“Horses have been changing my life and shaping my character for 15 years. My family didn't have any connection with horses until I was nine, but as a child I was obsessed with them. I used to pretend my bicycle was a horse and race it up and down the street.
Fast-forward through 10 years of lessons, pony club, mounted games, team penning, jumping, showing and riding - anything that had hair or four legs brought me to racing. I didn't get on a racehorse until I was nearly 19.
Since then, my life has been touched many times by these incredible animals, but most of all by a horse named Wales End.
‘Wally,’ as I call him, picked me. By that, I mean he's not your typical standout horse. He's not particularly handsome, he's never won a stake race, he runs off with his exercise riders, his foot is a trainer’s nightmare and until he met me, he didn't have much of a personality.
Wally first introduced himself to me when I was in conditioner Don MacRae’s barn to breeze a filly. I didn't think much of it, but Wally stuck his head out of the stall to nuzzle me. Don told me that he'd never seen him being affectionate before commenting that he usually just stood at the back of the stall.
That year was my first year riding as a 10-pound apprentice. It was also the first year I didn't have one barn to call home. So as the weeks passed, I did more work for Don. Every time I was there, Wally would poke his head out to see me. Before long I was dropping by the barn just to see him. I spoiled him. I looked forward to seeing him every day. He was the only constant at the track for me and I depended on our bond. It gave us both the confidence we needed.
The first time I rode him was in a race. He ran off with me. Half a mile into the race, we were 11 1/2 lengths in front of the field. I knew we were going too fast, but I just couldn't slow him down! We were third that day, just got beat the last few jumps before the wire. I was terrified jogging back to Don. I had just ridden my favorite horse like a complete idiot! I was lucky. He was kind but firm that if I rode him like that again I would be fired.
The next time I rode him, he was tough, but I used everything I had to hold him and we won! It was the best feeling in the world. Better even than my first winner. After that, we were inseparable. He was by far my favorite horse to ride in the afternoon win or lose.
My favorite memory of Wally off the track is when I went to see him after his colic surgery. He was obviously sedated and he wasn't feeling well, but when he saw me, he started nodding his head up and down in excitement. Even in pain and through the sedation he was happy to see me.
When I think of him (which is often), I think of how affectionate he became, how proud he was when he won. I think of how he liked to stop and look out the door at the end of the barn or how he recognized my car. I think of how much joy he gave me and how much I will miss kissing his handsome (only to me) face.
I wish him the best retirement possible and I am forever grateful to Don MacRae for the opportunity to work with such a brilliant horse.”
By Jenna Bray, for Ontario Racing
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