was born the youngest of 5 children and seemed to be “normal” just like my siblings. No one in the family was particularly drawn to animals, especially not horses. In fact, when Dad was young, he worked at a rodeo that gave him a negative attitude towards all horses.
especially not horses. In fact, when Dad was young, he worked at a rodeo that gave him a negative attitude towards all horses.
Imagine the shock when I became old enough to show an interest in things and the only thing I was interested in was animals, especially horses!! The obsession was insane. I played with horses, hung horse posters in my room, befriended anyone who had a horse, volunteered to clean tack for a friend’s family just so I could smell the leather and listen to the horses talk. I loved horses.
Since the suburbs of Augusta, GA were missing horses, I found every opportunity to be near them, from friends that fox hunted to pony rides at the fair or church bizarre, as long as I could ride or be around horses. But there was a problem (a catch, hitch, fly in the ointment … if you want another phrase). Unfortunately, I was born with a disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta. The disease causes bones to be fragile and very susceptible to breaks. As a result of the numerous fractures, my legs are shorter than an average person which makes reaching the average stirrups impossible. Despite this condition, I sought out riding as often as possible. I would just sit in the saddle and hold on to the horn for Western and we’d loop the stirrup leathers several times on the English saddle. I loved horses and didn’t think about the risk. So, one day while sitting on my friend’s tall thoroughbred, a motorcycle spooked the mare and BAM, I had a broken hip and 2 weeks in traction. My parents weren’t happy. The doctor’s weren’t happy.
A few successful risky rides and fast forward several years to my convincing counselors at a church camp to let me ride followed by a horse run in and BAM, I had a broken leg. My parents really weren’t happy and the doctor’s instructed them to forbid me from riding horses ever again. That only lasted a few years!
MY NAME IS Kristine Newbold and I love horses!
“Horses are worth it, but in my case, they are really worth it. My story will tell you why.”
Check out our Host and Judges section of our web site or get out and have some fun with your equine. Check out the calendar on the Equine Trail Sports website (www.equinetrailsports.com/events) for an event in your area, or contact us to host your own event. We are here to support you!
32 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Christine Newbold, right, with riding friend, Tonya
Randy Gassett
I
than an average person which makes reaching the average stirrups impossible. Despite this condition, I sought out riding as often as possible. I would just sit in the saddle and hold on to the horn for Western and we’d loop the stirrup leathers several times on the English saddle. I loved horses and didn’t think about the risk. So, one day while sitting on my friend’s tall thoroughbred, a motorcycle spooked the mare and BAM, I had a broken hip and 2 weeks in traction. My parents weren’t happy. The doctor’s weren’t happy.
A few successful risky rides and fast forward several years to my convincing counselors at a church camp to let me ride followed by a horse run in and BAM, I had a broken leg. My parents really weren’t happy and the doctor’s instructed them to forbid me from riding horses ever again. That only lasted a few years!