Desi

Mi Picture Me — 1987–2013

Brynarian Eiddwen Comet × HyperStar (TB)
Dam of Mi Take My Picture (“Pixie”)
Granddam of Mi Leica

💫 The Beginning of the Fairy Tail

Once upon a time, a young girl dreamed of riding the most amazing horse in the world. She didn’t believe in traditional “fairy tails,” but she did believe that dreams can come true — and that the right horse would someday appear.

One day on her family farm, a beautiful black filly arrived as if written into that dream. From the first moment, she was different — bold, hot, athletic, and incredibly opinionated. She wasn’t difficult to work with (if she liked you), but she had no tolerance for unfairness or foolish behaviour — from horse or human alike.

🐎 The Spirit of a Rebel

Desi learned fast. She was clever, quick, and deeply motivated to please when respected. She enjoyed real work — trail rides, moving cows, exploring open fields — but had no patience for the artifice of the show ring. She never got the memo that her destiny was to be a top show horse; instead, she chose authenticity over performance.

With an inexperienced rider one day, she realized her athleticism gave her options — and she began to use that power wisely. A few seasoned trainers found themselves momentarily airborne, while Desi trotted home laughing to her chosen girl. Fiercely loyal to those she trusted, she remained unshakeably herself with everyone else.

🌸 The Matriarch Emerges

When it became clear that her true magic wasn’t in competition but in connection, Desi was welcomed into the breeding herd. There, her calling unfolded — she became both herd boss and nurturing mother.

Her foals carried her brilliance forward: trainable, athletic, loyal, and full of spirit. Among them was Mi Take My Picture (“Pixie”), a mare of wisdom and quiet intuition. Through Pixie came Mi Leica, Desi’s granddaughter — delicate, fawn-like, and brave — living proof that Desi’s line continues to shine through generations.

Desi’s legacy runs deep: her daughters and granddaughters embody the balance of strength and sensitivity, wildness and grace.

🌾 The Elder Years

A pasture injury slowed Desi’s stride but never dimmed her leadership. For a decade she guided her herd with confidence and humor, her energy steady and unmistakable. In her later years, she became the “wise aunty,” watching over yearlings, correcting manners, and reminding everyone of the old ways.

Her final summer was filled with sunlit pastures and peace. One starry night, she lay down under the open sky and quietly crossed into freedom — on her own terms, as always.

🕊️ The Wisdom She Left Behind

Desi taught her humans as much as she taught her herd:

Be yourself — not everyone is made for a “regular job.”
Never stop being a little wild — it keeps life honest.
Respect yourself and your herd, but never conform to please others.
Hold onto your sense of humor; it’s sacred medicine.
And above all, trust that dreams do come true — sometimes, they arrive with four hooves and a fiery heart.

🌙 Line of Light

Mi Picture Me (“Desi”) → Mi Take My Picture (“Pixie”) → Mi Leica
A matrilineal thread of wisdom, courage, and connection.

Build Trust, Not A Trophy Case

Horsemanship, Philosophy

I often read posts about bad horse trainers, coaches, and competition situations which cause me sadness and frustration. They seem to ask for help from strangers in online forums. What is possible if we start trusting our own abilities and asking for expert help when needed? What if that trust builds a relationship with our horses or our kids, partners, fill-in-the-blank? And what about when we spend time understanding them or understanding ourselves? What if we stopped racing to the next clinic/trainer/show/guru – just slow down and enjoy the ride? The ribbons are great, but they are sometimes at the expense of partnership. Imagine the rewards from sharing the spotlight, being part of a team, and enjoying our passion. And maybe, just maybe, the idea of temporary horses, and other relationship partners, would become less?

As a person who started training by age 6, the relationships I have built are far more important than the tricks and special gear. The skills can always be developed if you become aware of body language and watch horse people who are admirable even though they may not be winning the ribbons. Happy horses are easy to train. It’s not going to be a Disney movie – there is going to be hard work, wet saddle blankets, and tears of both frustration and joy. It means that creating your own champion is definitely worth the ride.

Sadness fills me when I see people who haven’t spent time doing the work winning ribbons on pre-programmed horses. The worst, all-too-common outcome is that the horse stops winning, is replaced, and then the new horse doesn’t behave or win and the person gets frustrated, taking it out on the new horse. Every relationship has to go through challenges and if the communication and trust are there on both sides, it can succeed.

Why not start teaching that relationships need communication, trust, boundaries, and self knowledge? Not just with horses. In order for this to work, adults might need to shelve their egos, and students might have to do some hard work and take responsibility for injuries which means not blaming anyone else including the horse. Success cannot always be instant. They might have to stay home, do some training, take some lessons, or become a working student and learn from the ground up from several different mentors who are worthy of respect, not necessarily a big name.