Acierto came to me from Glorioso Farms in Celina, Texas as a 2 yr old colt. I wanted to find a special horse and build my dream.  I remember saying to Acierto's breeder Dawn Griggs, just before he climbed on to my beat up old truck and trailer with a baby on my hip, "I'm going to make him a star." Graciously, she smiled. Several years passed before we met again and with that same smile we shared pride in what we had done. 

Now in his 15th year, looking back we have shared so much. I have been both student and teacher. Working with a horse that has a mind like Acierto is rare pleasure. He has always been the horse I trusted to do the job first. Acierto has done a large number of shows . Thankfully has stayed strong and continues to challenge me. 

I have trained several Liberty horses during my career. When the time came for Acierto to join me in the dance, the training started early summer in 2002, to my surprise 4 months later he was ready. I think we both had the experience and trust in each other that enabled us to accomplish this in such a short time frame, It had never happened before.  Of course as I can not say enough, "the training never ends." We still had a long journey ahead of us.

Going into larger arenas and developing more intricate movement, somewhere along the road we became partners.  The audience would talk to me after the show about our connection, I thought for a long time that was an appearance I created with training, another example of my time as his student. I see so much more in horses because of him. I now know that the bond between human and horse can be very powerful. 

I believe for all of us life can knock us down. Finding the strength to stand and brush off the dirt can seem impossible. For me it came from my faith, my beautiful daughter Alexa and a love for a stallion who made our family complete.