also won our second AQHA All Around Trophy. I couldn’t have dreamed for a more perfect Unicorn to finish my youth career out with.

What #RightHorse means to me

I personally believe that everyone has that one horse that is meant to be there “soulmate”. I’ve had the opportunity to be around a lot of different horses, but CT is my definition of the #RightHorse. It was in instant connection when I saw him and he gives me 110% all the time. To some people he probably is just another sorrel horse, but to me he is the one horse that will always hold a special place in my heart. We have accomplished so many firsts together and he will always be the #RightHorse for me.