Mystery Photo No 2 from Newsletter No 12 

Rustlers ms Reid and Helen Smith

Hi we are mystery photo no 2, Rustlers ms Reid and Helen Smith, I believe fate is a wonderful thing, this is our story so far and thy you for picking us to tell it. 

As a two year old April, as she is known at home, was imported from Canada by Mrs Francis Castle, for around a year she was turned out on a Welsh hill farm and then brought back to her home in the Salisbury Plain area to be backed.  At this time Francis had decided to reduce the number of horses she owned due to the recent birth of her baby.  My husband Jeremy was interested in reining and I thought if I did not follow suit with the western theme I was going to be left at home, which probably is the best place for me.  I have always admired horses with colour so the Appaloosa with its western background and colourful coat was the obvious choice for me, so without further ado I set about finding my perfect horse.  After viewing several other horses I came across April's advertisement and arranged an appointment, I contacted my friend Sally and off we went for the afternoon in the hope that she would be the horse for me, thankfully due to her wonderful temperament she was and a deal was struck, we collected her several days later and the love affair began.  After a month or so we went to the APHC championship show at Stafford and she stood in-hand Grand Reserve female championship, you could of blown me down with a feather, what a wonderful surprise.  It was great that other people thought she was as beautiful as I did. 

As I had no experience with western riding I thought it best to get help and I decided to get April professionally produced under saddle, she did very well in the AGHA unaffiliated classes and in WES events, at the following APHC championship show she was placed in all her in-hand and ridden classes, what more could I expect from her. 

I think I am the luckiest person alive to have such a wonderful mare, she is very special and I love her dearly. 

Thanks 

Kindest regards 

Helen  xxxx