Apache

When I was a little girl, I read a book called Summer Pony by Jean Slaughter Doty.  This book was about a young girl named Ginny whose parents decide to rent a pony for her for the summer.  Instead of being the shining show pony of Ginny’s dreams, the pony they rent is a shabby, spotted underweight mare with one blue eye.  But under Ginny’s care, her pony, Mokey, begins to blossom, and Ginny learns that this little mare has more to offer than meets the eye.

Ever since reading that book, I've dreamed of owning my own spotted mare, black and white with blue eyes.  In 1998, I met my dream horse.  Then a little under two years old, Apache was the horse that I was assured the breeder would never sell.  But when the breeder fell on hard times, he offered Apache to me.  I did so much with Apache—riding challenging trails, camping, and breeding her twice, once to The Viking's horse, Red Hawk, when he was still a stallion.

Apache and I in about 2003, before we went to bitless bridles.

It was through Apache that I discovered there are better ways to train a horse than to “cowboy” them, and this started her down the path of rediscovering the true art and joy of riding.  We learned together with a certified John Lyons trainer.  Their journey focused on building trust and respect between horse and rider through resistance free type training that focuses on positive reinforcement and communicating to the horse in their own language.

When I decided she wanted to start showing and Red Hawk was gelded, Apache no longer had a place in my life.  So we sold her to a friend of The Viking.  That friend since sold her to another person, and I lost track of her.

One day while surfing the Internet, I found an ad for Apache.  I couldn't believe it--she was up for sale!  After many years of trial and error with other horses, I realized that she had continued to think about Apache and miss her.  After keeping in touch with the owners for several months, Apache came back into my life.  My heart was finally whole again.  She is truly the most important horse in my life, and we absolutely need each other.

Apache is now retired.  She has genetic hoof problems that have plagued her for years, mostly the problem of no depth of sole.  While with the other owner, she foundered due to poor care.  Now she has too much pain to be ridden.  She's 18 years old (born March 1997) and will stay with us until she's in too much pain to continue to be a part of this world.

Apache is 3/4 Tennessee Walking Horse and 1/4 Quarter Horse.  She is registered as Sun Chief's Apache with the Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association.

Apache and her first foal, Elected as Chief Chakotay, "Chakotay."  Born 11-7-2000.

Apache and her second foal, Apache Whitecloud Katsina.  Born 3-16-2002.

A word about Apache's name...

Apache came to us with her name, and it really does seem to fit her.  The Apache Indians were widespread across the Southwest, northern Mexico, the Great Plains, and Texas.  They were known to be a powerful war tribe, but were also great strategists.  The tribe was also known to produce some great leaders in the Native American culture, including Cochise and Geronimo.  Apache is also good at figuring things out—she’s easy to train and has figured out how to open stall doors.  She can be a leader of the herd when needed and will even lead on the trails.

We also know that Native Americans of all tribes relied on their horses as valuable assets to their way of life.  The horses weren’t just valued for riding, they were also valued for their spiritual influence over humans.  The Apache used horse healing ceremonies, where they believed shamans who knew the horse well can cure human ailments.  An agent of the horse could also grant supernatural powers to any human to help him heal his horse in times of sickness.

Apache and Virga, 1-28-2015