Callie was born on April 12, 2004 at a small barn in Haverhill, Massachusetts. She was born bay (though I'd hardly call her that now...she's registered as a brown) with a snowcapped rump and a big star and snip on her little face. There are a lot of foals born each year, but there was one thing special about this one- she was mine. Yes, I had been given Callie. My first horse. It was surreal, and I was waiting for someone to pinch me. Pretty soon, someone did. Callie had been stabled about five minutes from my house. I could easily ride my bike to the barn if my parents were unable to drive me, and things seemed perfect. However, in September of 2004, when Callie was five months old, we were informed that the property of the barn was being torn down to create a golf course. Shocked is not the word. Devastated doesn't really help, either. It was shattering. Well, my barn owner at the time found a place to go. It was located in Stratham, New Hampshire- a thirty minute drive. We moved the horses in early October. It was very difficult- my board had gone up drastically and I could only see my horse on the weekends- which I usually worked in addition to three or more weekdays after school to pay for my board. My friend Kim drove me to Stratham on Fridays and a couple Saturdays before I realized- I just couldn't do it. I gave Callie back to my barn owner. It was a tearful goodbye. Months passed. I didn't go to a barn, nor did I express the desire to. I was heartbroken. The filly I had trained for halter and showmanship. The filly I had taught to clip and bathe and stand on the crossties...she was gone. Until one day in March, when I was offered the opportunity to take Callie back, for a price. For a few days and weeks..I panicked. Both excited and nervous- do I think about it or not? What if it's a joke? I don't want to get pinched again! I had made a good amount of money on Ebay selling my model horses from when I was little..but it wasn't nearly enough to buy Callie back. Of course, my paycheck at Hallmark helped, but that was going to my savings to pay for board, grain, hay, and shavings. My parents must have seen something about me and Callie. I'm convinced that they saw something in her just as I always had. One morning, my mother told me to let Callie's owner know that I had the money. Callie was going to be mine again. I contacted a local barn that I knew almost right away was perfect. It was about three minutes from the barn we had been at before in Haverhill. I talked to my parents. Rough board was what I wanted. I wanted to be there with Callie every day, to be the hero that rescues her from the cold..that feeds her every night. My parents agreed- this was huge. We scheduled a vet check. My friend Sue took me up to Stratham to see Callie again and make sure she was healthy. After a procedure that would deem Callie "healthy as a horse," I told her owner we would be there Saturday morning to pick up the horse. The morning was surreal. I had already been to the barn, filled up her buckets and put nice shavings in her stall, but to actually jump in the truck and make our way up there...wow. She was perfect to load on the trailer; perfect on the way home. She got out of the "big white bus" and let out a loud whinny at her new home. She was answered back almost immediately. We were home. So it's been less than a month now. Nope, not long at all. Callie settled in perfectly. She's a goofy little thing- playing tag in the paddock is one of her favorite games.She receives all day turnout now and has been the silly, playful baby she should be. She adores mint chocolate chip ice cream on occasion and we've taken to going for runs out back everyday after grooming (extensively, there is no other way.) So, my baby's home, and she's never leaving again. I am so excited to see what the future holds for the two of us as a unit- a team. Callie's a smart little horse with an optimistic attitude. She knows when it's playtime, and she knows when it's time to square up- we're practicing halter. I am looking forward to showing Callie this summer at the Silver Heels Riding Club shows...anything to get her out there! I changed her show name to something a little more fitting- She's My-T Majickal. It works. She's home.
