Horse & Rider Session // Olivia & Skippy

I am lucky to call Olivia one of my oldest barn friends. I’m sure all equestrians know what I’m talking about when I say a barn friend, someone who you grew up with as a barn rat, riding in lessons together, going to your first horse shows together, having sleepovers and waking up early to go ride together the next morning. I met Olivia shortly after I bought my first horse and she had her first horse Skippy. We both joined 4H together and had many wonderful adventures together. We lost touch for a number of years but somehow ended up in the same program in University and were lucky enough to reconnect.

Our session on September 26th was especially special given our history. She still owned Skippy and I hadn’t seen the stocky paint gelding in at least 6 years. Olivia’s relationship and partnership with Skippy has gone through many seasons and shifts since our childhood days but above all these two share a love and a connection that goes beyond riding goals. They are friends in the truest sense of the word, friends who have grown up together, have shifted apart and then together again but the kind of friend that you know you can always count on.

If you scroll to the bottom, I included a photo of Olivia and I at a fun show, almost 8 years ago. Though I’m sure both of us had different goals as equestrians at the time, goals that we may or may not have accomplished, I think it is pretty remarkable to have come so far and through many life changes and still have these horses at our sides, and hopefully for many years to come.