Hello! This is a brief story about how I started horseback riding at Mega Arte. When I was about the age of 14 years old, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, stage 4B. A type of cancer. I went through a long tough battle and had to have strong chemotherapy. After a few month of being in remission I was put into ICU because I had no immune system. I was in the ICU for a few weeks on life support. I had ARDS. (Acute respiratory distress syndrome). The doctors told my parents that I only had a 20% survival rate due to the fact that my lungs were collapsing as well as the rest of my body failing on me.\r
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I somehow pulled through and was put into rehab to learn how to walk and write again. After my battle Make A Wish Foundation explained to me that I qualified to have a wish because I had had a life threatening illness. I knew what I wanted! I told Make A Wish I wanted to learn how to horseback ride as well as own my own horse.\r
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As the time came, I interviewed many different stables in San Diego, and came across Mega Arte Riding Academy and trainer Meg Brown. I knew I wanted to train with Meg because she was very positive and had all kinds of rescued horses and farm animals. Meg had introduced me to a young horse named Jasmine, who I fell in love with. Jasmine was still young and was not started under the saddle yet. She had been abused in Lakeside where Meg had found her. As for me, I was still very weak and skinny that I could hardly get into the saddle without some help. Meg decided to teach me how to ride on her sweet school master Opus for a few months. And then eventually I would ride Jasmine. Meg encouraged me to fight and regain my strength and never let me give up, she rode and trained Jasmine for me at the same time as I rode Opus and I learned how to correctly start a young horse. I began training Dressage and rode in a few local schooling shows on Jasmine. The whole experience lifted my spirit and made me stronger.\r
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I am now almost 23 years old and have been in remission for almost nine years. I still visit and ride Jasmine often. I know our bond is strong. Jasmine has taught me so much. And although my two year lease had expired Meg kept my horse for me at no charge and allowed me to earn my riding lesson as her assistant instructor for pony parties and summer camps.\r
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Meg is a great trainer and friend and I have learned so much from her and her horses in the last 8 years. I would highly recommend Meg as a trainer to everyone. She is very patient with all ages, new or experienced riders. She is a great horse trainer and knows how to start young horses under the saddle the proper way. She is gentle yet effective.\r
Thanks for reading!
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