EXTRAORDINARY STRIDES

Extraordinary Strides: : Lessons Learned Through A Friendship That Refused To be Broken

It was a hand-shake deal gone wrong. Suddenly, a kiss of betrayal became a fight for life. He was a trusted friend and a man of integrity. This couldn't be happening - not from him. I once gave up my room for him to have a place to sleep at night and here he was, trying to destroying me.

In 2012, a man named Steven filed a lawsuit to confiscate and discard my Holsteiner gelding, who had been part of my family for nearly fourteen years. While my mother and I endured domestic violence and homelessness, we held onto the last thing we loved: Cartier, the horse who had helped me champion the showjumping circuit throughout Los Angeles. Steven harassed us and mocked us through phone-calls and berating texts. I was nineteen when he told me he would sell Cartier to slaughter to recoup money if he had to. In fact, he promised it.

When the judge's gavel rang that my horse was granted to Steven's cold fingertips, my mom told me to take the horse and run.

How far would you go?
Would you risk everything for a four-legged friend who was your everything?

Join me in the never-before-told true story of the measures that were taken to protect the life of a horse worth fighting for, and the lessons I learned through a friendship that refused to be broken.