Meet Rhapsody, an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood who lives at Pine Hollow Farm in New Caney, TX. Rhapsody is a gorgeous bay mare whose barn name is “Scarlett”. Scarlett is owned and oh-so-loved by Meg. Here at Pine Hollow is where this delightful duo trains with Will Roberts.
Scarlett’s sire is Bustique and her dam is Toselli Bay. Do you remember what this means? This means Scarlett’s Dad is Bustique and her Mom is Toselli Bay. Scarlett is a charming mare with one little white sock on her back foot. She is a smaller more petite horse, which is fitting to her soft-spoken, kind-hearted personality. But don’t let Scarlett fool you! She might be small, but sure is mighty and will be sure to let you know who is boss!
As equestrians, we get so attached to our ponies, it’s a different kind of bond a horse and rider have with one another. If you’re lucky enough in your lifetime you will come across a horse that you have the grandest bond with. An unspeakable one. A bond that only the two of you know and is undeniable. If you’re lucky enough, you will find your heart horse. They are there for you when times are tough when you have a bad day when you’re not feeling good, or to lift your spirits. Bonds like these are ones that you will cherish for a lifetime and are so incredibly meaningful. This is how Meg describes Scarlett, her heart horse.
Meg shares how connected she feels to Scarlett. She is such an expert at her job and believes that she really loves doing it as well. “No matter what mistakes I make she ALWAYS has her ears forward and takes me to every jump with such a happy expression. She is petite and dainty but she has an enormous stride – she likes to show the big boys who’s boss! Scarlett is the bravest horse in the barn and leads everyone when we go on trail rides. I’ve never had a bad moment with Scarlett. One of my favorite memories with her is cantering along the grass track at the Kentucky horse park. She is so brave and I can completely relax and trust her with a loopy rein. I know she’ll always take care of me.”
I think a lot of people forget how smart these 1,400 pound+ animals actually are. Meg tells us that Scarlett is extremely smart. Much smarter than most humans! Scarlett is very curious and interested in just about everything. “When you are riding her she can be a little sassy during practice, but as soon as it’s time to show, she puts her game face on. If I want to cut the turn, she makes sure we go all the way out to the rail and then does a perfect lead change. I swear she knows the course before she goes in the ring!” says Meg.
Do you remember the horse that Meg previously owned named Pony? Well, she also owns another horse named Nelson, who you will meet later in the book and Megs shares that Scarlett is a little bit more particular than both Nelson and Pony. Scarlett really picks her people versus loving anyone and everyone who gives her treats. Since she doesn’t really care about food or treats as much as most, she can’t be bribed as easily! Scarlett absolutely loves gentle pets and scratches behind her ears.
Meg purchased Scarlett from Jen Alfano in Katy, TX at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in March of 2020. Meg shared that when she first tried her she absolutely adored her and knew she was the perfect match. After the horse show, they both went home to relax. Unfortunately, Scarlett was in her turn out and got spooked by something. She ended up running into the fence with her right hind end. Because she’s a girl and she’s one of the absolute TOUGHEST out there, she never took a lame step. In other words, if a horse takes a lame step or is “lame” this means they could be weak, hurt, or crippled. Scarlett ended up with a huge scar from the incident which is where we think she gets all of her power from! And as soon as she was able to go back to work, Meg was able to buy her! The pair have been showing together ever since and are as happy as can be! Meg and Scarlett have accomplished so many wonderful things with one another and are continuously developing each day together.
Karinda K. is a Houston, TX based equine photographer that travels around the United States photographing equestrians and their horses. Karinda specializes in Outdoor Horse & Rider Portrait sessions that bring to life the magical relationship equestrians share with their horses, Senior Portraits, and Fine Art Black & White Background Portraits for those that want a piece of art featuring their very own animals. Karinda accepts a limited number of private clients each year, if you are interested in having her photograph you and your horse or an equestrian in your life, you can reach the studio by sending an email to equine@karinda(.)com or calling (832)598-8715.
Portraits for Charity was an idea Karinda dreamt up to help give back to families impacted by Childhood Cancer in memory of her husband’s sister Jessica. During the 2021 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Karinda photographed around 140 Horses, Dogs, and even Goats, and was able to donate $10,000 to Candlelighter’s Houston. These are the stories of the Horses, Dogs, and Goats that were photographed at the show, these stories complement a photographic book that Karinda is printing and donating to Texas Children’s Hospital featuring Portraits of each and every animal she photographed.
If you are interested in having Karinda attend your event and host a Portraits for Charity day, send an email to equine@karindak(.)com.
