United States Eventing Association

This is the 43rd entry in the USEA’s Member Story Series. Help us reach our goal of over 300 stories – email your story to Leslie.

One ride was all it took to attain an irrepressible passion for these remarkable beasts. When I was nine-years-old my Dad spontaneously decided to take me on a guided trail ride. Neither he, nor any other of my friends or family members at the time retained any sort of equine association, therefore the outing was quite “out of the blue” so to say. Little did he know that right then and there he had made one of the most detrimental decisions of his life, but the greatest of mine.

My name is Paulina Montgomery; I am sixteen and currently a sophomore at Marymount High School. I have been riding for just about six years now, and it seems as if my passion continues to intensify each day. Ever since that unforgettable trail ride that started it all, horses have blatantly taken over my life. About a month or so later I had my first lesson at Mill Creek Equestrian Center in Topanga Canyon, and have ridden there up until this point. In the summer of 2007 I had the opportunity to compete at a local event derby with the fabulous schoolmaster I started to lease, Bambino, a 16.1 hand Dutch Warmblood gelding. Subsequent to completing the day, I recognized that I had obtained an addiction for the sport of Eventing. The preceding year I attended all the schoolings and local shows I could to acquire an understanding of this insane sport. I was very fortunate to learn the ropes on such a seasoned mount. Bambino instantly became my best friend. Words could not describe my endearment for that horse. When summer came around once again, I competed in my first USEA recognized event. I then knew that there was nothing on this planet I would rather be doing. Up until the summer of 2009, Bambino and I successfully evented at the Beginner Novice level all around California. At our final show together we moved up to Novice and had an incredible weekend. However, due to his age and overall athletic ability, it was apparent that he would not be able to event at that level consistently. With great reluctance, I acknowledged the fact Bambino taught me all he could and that the time had come to move on.

After an extensive, tedious search, at last I had met my dream horse. Never will I forget the day, September 24^th, 2009, when I could call the magnificent, athletic, stunning Rhienland-Plafz- Saar gelding my own. His name, King’s Cross. Sired by Leslie Morse’s renowned stallion Kingston, my giant beast was surmised to emulate his father by becoming the next upper-level dressage champion. Well if that had been the case, my story would be evidently different. Alternatively, Leslie believed that King would excel in the eventing world so she sent him to Joe Mckinley who works as an event trainer at Mill Creek. In just nine months Joe had turned the upper-level dressage reject into one of the most preeminent event horses in the barn. However, when the young gelding became a fourteen-year old girl’s first horse everything began to degenerate. I could not even maintain his canter for a simple twenty-meter circle, let alone attempt to jump anything. He learned how to efficiently take advantage of me as I was far from an effective rider at the time. Bucking, leaping, spooking, spinning, bolting, you name it, were all vices he never had under professional training but quickly initiated when he realized his knew rider could do nothing about it. Countless times I went home in tears. How could it be that I finally found my “perfect horse” yet I could not ride him properly? People blatantly doubted us, told me we would never be a competitive pair, that he was dangerous and I was crazy, the list goes on. After the first few arduous months my parents were more than content to send King away. Regardless, I gritted my teeth and endeavored to make it work. One of my trainers, Cory Walkey, had an unremitting faith in us, which really compelled me to persevere. After surviving seven months of many falls, tears, overcoming major problems, schoolings, local shows, and a ton of hard work, we ventured up to Fresno for our first recognized event together. Well that show lasted for all of about three minutes as he spooked and bounded over the dressage ring fence. It was clear that more adjustments were a necessity.

The summer of 2010 marked the most crucial turning point of King and my partnership. A couple months prior Joe had openly expressed an interest for a working student and I jumped on the opportunity. Six days a week, anywhere from six to twelve hours a day, I would essentially be his slave doing everything from tacking numerous horses to shinning his boots, in exchange for lessons and trainer rides. Without a doubt, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I cannot even begin to describe how much I learned about training horses, time management, following instructions, and about the horse world in general. I was more than fortunate to be able to work for someone so honest, ethical, and respectable. For the first time, I encountered the indescribable feeling of when your endeavors really pay off. King and I placed in the top three at two recognized events that summer, qualifying us for state championships.

Unfortunately, when the summer came to an end, so did King and I just about. Two trips to the ER within six weeks of each other almost indicated the end of our journey together. My parents were done; they wanted nothing more to do with that “dangerous” beast I called my best friend. I knew it could not be over, we had come all this way, and we could not let it all go this easily. One more chance we were permitted. If there were to be another accident, I would probably never lay eyes on my Kingaroo again.

Entering the 2011 show season we had a lot to prove. King and I worked relentlessly to be certain we were ready to successfully compete once again. We won our last Novice at Ram Tap in February, and against all odds, also took home the blue at our first Training at Galway Downs in the beginning of April. I came galloping through the finish flags at Galway in tears, I could not believe that eighteen months ago I was incapable of cantering this horse, and now we just demonstrated our competence and potential.

King may not have been the most appropriate first horse for me, however everything does happen for a reason. He not only made me a stronger rider, but also a much stronger person. Giving up was never an option, and never will be. I look forward to many more years eventing with this fantastic horse who I am so blessed to have in my life.