The one and only George Bailey

Anyone who has sat in a saddle has had the one horse who set their hearts blazing. That one horse that gave them the “horse bug” and set their equine career in motion. For some people, it may have been the lead-line pony they rode at a fair, the horse that they won their first horseshow with, or the one that they went to the Olympics with. For me, it was George Bailey.

I had a few horses before “Pudge” came into my life, but none have had such an impact as he has. I started riding before I could even walk, riding bareback on my mom’s horse before getting my own little grey pony. Gabby taught me all I needed to know to get started and to make my way into the show world, even making our lead-line debut at Devon. After Gabby, I moved on up to horses with “Everybody Loves Bob.” Bob was the one who I thought I would never get over. You never forget your first horse- the one who teaches you the basics of riding and how great the sport is.

When I lost Bob, George had just come into my life. I found George after looking for months for my next mount. As soon as I got onto his back, it was love at first sight. I had not learned how to canter yet, but he didn’t know that and when he took off, I couldn’t have cared less. We were a perfect match from day one. At 13-years-old, the red roan quarter horse was going to be my best friend for years and years to come. Being the same age, we have literally grown up together, and have taught each other so much and gotten each other through everything.

At 28, Pudge is the best horse I could ever ask for. We started our journey in the Pre-Children Hunter, barely being able to canter around the ring. The two of us moved up the ranks, eventually into the Children’s Hunters. We had our share of ups and downs, starting with our very first horseshow, where I had the flu, stuck in the stall the whole time and my mom ended up showing the Pudge.

In middle school, George and I were out for a trail ride all by ourselves and ended up slipping on black ice, sending both of us flying. He was fine, staring up at me with my broken ankle, like “mom, what are you doing down there?” We rode and competed through months of casts and ankle boots, both of us getting stronger and more in tune. He is my one and only. George and I have moved barns three times, and have been through everything together. He has heard all of my problems and is the one that always helps me solve me.

When I left for college, he was still looking for a job, so was leased out in the barn. This way I could still keep an eye on him and I knew the girl loved him. After that, he still needed a job, so he went to be a therapeutic horse. He loved his job and was so good with all the kids bouncing on his back until he was finally ready for a well-deserved retirement. When I graduated, I moved him to a horsey-retirement community in Jersey, where I could stop at see him every day on my home from work. Let’s just say that George has had a very spoiled life. With my move to Florida, Georgie moved as well, but farther north to the Poconos. Now he has a best friend in Fig and lives the life. I get to see him as soon as I get off the plane each time I come home and get weekly updates on how he’s doing.

My boy may be getting older, but he will never act his age.   He bucks around the field like a two-year-old and comes running when I walk in the barn aisle. Anyone who has had a horse knows there is that one who gets in your blood