While many kids in our area did sports, Katie was always on horseback. Nothing made her happier than Stinky. While other girls were discovering boys, Katie said her boyfriend was Willie. No one knew it was her pony.
But racing was in her blood, and she trained faithfully. For pony racing, the age you are on January first is the age you race as. So when she turned eleven, she raced as ten. And won the small pony division in the Delaware Valley Point to Point Association. The highlight of the awards banquet was getting to meet one of her idols. Rosie Napravnik. Rosie presented her trophy and Katie was thrilled.
As they raced, Katie was always wanting more. And was told she needed to be older. We added her large race pony Garrett in 2012. An Arabian we did a ten state search for. Katie needed a bold pony. One who was as forward and brave. We found him in Virginia. We were second in line but luckily Katie was a better fit and he came home with us. And then Katie started working with him to get him race ready.
2013 was really spent learning
And by the end of spring racing he knew. And in October 2013 broke his maiden at Genesee Valley Hunt Races. Katie also won on Stinky in the small race. At the end of the race, she made the decision to retire him and let him end his career a winner. Stinky is now retired and enjoys hacks on the farm bareback with Katie.
