Max
We had been in touch with Julie MacMillan from J & M Acres Horse Rescue in search of the “perfect” horse when she finally had a horse come in that sounded suitable. Julie had held onto this horse for 6 months because she had fallen in love and didn’t want to let him go.
This horse’s name was Max, a 1984, 15.2hh chestnut Morgan gelding. He had come from Vancouver Island where he was a school horse “gone bad”, meaning he had become sour and dangerous to have around. So he was sent through the Fraser Valley Auction, where he was the last horse in and the only bidder was the meat man until Julie bid $25 dollars more and got him. Julie worried that since he hated kids, that he would hate me.
Oh boy was it love at first sight! I fell for him head over heals even before I rode him. My first ride was difficult, Max was stiff as a board and seemed to have trouble traveling in a straight line, but I was in love. I convinced Julie to let me buy him, she could see that we had an unbreakable bond.
This horse’s name was Max, a 1984, 15.2hh chestnut Morgan gelding. He had come from Vancouver Island where he was a school horse “gone bad”, meaning he had become sour and dangerous to have around. So he was sent through the Fraser Valley Auction, where he was the last horse in and the only bidder was the meat man until Julie bid $25 dollars more and got him. Julie worried that since he hated kids, that he would hate me.
Oh boy was it love at first sight! I fell for him head over heals even before I rode him. My first ride was difficult, Max was stiff as a board and seemed to have trouble traveling in a straight line, but I was in love. I convinced Julie to let me buy him, she could see that we had an unbreakable bond.
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Photo credit: Totem Photographics
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Photo credit: Totem Photographics
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Since that day, Max ( aka Maxwell Smart) and I have been through lots together. He wasn’t an easy horse to ride, but I figured him out. I rode him 6 days a week with 2 lessons included. That first year I showed him Training Level and First Level, then moved up to FEI Child /Second Level in 2004. He was meant for me as a first horse to move up on, nothing special that I could show upper levels with…. but he tried his little heart out for me and still does, proving that the little Morgan can do it all!
We had an excellent show year in 2004, winning the Child FEI division in Amherst, BC Championships, and Rising Stars. Coming close at Milner downs and the Regionals too.
In 2005 Max and I had another successful year, we won the BC Championships and Regional Championships for Junior Second level. We also won Amherst and walked away from all my shows with excellent scores. This was Max’s last show year and he rose to the occasion better than I had ultimately expected. He is now retired from the show ring and I’m still riding him 2 -3 days a week, just having fun and enjoying him. We hit the trails often and he will be with me until he lives out his days.
We had an excellent show year in 2004, winning the Child FEI division in Amherst, BC Championships, and Rising Stars. Coming close at Milner downs and the Regionals too.
In 2005 Max and I had another successful year, we won the BC Championships and Regional Championships for Junior Second level. We also won Amherst and walked away from all my shows with excellent scores. This was Max’s last show year and he rose to the occasion better than I had ultimately expected. He is now retired from the show ring and I’m still riding him 2 -3 days a week, just having fun and enjoying him. We hit the trails often and he will be with me until he lives out his days.
A canter is a cure for every evil. - Benjamin Disraeli
