PEPPER | 8 YEAR OLD THOROUGHBRED

| GEORGETOWN,KY

Pepper, Chili Pepper, is a 8 year old Thoroughbred Mare.

Pepper is owned by Stephanie, the owner and trainer at Graystone Stable in Georgetown,KY. The pair does lower level eventing. Pepper is a feisty red headed mare that enjoys a good buck and rear under saddle, but Pepper’s real story is so much more than just that.

Pepper has been with Stephanie for 6 years. Stephanie picked her up as a 2 year old as a project horse because she was not going to race. Pepper quickly developed a relationship with Stephanie’s fiance, Shawn. Shawn would ride her bareback and take her on trail rides, Pepper always took care of Shawn. Not long after Pepper came into their lives, Shawn was diagnosed with cancer. “Pepper was his escape from the hospital bed, blood tests and drugs. When he couldn’t sleep he went to the barn to feed her carrots. When he had a bit of energy he would hop on her for a hack and she would take care of him. Shawn loved her up until the day he died. Pepper is not my horse she is forever Shawn’s horse.”

This feisty mare was truly a saint for Shawn.

“Peppers biggest accomplishment was being a therapy horse. She was for Shawn and still is for me a great shoulder to cry on. She could bring a smile to Shawn’s face no matter how he was feeling and for this I will be eternally grateful, no matter how hard she plays with me under saddle.”

Stephanie shares her favorite memory about Pepper and Shawn, “Shawn, myself and a few barn girls decided to go to a local equestrian park for a hack one day. Shawn had to wear a mask because he had finished a bone marrow transplant several months ago. All the horses were pretty feisty that day because the weather was cool. Pepper was calm and so well behaved, like she knew that he was not very strong. I can clearly remember yelling Shawn don’t jump this don’t jump that, she has never seen most cross country jumps at this point. But pepper continued to impress me by hopping over everything like a seasoned pro. Such a special mare.”

Time and time again I am blown away by horse’s special ability to read people and to  just take care of people. Horses are truly the world’s greatest therapist, wether you need a best friend, a shoulder to cry on, or just an escape from reality.