“The horse that changed my life? Well, that's a tough question because I don't think there is just one. From the past eight years of racing and the eight years before I was at the track, there are probably hundreds that have changed my life, changed me as a person and the way I view horse racing as a whole.
From the first horse I rode, to the first race I won, to the horses that taught me to get up every time I fell. There’s the horse I won seven consecutive races on and the old-timer Tevez, who even at 10-years-old refuses to be denied his photo in the winner’s circle.
If I were to narrow it down to one, it would have to be a horse I raced only a couple of times, but never won on. That may sound strange, but here's why: Cover My Six for the last six years has been the love of my life. I bought him from trainer Justin Nixon after he retired because I always felt a connection with him, a friendship that went beyond racing around the oval and I knew he had the mind to excel at any discipline outside of racing.
He went from learning how to pony horses in the morning to doing it on race day, and he was a ham for attention. He attended every Sunday breakfast at the track (there was even a colouring book that was made about him that was handed out to the kids that came). He went to all the track functions and would lead the Circle the Course for Cancer event. We would go swimming at the beach during the day and team cattle sorting on Thursday nights. I would even ship him to and from Florida in the wintertime because I didn't want to be away from him for too long.
Two years ago, I decided to change things up a bit and I outfitted him with English tack and decided we would both learn to jump, and oh boy, did he love it! Our first year competing in the Niagara Cup 5 show series, we were Grand Champion. A star had risen! Of course, a lot of credit has to go to Leslie McCormick at Red Ribbon Stables for all of her help.
My fondest memories away from the track with him are probably the times where it was just the two of us - the afternoons in the lake where we invented horse surfing, and the nights in the stall grooming him when he would want just one last hug before I left.
When I think of Sixer, the first thing that comes to mind is…love. He loves me on my best days, he loves me on my worst days, he loves me when I'm happy and even more when I'm sad. He has been the best form of therapy and stress relief I could have ever asked for and all he asks for in return is a full feed tub and some extra treats.”
By Melanie Pinto, for Ontario Racing
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