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Try as we may, it is not always easy to see the path of our destiny. How I did not become a world-renowned show legend is a mystery to me! I have stellar conformation, striking good looks, and lovely movement. I am special. Possibly an Olympic contender, if only I had been born to be a 16.3-hand horse and not a 12-hand pony. But who is counting? A hand is only 4 inches, after all.  Our equine careers are most often determined by our family history and calculated breeding, more so than sheer spirit and willful determination. Sometimes, finding our perfect home does not come easily, even for the equines with top-notch breeding. The journey from start to finish can be a long way home.

Now for a moment, let us turn our attention to a fancy young thoroughbred mare, Hillbilly Kitty.  Bred and born at Calumet Farm in Kentucky, Kitty has all the right pedigree. Her lineage includes the impressive English Channel. Her sire, Big Blue Kitten, won just shy of three million dollars in his racing career. 

Kitty is a blueblood of the racing world. Her ancestors include Riva Ridge, Northern Dancer, Native Dancer, and Mr. Prospector twice. On her dame’s side is the stallion, English Channel, an American champion Thoroughbred racehorse. In four years of racing, he competed in 23 races, winning 13, finishing second in four, and finishing third in one. He retired to stud for the 2008 season at Hurricane Hall near Lexington for an initial fee of $25,000 per live foal. His first crop, foaled in 2009, included 14 stakes winners. 

Kitty was sold at the famous Keeneland auction as a yearling. How she ended up in a kill pen in Tennessee a year later is anyone’s guess. My mistress saw her and said we had to save her life, not knowing her impressive heritage. This mare was a descendant of a leading sire of turf horses in North America. Instead, we took pity on her. She was covered in bite marks but had kind eyes, a delicate head, and lovely long legs. Despite her dire situation, she showed grace in this downtrodden place. She was in a holding pen with older lame horses and an untouchable donkey, a princess among paupers.

We saved Kitty. With some research and a veterinary scan of her microchip, we soon discovered we had a horse of amazing pedigree. She was sound and had never been raced. Her new life with us looked promising.

In our rescue, Helping Equines Regain Dignity (HERD), we waited until Kitty was three years old to start her riding career. We had her backed by a professional in North Carolina. Kitty did not find a match for a home in the area. Why not? We do not fully understand. She headed north to a generous and caring foster trainer, Julien Beaugnon, in Great Falls, Virginia. He had trained horses in Europe for the discipline of dressage. Julien also trained equines for the famous equine performances at Cavalia. This world-touring show combines acrobatics, dance, aerial stunts, and live music with horses. Julien can achieve the impossible with horses; he speaks their language. 

Kitty was with Julien for over a year. He taught her about liberty groundwork and strengthening movements for her future dressage development. Kitty focused on Julien’s body movements for guidance on what to do next. The choreographic instruction for a student intensely following a dance lesson comes to mind. 

I have mastered all kinds of artful dance movements myself. Mainly those that involve avoiding capture to stand for the farrier. Kitty is far more gracious. She learned how to bow to her audience on command. Julien’s family loved this young mare. He considered adopting her. But alas, fate had different plans. 

Julien had to make a major geographical move for a new training position leaving Kitty behind She spent six months with another HERD member in Maryland and then moved to a foster situation in Virginia at a gorgeous farm. Here she was a well-cared-for pasture ornament. Lazy days, good care, and lush grass put weight on Kitty. She matured into an even more beautiful mare. 

In April 2024, Kitty returned to the Carolinas for training with Sugar Hills Farms. The Joyner family in Chesnee, SC, had helped HERD find good homes for Clancy, Tinker Bell, and Grace. We had high hopes they could help Kitty find her match. Their family is talented. Horses relate well to their kind energy. Kitty proved to be no exception. Within a month, Kitty was out blazing trails with the Joyner family, effortlessly crossing creeks and bridges. The only thing this lovely horse was not fond of was Joyner’s pet pig. She was petrified of the strange creature that lurked near the riding ring during training sessions.  

It took all summer for the right family to find Kitty. They drove from Aiken to the Upstate on a Sunday afternoon with a horse trailer in tow. They had been searching specifically for a young thoroughbred mare, with athletic ability that both an adult and a child could enjoy. The goal was to have the horse mature with their daughter as a great partner for life, with some local horse shows and trail riding in the mix.  

Since she was a yearling, Hillbilly Kitty had been moved multiple times. The right fit had eluded her. She left a life of royalty in Kentucky to end up in a livestock auction in Tennessee, found safety in North Carolina, and received exceptional care and training in Virginia. She waited patiently with a kind foster in a holding pattern for months in Maryland. Yes, our poor Kitty had played musical chairs. Each time the music stopped, we scrambled for a new soft landing for Kitty, no fault of her own. Finally, it appears that Kitty has found her place in South Carolina, where she is loved by an equestrian family of riders who see her value, too. It was a long way home.