A Moment to Appreciate my Biggest Supporter
I met Kristin Michaloski a few years ago when I was working for Doug. Kristin had a gangly palomino with a sweet temperament, and was looking to see if he would be her one star horse. What was meant to be a brief few months of training quickly evolved into Kristin being one of Doug’s most valuable owners, and one of my best friends.
2010 was a particularly rough year for me on many levels. One of those years that is a bitch day in and day out. But hindsight allows to you appreciate those hardships that have brought you to where you stand today. (even though you still think, “Screw you 2010, you’re a bitch.”) Pardon my language. Kristin was there for me every step of the way. She was a voice of reason when I was overreacting, and the fuel to my fire when I was underreacting. Most of all, she helped me believe I was as good as the rest of them.
I have always wanted my own operation, but don’t quite have the competitive resume to branch out on my own. I also don’t quite have the bankroll to develop the competitive resume, nor the four legged friend to compete… and after a few disappointed pre-purchase exams, I put those thoughts on hold. In the meantime, my good friend and boss Sinead has allowed me to compete when she can, but it’s hard to hand out rides when people are paying a professional a pretty penny to help develop their own horses resumes, and who can blame them?
When the stars aligned this fall, I finally had the opportunity to rent some stalls down the street and thus officially begin Kepferle Equestrian LLC, a company I had started years ago. And while my student list steadily grows, it has yet to have any horses in its roster, which plainly just blows. I finally had one horse coming to me for training, but he needed a friend. When Kristin found out I needed another horse, she immediately offered to send her baby to me to start. Bimba, who Kristin had bred and originally was hoping to be a big fancy gray gelding, turned out to be a scraggily little chestnut mare. Bimba arrived to Kepferle Equestrian in November. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was grateful to have the ride. Baby Bimba adjusted quickly to life in Pittstown, and was sweeter than any chestnut mare I’ve ever seen and smarter than all hell. Bimba played on line, and with the help of Sarah we had her trotting under saddle and over poles in no time. Because of her age, and her seeming growth spurt, she went on vacation, and was due to return after I got home from Ocala to continue her education.
When I heard the news of the barn fire over the weekend, I was devastated. As a head groom, manager, rider, student, and person, a barn fire is one of my worst nightmares. And it seems to be coming more and more of a reality in the recent months. Bad things happen to good people, and bad things happen to good horses. And despite the exciting start to the 2012 season, my heart is saturated with sadness. I will be eternally humbled by Kristin’s friendship and support, and forever grateful I got to be a part of Bimba’s short, but special life. Thank you Kristin for sharing her with me.
Go Eventing. Go Bimba.
-Meg
