Your hear the term “heart horse” all the time, but you never really understand it until you feel it. I met Maverick for what seems like a minute, but I will remember him forever. He was a middle aged paint gelding with stunning blue eyes. They were sprinkled with brown to go with the dark markings on his face, and I thought it was the cutest thing.

He was a puppy on the ground, and just an absolute lover. He was great for grooming, tacking (even when I left his girth too tight to wait for the little cousins) and he was kind when taking treats. We took great photos together, I just wish I had more than this one.

Below are the only other photos of Maverick I could find from family, and they barely do him justice.

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The sticking point for Maverick, and turning point for me in terms of my bond with Mavy, was one of our rides the summer I met him. We were in the arena at the barn, and I was trotting around really well and changing my leads when needed. And then one of the kiddo cousins dropped something, and Maverick took off like a bullet. At the time I didn’t know what to do so like any kid I kind of yelped and yelled in horror as the animal beneath me truly came to life and took me on the ride of my life. We nearly went through the arena wall towards the back, I would’ve hit a tree on the way and within a few moments fallen into a canal for irrigation. Luckily for Mavy and I, my grandmother snapped me back to reality, told me to quit screaming and actually ride my horse. We were able to figure things out and have a good ride for the day. I probably grabbed a carrot or two, Maverick’s hock ointment and a Dr Pepper from the fridge post ride and called it a day at the barn after stalls.

When I got home to Los Angeles plus a few months, I found out Lori/Grandma Jacobs had sold Maverick to be someone’s pasture pet in Arizona somewhere due to some obedience issues. I always hoped he was happy, and if I ever saw him, I would buy him in a heartbeat. He was everything like the horses my family bred and he holds a special spot in my heart.