As the saying goes, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.” And when it comes to first horses, most of us did a whole lot of learning.
Sure, everyone loves to talk about the big wins, the trophy photos, and the flawless patterns…but the truth is, most of today’s polished horse show stars were once kids hitting the dirt weekly, getting dragged through fields by ponies with opinions, and believing grain buckets could solve anything.
Behind almost every highly decorated rider is a first horse who was…let’s call it character-building. These early equine “mentors” (a generous word) taught lessons that carried far beyond the show pen. Lessons about grit, trust, perseverance, improvisation, and sometimes when to swallow your pride and grab the longe line.
Here’s what some of today’s competitors remember most about the horses that started it all.
Learning the Art of Staying On (Eventually)
For Amateur Carey Nowacek, it all began with Saturday Knight, a pony who apparently believed gravity was the most honest teacher. She laughs, remembering, “I can’t remember a lesson at the beginning where I stayed on his back the entire time.” In fact, Saturday Knight even launched her trainer more than once with his signature trick: the spontaneous dead-stop catapult.
Instead of quitting, eight-year-old Carey became more determined.
“My mom thought I’d give up riding,” she says, “but he did the opposite. I learned never to give up, work hard, and trust the process.”
Saturday Knight didn’t just teach her how to ride, he taught her how to stick with it, even on the tough days.
The Pony Who Invented the ‘Get Back On’ Rule
Amateur Johnna Letchworth had a rescued pony named Joey whose training philosophy could be summarized as: buck, observe, repeat. Her parents made her promise that every time Joey sent her airborne, she’d get right back on, and Joey made sure she had plenty of practice.
When she eventually graduated to Kitty, a powerhouse POA mare who excelled in every class and even took her to the POA World Championships, Johnna learned the other half of horsemanship: trust and reward.
“Every horse put in my path had a purpose for me,” she says. Joey taught her grit. Kitty taught her belief. Together, they shaped the horsewoman she became.
Lessons in Catching, Surviving, and Not Bragging
Select Amateur Kathy Tobin grew up with a paint mare named Bubble Gum, who turned “catching your horse” into a triathlon event. Grain buckets didn’t help. Calling her name didn’t help. Bubble Gum had her own schedule.
Things only escalated when Bubble Gum had a foal, Tutti Fruiti. Kathy and her friend decided to halter-break her using a “push-pull method,” which is precisely as chaotic as it sounds. Later, they “trained” the yearling to ride by hopping on bareback from the fence, until their parents found out and promptly ended the experiment.
Kathy now looks back and laughs:
Bubble Gum taught her perseverance.
Tutti Fruiti taught her to get right back on.
And the whole experience taught her one final life rule: don’t brag about things parents shouldn’t know.
The Horse Who Didn’t Know the Events but Knew Your Heart
When Ali Hubbell first saw Divination, aka Big Red, he was spooky, tough, untrained in the events she wanted, and absolutely perfect for teaching her the most meaningful lessons of her life. He was her first AQHA horse.
Despite her parents thinking she was crazy, she took out a personal loan, and even used her car as collateral, to buy him. “He didn’t know any of the classes I wanted to show in,” she says. “But he had the biggest heart and tried so hard.”
The two developed together, building trust stride by stride. Their journey culminated in winning the Novice Amateur Showmanship at the Congress in 2011.
Big Red didn’t just teach Ali showmanship. He taught her commitment, belief, and that the best horses aren’t always the most polished, they’re the ones who try for you.
When Your First Congress Horse Says, ‘Please Longe Me.’
For Multiple World and Congress Champion trainer and rider Beth Case, the big lesson came from the first horse she ever showed at the Congress in the open. She learned quickly that even the calmest, kindest horses sometimes need a good longe.
“He bucked me off twice before I finally admitted he needed to be longed,” she recalls. She initially thought she could “ride it out” because he was good-minded, but good-minded doesn’t mean energy-free.
Beth’s early wake-up call became lifelong wisdom: sometimes the most intelligent choice is the simplest one.
A Pony With a Purple Bow and a Degree in Mischief
On her fifth birthday, Natalia DeVencenty met Dream A Little Dream, a 12-hand grey pony adorned with a giant purple bow. He was adorable. He was sweet. And he was absolutely capable of escaping to the alfalfa fields whenever the mood struck.
Dreamer gave Natalia confidence through the cross rails and short stirrup years, teaching her trust, joy, and the classic pony motto: no matter how many times you hit the dirt, you get right back on.
She kept him for 13 years…proof that some first partners are just too special to ever let go.
The Horse Who Knew Exactly How to Test You
Non-Pro Jenna Dempze’s first horse was a seasoned show veteran who had perfected the art of teaching without ever putting her in harm’s way. He pushed just enough to make her better.
One unforgettable day, ten-year-old Jenna insisted on practicing a horsemanship pattern bareback. She fell off, repeatedly. “I bet I fell off six times trying to lope the circle,” she says. Her gelding knew precisely what he was doing: letting her struggle until her balance, timing, and instincts clicked.
Maybe he wasn’t the fanciest horse in the pen, but he was precisely the teacher she needed.
The Legacy of the First Horse
Ask any exhibitor at the top of their game today, and they’ll tell you their first horse is the reason they made it there, not because that horse was perfect, but because that horse wasn’t.
They taught grit.
They taught patience.
They taught humility, humor, perseverance, confidence, and how to climb back on, even when your pride was bruised.
Most of all, they made riders fall in love with the sport, not because it was easy, but because it was worth every moment.
