United States Eventing Association

Jasmine Hawkins’ parents didn’t know what they were getting themselves into when they accompanied the bright-eyed eight-year-old to her first horseback riding lesson. It was supposed to be one…and only one.

But since you're reading this article, you probably know how that ended up.

Fast forward a few years of lessons and several pairs of worn-out jodhpurs, and the Hawkins were faced with the question of buying a horse, as so many parents of horse-crazed children are. After much pleading and convincing, they devised a compromise: they would support Jasmine’s horse habit and help cover expenses, but she had to buy the horse with her own money.

So Jasmine did what any 10-year-old would do: she started a business, of course! “Jasmine’s Pet Sitting” flyers went up that very afternoon, and within a year, she had saved $2500 to buy her first horse and now, her mount for the 2013 Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships, a paint gelding named Dreams of Bling.

“When I went to look at him, I immediately knew that he was going to be mine,” said Jasmine, now 14 and qualified for the Jr. Beginner Novice Championships in Tyler, Texas, Sept. 26-29. “The lady I bought him from used him as a lesson pony. I bought him as a good confidence building first horse but I never imagined that he would become who he is.”

Cherie Hawkins, Jasmine’s mother and the all-important chauffeur to and from the barn each day, is a full-time supporter of Jasmine and Bling and will be making the trip to AEC with them along with Tom Hawkins, Jasmine’s father.

“She is competing with the hopes of completing the AEC, and in the process, proving that you can take a pony from a cow pasture in Oklahoma City and reach your goals without that big fancy horse,” Cherie said of her daughter.

Jasmine recently acquired a second horse that she hopes to take further up the levels, saying that she didn’t want to risk injuring Bling.

“Jasmine continues to care for two horses and work her pet sitting job to help pay for expenses, lessons, jumps, etc., all while maintaining Honor Roll status at school,” said Cherie. “She is going to take her HB National Certification through pony club in October and hopes to bring her new horse along and eventually become a Young Rider.”