“I discovered that I didn’t love riding because I loved to compete, I loved riding because I loved my horse.”

When Quincy went to Texas A&M in 1998, no varsity equestrian program existed, although it was added the next year in 1999. When she graduated in 2002, Quincy had won six national championships. Her list of accomplishments outshines any equestrian before or since. Her humble spirit and determination for excellence has served her greatly during her entire career. It has been my great privilege to know and watch Quincy for almost seven years while riding with her mother, Nancy Cahill.

Junior walked into my life at a time when I was pretty fragile and he still held an important role in building and teaching me. The end of 8th grade was hard for me because… middle school sucked. I remember more than one occasion of crying into his long, blonde mane.

It wasn’t a tough decision, letting her go. I thought it was obvious at the time. I was getting married and moving halfway across the country, and she had SO many years left to love on more little girls. I didn’t have the means to provide a great life for her and – even if I did – it felt selfish to keep her to myself.

“Encourage your child to watch others compete. Pay attention to who is winning and watch the way they present themselves. Take notice of their posture and position in the saddle, the way they handle their space in the arena and the way they ask their horse to move. It’ll serve to be way more valuable than you telling them what to do. They can see it for themselves and emulate the winners.”

This summer, I’ve attempted to revisit the horses that built me: the horses that I’ve owned and leased over the course of my life. They are the horses who shaped my experiences, personality, and childhood. I wanted to take their portraits to immortalize the memories I have with them.

Last night, the Texas Quarter Horse Youth Association won the Scrapbook Contest with their touching video tribute that showed why their American Quarter Horse roots run deep. Thanks to TQHYA Reporter Tatum Richey for a few fun photos from last night’s Parade of States!