This is a story about a girl and her horse who, with a lot of work and concerted effort, managed to be competing in last weekend’s Hunter Jumper School and Show at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds.
In just four short months Mikayla Gusa took her horse, Pebbled Ice, from wandering around in a pasture to the show ring. This is the pair’s first equestrian event.
“It was hard and frustrating at times,” Gusa said about having Pebbled Ice ready for the competition.
In some ways, the 15 year old Gusa and the six year old Thoroughbred gelding Pebbled Ice are something out of a fairy tale.
Gusa, who has been riding since she was 8 years, had been riding and jumping the now 21 year old mare Cool, But given Cool’s age - 21 - it was time for her to be retired from active jumping.
“Cool reached retirement age but still in good shape,” she said.
This past April Pebbled Ice entered Gusa’s life. She is the horse’s third owner.
Pebbled Ice was sold just over a year ago to his second owner just over a year ago. For the year with the second owner Pebbled Ice spent his time in a pasture.
When Gusa acquired Pebbled Ice this past April, just four months ago, her new horse was only halter broken and had not been ridden much let alone involved in equestrian training.
“He was bought by someone else and left in the pasture for one year,” Gusa said.
Although she never said it, a small write up provided about the effort to train Pebbled Ice makes mention of “a few rocket launch moments.” \
The small write up also mentions that it took perseverance and determination to get Pebbled Ice ready for their first ever Hunter Jumper show. (See the attached screenshot).
The somewhat reserved Gusa, sporting a Megadeth bunny hug in the barn area, said she got into horses at the age of eight because she was attracted to them.
“I liked them (horses) since I was little kid and I have a connection to them,” the Grade 11 student at Peacock Collegiate said.
MJ Independent can be found here.
