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Wednesday, January 13 2016 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Taje Warrick’s Miraculous Life

By Mary McCashin

Taje Warrick Photo by Wally Warrick

Taje Warrick
Photo by Wally Warrick

Tick…tick…tick…

On August 27, 2014, Wally, Kim and Taje Warrick anxiously sat in a sterile neurosurgeon’s office. Taje, 10 years old at the time, had recently undergone an unexpected MRI the day before. Taje’s ophthalmologist had noticed an inconsistency during an eye exam a few days prior and immediately ordered the MRI. Tensions were high, there were questions lacking answers, and patiently the Warricks had to wait. “I knew something was wrong,” said Kim Warrick. “They sent us home from the MRI and said we needed to see our family doctor the next day, no excuses.”

Tick…tick…tick…

Taje’s mom Kim slowly began to weep, having tried to shield her emotions from her daughter as long as she could. “I was trying to be so strong for her,” Kim said. “She was sitting in my lap and looked back over shoulder at me and I just couldn’t hold it in anymore.” The doctor entered, took a seat, and slowly began to explain the MRI’s shocking results.

“They’ve found a tumor on Taje’s brain, or an arachnoid cyst,” the doctor said. It was 8 centimeters by 6 centimeters by 4 centimeters. It’s taken up the whole right frontal lobe of her brain.  She needed to have a craniotomy immediately to remove the tumor and relieve the pressure on her brain.

Boom.

Taje and Drommels captured the Low Children’s Championship at WEF. From left to right: Gustavo Murcia, Taje, trainer Maggie Gould and groom Leo. Photo by SportFot

Taje and Drommels captured the Low Children’s Championship at WEF. From left to right: Gustavo Murcia, Taje, trainer Maggie Gould and groom Leo.
Photo by SportFot

Shell-shocked from the news, the Warricks shuffled home and began to accept what lay ahead in their life. Taje would have to stop competing in the Low Children’s Jumpers immediately, and would be unable to ride for months, or even a year, following her surgery. Trainers, teachers and friends were informed of the dangerous surgery she’d face in just one week. Horses were placed in training, school arrangements made and the family braced for what lay ahead.

It also came to light that Taje had suffered one — if not a series — of strokes prior to her MRI. “I remember one night she was in the shower and she just started screaming bloody murder that she couldn’t see me,” Kim said. “I told her I was right there, and not to worry. As quickly as she’d started screaming, she stopped. It worried me so that’s when we started seeing doctors to see what had caused it.”

From cardiologists to neurologists, Wally and Kim searched for answers. Their beautiful daughter, full of life and passion, kept on riding, oblivious to her parents’ concerns. But finally, they’d found an answer.

So on September 2, 2014, Taje underwent her craniotomy. “I wasn’t really scared until they started to wheel me down the hall and I saw how scared my mom was,” remembered Taje.

Kim added, “I was trying so hard to be positive and kept telling her to give me a thumbs up. She was already getting sleepy so she couldn’t life her arm, so she just made a little thumbs up with her hand.”

Miraculously, Taje made it through the surgery without a single complication. At 11, she now has metal plates on her skull, and doctors feel she should go on to live a normal and full life, which is exactly what Taje has done.

Taje and Drommels at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Photo by SportFot

Taje and Drommels at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.
Photo by SportFot

Within two months, Taje was given the all-clear to ride again.  Kim said, “I might have been more nervous for that than the surgery! I went to the far end of the arena so I could be all by myself and just watch from a distance.”

No one was happier about the first ride back than Taje. “I just wanted to ride my ponies!” she said. “I was scared, but as soon as I got on, I felt fine.” One successful ride back was all it took to relight the passion Taje had for horses and competing.

In just a few months time, she was back competing on her two horses, 7-year-old Drommels and 16-year old Mufasa. Taje also has two young horses in training to become her future jumping mounts. She’s actively competing in the High Children’s Jumpers and has been successful at the Kentucky Horse Park, Great Lakes Horse Show, ESP in Wellington, Florida, as well as the 2014–2015 Winter Equestrian Festival in Low Children’s.

Taje and Drommels in Kentucky competing in the High Children's. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Taje and Drommels in Kentucky competing in the High Children’s.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Despite the doctors, the surgeries and the additional cranial hardware, Taje has remained her happy, energetic self. “If anything,” said Kim, “she’s become increasingly focused. The second she rides into the arena, she’s a little adult. She’s focused on her horse, her course and competing. The second she comes out of the arena, she’s 11 again and jumping over schooling standards with her friends.”

Taje has plans of jumping Grand Prix courses and going to the Olympics, something her parents can only encourage. She knows she’s not like other kids, but it’s not something she dwells on. When asked if she knew she was brave, she replied with a prompt, “Yes.”

Taje’s tenacity and devotion to her horses is something to be admired, not only by her peers, but by adults and professionals as well. Despite the past year of her life and an upcoming MRI to check the healing process, she remains the same kid she was before, no demands or special treatment, and the word “can’t” has never left her mouth. The drive she possesses is the kind that takes equestrians places with their careers. The passion to travel and pursue her greatest accomplishments with her family at her back is all Taje cares about, and it’s an attitude that people should definitely take note of.

About the writer: Mary McCashin is a freelance writer from Mocksville, North Carolina. She released her book, “Bulls, Broncs, & Buckles” in June 2015. Her pride and joy is her New Forest Pony, Will. 

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Tagged under: brain tumor, childrens jumpers, drommels, mary mccashin, mufasa, taje warrick

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
AI only and EVA negative
Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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