What person has had the most influence in your life? I spent four days at a Speakers’ Boot Camp facilitated by Melisa Pearce, Touched By A Horse founder and my mentor. One of the exercises we did was improvisation. We got up on stage and she asked us a question. She asked each of us questions that were relevant to us. The question above was mine.
I have three men who have been influential in my life – my grandfather, my father, and Mike, my husband. I know that they are all supporting me from the other side of the veil, and each has their strengths.
I chose to talk about grandpa. He fostered my love of horses. He was responsible for all the horses (except Ace) that I spoke about in this blog post.
I was the only granddaughter on both sides for several years. I think I was twelve when my cousin on this side was born. I traveled with grandpa and grandma to the horse races when I was very young. He’s responsible for finding my first pony. He raised my next two horses (one was half pony) and helped me every step of the way.
When he sent Reed Man to training, he found another horse for me to ride that got me into showing. I didn’t have that horse very long because he had a tendon injury which also taught me how to let go.
When I wanted to focus on speed events on Reed Man, he bought me Smokey Joe Leo (Smokey) to show in the other events. Smokey was beautiful unfortunately his gait and temperament weren’t great for those classes. I had him until I was in college and some people at the barn found his calling.
When I went away to college, we’d been looking for a trailer. He didn’t find anything he thought was safe enough. I distinctly remember getting the buzz for a phone call in my dorm room. It was grandpa asking if I wanted my trailer painted to match my pickup. He was having one built to his specifications.
He gave me a mare, Linda Kristin, who was off the track. When I got into jumping, she was a beautiful jumper and she bucked between every fence. So, he sent her to a trainer. When that trainer asked a good friend of mine to teach one of his horses that he was trying to sell how to jump, she asked me to come out so she could see how he looked with someone riding him who had been on a jumping horse. I absolutely fell in love with Zandy Parr and asked grandpa to come out and watch me ride him. It wasn’t long before grandpa called and asked me how I wanted his shoes reset.
Charles Socolofsky with Raise A Secret, a stallion that he raised.
For the last two months of his life, Mike and I lived at his farm. I was blessed to think Charlie was due a month earlier than he actually was, so I stopped showing and took grandpa to the races. Sometimes there is divine intervention for sure.
After he died, I was blessed to get some of his Racing Quarter Horse mares. I started my own breeding program and have four mares who are a direct line from them.
From my second Equine Gestalt Coaching Method® Core training, I got messages from grandpa through Melisa. I know he’s cheering me on with this career.
He gave me many blessings and I have much gratitude for all he gave me. Sometimes I forget how much.
Would you like to get back in touch with your gratitude? The horses can help. Connect with me here for more information.
For me, He Walked On Water.
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Onward!
