Hannah Houston

It’s not often that a 9 year old knows her place in life, but I did. I knew exactly what my calling was. This place, this seemingly magical place, just spoke to me. The feel of it, the smells, the sounds, everything. Finally, I got to go to that magical place. The second I stepped onto the gravel that January afternoon, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. The barn was pristine, with its gleaming white walls and expertly cleaned stalls. What took the cake, though, were the sixteen four-legged residents. Each had their own markings, own personality, and own distinct level of difficulty. I would have to work my way up the ranks, the barn owner said, starting with the easiest horse and hopefully getting to the hardest within a few years. I didn’t know it then, but that horse that was seemingly so difficult, became the love of my life. Sunny was the horse I always rode. He was the horse I spent my nights and my weekends with. As my relationship with Sunny progressed, so did my riding abilities. As cliche as it sounds, that horse taught me to be a great barn worker and teacher as well. I never would have gotten the job as an instructor at this barn had it not been for Sunny. The barn soon became my home as I taught lessons three to four days a week and cleaned stalls on the weekends. As exciting as being at UGA is, I miss my real home, among the horses and the hay.