In this life, I do not believe we are only given one soulmate, one best friend, or one unforgettable horse. Fortunately for me, I have been blessed with numerous horses who have been my best friends and soulmates. However, some of those horses left this world too soon. One of those horses was Top Secretina, who was affectionately known as Tina.
Tina, who was bred by Clark Rassi of Aubrey, Texas, was by The Top Secret and out of RPL My Te Touching. She was born in 2005 and by the end of her two-year-old year, she had won four AQHA World Championships. As a three-year-old, she was both the Open and Amateur Grand Champion Mare at the 2008 All American Quarter Horse Congress. Not only was Tina appealing to the eye, but her lady-like manner made whoever was around her fall in love.
I will never forget the first time Tina and I met. It was mid-May in 2009. I was 11 years old, Tina was four and my mom and I had just come home from a horse show. Tina had been brought to our barn earlier that morning. I walked into her stall and was shocked by her size. She was 17 hands tall and her front end was as broad as a dually truck. Even though her size was intimidating, she was so gentle. She walked over to me with her ears forward and instantly put her head in my arms, almost as if to say “hello.” In that moment, she and I became best friends.
I really never had many friends in school and spent a majority of my time at the barn. Not having friends was very hard on me, so to be able to have a horse like Tina to bond with helped me gain confidence in myself. She and I spent our summer days sharing Italian sodas (her favorites) and peppermints. Tina not only made an impact on my life, but she brought my family even closer together. She was the first horse my dad and I prepared for the Youth W
orld Show together, so she holds a special place in my heart for that reason. At the Youth World Show in 2009, she and I were the Reserve World Champions in Aged Mares and then was the unanimous Grand Champion Youth Mare at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Since horses are a business for my family, we sold Tina after the 2009 Congress to Donnie and Lisa King who owned the stallion Western Gunslinger. I will never forget that day we said our tearful goodbyes. I can count on my hand how many times I have seen my dad cry, and that was one of them. Tina was not just a horse to us, she was a family member and always will be.
Having to say goodbye to my best friend was devastating, so I wrote a letter for Donnie and Lisa about Tina and left it on her stall with her favorite treats. As a Christmas present, I received a bracelet made out of her tail, and yes, I bawled when I opened that gift. I wear it each time I show at the Youth World as a good luck charm and to remind me that she will always be with me.
Tina’s heart and beauty will always be cherished not only by me but everyone who was ever associated with her. Unfortunately, Top Secretina passed away this past year and is most likely enjoying all the sun and treats in heaven. Even though she left this world too soon, she left a very large hoof print on my heart. For that, I am forever grateful.
Photo © KC Montgomery, Jeff Kirkbride
About Paige Wacker: GoHorseShow Intern, Paige Wacker is a 19-year-old multiple AQHYA World and Congress Champion from Hutchinson, Minnesota. Paige is currently pursuing an Animal Science Pre-Veterinary Degree at Oklahoma State University. Paige has had the honor of showing horses such as Vested Asset, Top Secretina, Ima Moxie Man, UR Secret Admirer, Clearly A Goodbar and Javah Mon during her youth career. This is Paige’s last year of youth eligibility and although she does not have an all-around horse to show this year, she will be showing her two halter horses Executee (Cutie) in 3 Year Old Mares and Theres No Tellin (Prince) in the Yearling Geldings. According to Paige, “Growing up showing horses has taught me irreplaceable life lessons and has helped me meet the most influential people in my life. I look forward to interning with GoHorseShow this summer and am very grateful for this opportunity!”
