Four Months Of Hard Work Pays Off With School And Show Appearance
By Robert Thomas
This is a story about a girl and her horse who with a lot of work and concerted effort managed to be competing in this 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 ever equestrian event.
“It was hard and frustrating at times,” Gusa said about having Pebbled Ice ready for the competition.
Mikayla Gusa aboard Pebbled Ice on Saturday at the Hunter Jumper School and Show - submitted photo
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.
Mikayla Gusa stands alongside Pebbled Ice - MJ Independent photo
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 a screenshot of the submission below).
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.
Mikayla Gusa brushes Pebbled Ice in preparation to take him to a class on Saturday - MJ Independent photo
The real portion of the fairy tale is that Pebbled Ice had only been broke to be lead around by a halter and only ridden once before Gusa bought him.
“He had just been sat on once when we got him…he had never worked this before.”
She said that training Pebbled Ice took about an hour to an hour and a half every second day. the reason why it was not daily was because on the alternate days she was riding her other horse Cool.
Asked what she thought about Pebbled Ice she said “I like him.”
A screenshot of the short submitted story used the basis for this article THANKS!!!
Gusa and Pebbled Ice will be competing and taking part in today, the final day, of the Hunter Jumper School and Show at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds (250 Thatcher Drive East).
The event is FREE and should wrap up about noon and spectators are more than welcome.
The show is outside in the West Arena, so bring a hat and sunscreen, but in the event of rain it will move indoors to the Golden Mile Arena.