Smart Lil Chill

Harrisburg was fun.  We loved being together and actually learned a lot.  We paid particular notice to Craig Cameron’s challenges and patterns using safety cones. So, when we came home, we discovered we needed some of our own to play with. Richard and his checkbook generously contributed to our Expo frenzy and purchased 10 huge lime green cones! Tom just shook his head.

About that phone call….I had painstakingly kept my mouth shut during the Expo about Chill.  I didn’t want to share this news until I spoke to Tom and found out all the details.

It was true. Tom said she was mine if I wanted her.  She was a little more money than my steamboat Roxy, but well worth it.  Actually, this decision was a lot harder to make than I thought it would be.  Giving up Roxy, to me, meant that I would never be able to ride her...like I gave up too soon.  She was beautiful and would have turned out to be a spectacular cutting horse and I really wanted to succeed with her.

It was during this time when Ms. Courtney Riley and I became friends. Courtney is strong willed, extremely funny and a naturally gifted, talented rider.  Of course she would be… being Tom’s wife and the salt of RHO! We had many conversations over my decision to take Chill.  To Courtney, the decision was a “no brainer” She actually was the one responsible to talk Tom into selling her.  Deep down, Tom knew that Chill was for me, it just took him some time and effort on Courtney’s part to get there!

So, I let the news out to my BWBs. I can still see the look on Sue’s face when she found out Chill was for sale… to me! They all knew Roxy was a handful and saw how good Chill and I were for each other. Sharon, on the other hand…knew that this would happen. 

“Michele, you can’t handle Roxy… Might I remind you of the time Donna, Sue and I were riding in the field and Roxy chased us all over… at a full gallop... charging us?? It wasn’t fun.  Ummmmm…. get rid of her”

The only thing I purchased at the Expo for Roxy was a lime green and purple monogrammed halter and lead rope. Strangely enough, I never asked for her papers nor did I get a stall plaque.  Those two things were almost just as important to me as the horse herself!

The deal was made sitting on the back of Tom’s truck.  We discussed the future with Chill and how he was really proud of how well we were doing together.

“You know how many people wanted this mare?  I could have sold her ten times over for double this price. Her breeding out a' Smart Lil Lena tells it all. Chill’s your mare.  Believe me when I tell ya”

I believed that.  I also knew that Tom Riley had a plan all along for me…from the second I rode Peaches, he knew.  He changed my life. He gave me back my love of riding, my sense of belonging and purpose and the closest horse to Satin that I could ever imagine.  For this, I will always love and respect Tom Riley.  He is the true meaning of what a horseman is and someone I call friend. He is far above all those fancy gimmick trainers and show people out there… Tom Riley is the ultimate, no frills, down to earth, most HONEST trainer in the business.  Believe me when I tell ya.