Sophomores love their horses, bring them to school
Carmen Mesbergen
Issue date: 9/24/09 Section: News
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But they can't chat with these particular friends over lunch in the Knorr Family Dining Room, study together after classes, or even attend the football game together. Instead, they meet their boon companions at the barn.
Bug in a Bottle, or "Bug," and Silver Lining, nicknamed "Trixie," await their human friends with equal enthusiasm. For the two horses living at Wingate Farms in west Hillsdale, the very sight of West and LeCompte is a highlight of their day, which they express through softly nickered welcomes and gentle tosses of velvety muzzles.
West began to love horses as a little girl reading "Black Beauty" and dreaming about the day she would someday have her own horse to love and care for.
"Even though I grew up in the suburbs my entire childhood, I started riding in third grade because my parents were cool enough to let me take riding lessons," she said. "Being around horses was such a great extracurricular activity I knew I would always have to stay with it."
In July 2007, when West embarked upon a horse shopping adventure, it didn't take her long to find the 16.2 hands-high, dark bay thoroughbred gelding who would become her beloved Bug.
"He had recently come off the racetrack and was kept at a ranch with so many other horses that he was really skinny because he never got enough to eat," West said.
Today Bug has a well-groomed coat and a nourished body.
West decided to have Bug professionally hauled to Hillsdale from St. Louis, Mo., and declared Wingate his home barn to avoid the stress of future residence changes.
"Besides," West said, "he loves anything crunchy, so all of those tasty fall leaves and the ice everywhere in the winter, are just too hard to resist!"
At least every other day, Bug has the happiness of seeing West.
"They take great care of him here when I'm not always able to check in with him," she said. "But I try to see him as much as possible. He's the best substitute for a social life!"
LeCompte and Trixie share a similar relationship.
Together since LeCompte was seven years old and Trixie a recently injured racehorse from Arlington Heights, Ill., the two share a love that only years of trust and mutual support could craft.
The 14-year-old gray thoroughbred Irish sport horse mare ended her racing career at two years of age after puncturing her left foreleg in a stabling accident. Originally scheduled for slaughter, she was rescued by LeCompte's family, who gave her a full year of pasture rest before beginning training. After weeks of flat work in the arena, Trixie discovered her love of jumping.
"I remember being terrified of her at first because I was used to riding a small pony," LeCompte said. "But by the time we started jumping, I just loved her so much, and when I found out how much of a natural jumper she was, I thought 'Holy Cow! This horse can jump the moon!'"
Since then, Trixie and LeCompte have competed in three-day eventing, the equestrian version of a triathlon. Requiring versatility, courage and endurance, the sport combines the elegance of dressage, the boldness of cross-country jumping, and the precision of show jumping, over a period of three days. Eventing levels range from beginner novice to four-star competition, where riders can qualify for a chance at the Olympics as a part of the United States equestrian team. Last summer, LeCompte and Trixie completed their first one-star event.
During the school year, LeCompte rides at least five days a week, alternating arena work, ground lessons and jumping, according to her training schedule.
"Even if it takes an hour out of a really busy day to come ride, I make it happen," LeCompte said. "There's nothing like Trixie to make a chaotic day end well."
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