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Sunday, March 08 2015 / Published in Weekly Feature

The Gift of a Pony’s Love

Karissa enjoying her favorite view — the view from Seppy’s ears. (Photo by Meg Frederick Photography)

Karissa enjoying her favorite view — the view from Seppy’s ears.
(Photo by Meg Frederick Photography)

By Dani Moritz-Long

Middle school is a notoriously difficult time in most of our lives — and I was certainly no exception. Though I had a wonderful life, too often my blessings were shadowed by feelings of anxiety and the overwhelming thought that I just didn’t quite fit in. I did have the barn to escape to, but it wasn’t quite enough to overcome my worries. That is, until a beautiful pony by the name of September walked into my life. To some, she was a stocky pony who would never amount to a worthy event horse. But to me, she was everything. She was beautiful, she was kind and she’d jump the moon if I asked her to. And while she never did take me to the upper levels of eventing, she did help me blossom into someone with the courage to take on the world and she’s been my very best friend since the day I saw her walk off the trailer.

Since that day, Seppy and I have been on many adventures together. She helped me learn the meaning of hard work, accompanied me when I left for college and showed me the value of determination, loyalty and trust. But as I prepared for our next great adventure as my husband and I planed our move to Florida, I thought about a girl who had fallen in love with Seppy — who I knew would be heartbroken if Seppy suddenly left.

For a time, Seppy had “volunteered” at a therapeutic riding program called Tree House of Greater St. Louis in Missouri and, while she had made many new friends, one young girl stood out. Since moving Seppy back to my barn after her time at the therapeutic riding center, a rider by the name of Karissa had visited her and shown me just how much she adored my pony. I called Karissa’s mom, Lorie Hagl, to tell her that Seppy would be leaving, in case Karissa wanted to say goodbye. Lorie informed me that Karissa would definitely want to say goodbye, and also inquired about Seppy staying behind — at least short-term — to have more time with Karissa while I settled into my new life.

At first, my answer was a selfish no. How could I leave behind my best friend in one of the most exciting times of my life? But then I thought back to the 13-year-old version of myself who so badly loved and needed that little pony. I remembered that her former owner sold her to me, despite the fact that she too had found Seppy to be irreplaceable. With this in mind, I drew up all the courage that Seppy had taught me to have, and accepted Lorie’s offer to let Seppy stay just a little while longer so Karissa could be given the same gift I received so many years ago — the gift of a pony who loves you.

Seppy looking for treats. (Photo by Meg Frederick Photography)

Seppy looking for treats. (Photo by Meg Frederick Photography)

Karissa is 14 years old. She’s delightful, positive and bright. She works hard, is caring and laughs with everything she has. Just seeing her smile can brighten your day.

But it wasn’t always that way.

Karissa was born six weeks early at 4 pounds, 11 ounces. She spent the first three years of her life in occupational, physical and speech therapy to assist with her development and she saw a dietitian to help her gain weight, as she has always been small for her age. Her nervous system wasn’t fully developed at birth, which caused difficulty processing her environment.

Her mother, Lorie, explained that, “She spent the first five years of her life constantly working through challenges and being in a very overwhelmed state.”

By kindergarten, Karissa had learned to work through her difficulties to meet expectations. She made friends, got good grades — but she wasn’t truly happy. “She still had difficulty at times processing through unexpected changes, but with a little help was always able to work through things,” explained Lorie. “And that’s the key word — work. She never seemed to really enjoy, truly enjoy what she was doing.”

That is until a beautiful painted mare named Seppy walked into her life a few years ago.

Seppy and Karissa after a ride in the snow.  (Photo courtesy of Lorie Hagl)

Seppy and Karissa after a ride in the snow. (Photo courtesy of Lorie Hagl)

A Special Connection

Karissa and her mom can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, but something about Seppy changed Karissa’s life. All of a sudden she blossomed. She gained confidence and courage, and found herself laughing — truly laughing — like she never had before.

It brings tears to Lorie’s eyes when she thinks about Karissa’s connection with Seppy — and everything it has done for her daughter. “It was so wonderful to see her get so much enjoyment and be so happy and content,” said Lorie. “She’s just so herself when she’s with a horse, but you really see it when she’s on Seppy. She’s who she is.

“What was so neat with the transition with Seppy is that I saw her relax and be happy in her own skin,” Lorie continued. “Everything up until that point was just hard work for her. She held it together and did awesome, but things stressed her out during the day at school when she was younger. There are so many unpredictable things in our life that our bodies automatically accommodate to and when that processing system isn’t quite intact, it’s hard. She did awesome with all that, but it was nice to see her at the point that she could relax. You see her laugh at her mistakes and before, when she made a mistake, it would make her really upset and it would bother her.”

Karissa can’t quite find the words to explain why, but something about Seppy is special. “She makes me feel safe,” Karissa smiled. “She’s just so sweet and gentle and you can ask her to do anything and she’ll do it because she knows you want her to. Something drew us together. I feel like not only do I love her, but she loves me.”

Seppy and Karissa approaching a cross rail. (Photo by Meg Frederick Photography)

Seppy and Karissa approaching a cross rail. (Photo by Meg Frederick Photography)

Almost Goodbyes

Over the course of a few years, Seppy had been at the Tree House of Greater St. Louis in the therapeutic riding program in Wentzville, Missouri, a couple of times — and Karissa and Seppy had become the best of friends. When Seppy wasn’t at the riding center, Karissa and her family came to visit her and it was clear that the two were always happy to reunite.

Then, it came time for Karissa to say goodbye as Seppy was moving to Florida. “When they told us that Seppy’s owners were moving to Florida and Seppy was going with them, I was so shocked,” she said. “I couldn’t believe that she was going and I cried and cried. I couldn’t get over the fact that I was going to have to say goodbye to the pony of my dreams!”

But as it turns out, she wouldn’t have to say goodbye just yet. Though Karissa thought Seppy was long gone, the duo would have one last hoorah.

Karissa visiting Seppy in Fulton. (Photo courtesy of Lorie Hagl)

Karissa visiting Seppy in Fulton. (Photo courtesy of Lorie Hagl)

The Best Surprise Ever

One Saturday, Lorie told Karissa they needed some extra help at the riding center. Always happy to be with the horses, Karissa cheerfully obliged. But all of a sudden, things seemed out of the ordinary.

While volunteering as a lead walker in a therapeutic riding class, Karissa was called out of the ring to help unload a new horse — something Karissa didn’t usually help with. But soon it all made sense.

As Karissa approached the trailer, she recognized a woman from the boarding barn Seppy had previously been boarded at and then she peeked into the trailer and noticed the patches on Seppy’s rump. In that instant, she connected the dots and, before Seppy had even walked off the trailer, Karissa was smiling from ear to ear.

“Once they got her out of the trailer and I was holding her next to me, I gave her a great big hug,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe she was right in front of me, not in Florida — but right in front of me! I was so happy. It was the best surprise I could ever imagine.”

Best friends forever (Photo by Meg Frederick Photography)

Best friends forever (Photo by Meg Frederick Photography)

The Best of Friends

Since Seppy came back into Karissa’s life, Karissa has found herself riding around the ring with no instruction at all — a big step up from having very little confidence. And whether she’s just brushing her or riding, being with Seppy brings a smile to her face.

“I love it now that Seppy’s there,” she said. “It’s really fun to go more often and just spend time with her. Even if I’m not riding her, even if it’s braiding her mane or walking her back to her pasture after riding — it’s all fun. I love just spending time with her.”

Together, Seppy and Karissa are enjoying the little things in life — like getting a plump little pony into shape, performing mini dressage tests, cooling down bareback and, when Seppy is really good, popping over a cross rail.

Although Karissa has graduated from the Tree House of St. Louis’ able-bodied riding program and she’s currently learning to jump at a different local hunter/jumper facility, she’s happy to be spending more time where her passion for horses — and her love of Seppy — was ignited.

Karissa knows that Seppy will have to leave in the spring, but she’s happy to have a few months with her. “I know I’ll have to say goodbye again, but I’m just thrilled and so very thankful that I get to spend more time with the pony I love so very much!”

As for Lorie, she’s happy to know that — at least in part thanks to Seppy — Karissa has grown into a beautiful young woman with the “confidence, courage and the determination to face whatever comes her way.”

Though Seppy may not always be there in person, Karissa and Seppy have a bond that will last forever. They’ll always share a special connection and the lessons that Seppy has taught Karissa will stay with her forever — much like they have for me.

This article is dedicated to all the people who have been touched by a pony’s love. A special dedication also goes to Jenny Ullrich, who showed me how to give back and to Jenny, Shelley Remensnyder, Lauren Romanelli, my parents and my grandparents (whom I will forever miss) for believing in the love between a pony and a little girl.

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Tagged under: dani moritz-long, Karissa, Lorie Hagl, love, pony, seppy

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4 Comments to “ The Gift of a Pony’s Love”

  1. Katiehough says :
    March 12, 2015 at 9:13 am

    Beautifully written! I cried I love that little onus and her Magic with Karissa!

  2. Renee says :
    March 13, 2015 at 7:30 am

    What a beautiful story! Love you Dani and Seppy!

  3. Amanda says :
    March 13, 2015 at 10:34 am

    I didn’t think I was going to cry today…
    Beautiful!

  4. Sandy says :
    March 13, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    We love having Karissa at the barn! Her smile is contagious. I will miss seeing those 2 riding around the arena. However, Seppy has taught Karissa to be a good little jockey & we have more ponies that need riding!! ( I have General, my Hackney pony, and Karissa is just the right size for that little stinker!!!!) Great article!

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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