Naj was imported as a 3 yo as a sale project for a partner and I to do together. Only a few months into the partnership, due to unforeseen circumstances with the barn Hidden Gem was based out of in IL closing, my partner moved her other horses closer to home and Hidden Gem relocated to KY. In a wonderful turn of events I was able to buy my partner out and be the sole owner of this sweet talented then 4 year old. That year I started bringing him along, doing a mini trial and a couple rated dressage shows. He had great scores at Training and First Level!

Naj is one of the sweetest, most polite horses I have ever met, but he did have some major phobias. The farm we were at in IL had some pot bellied pigs, goats and donkeys. He was utterly terrified of the pigs and never got over them while we were at that farm. This phobia led me to look into using much more ground work and looking into different ways to work with this horse.

As a five year old, Naj came along on our winter Aiken trip. While in Aiken we were able to really start focusing on his training for eventing and dressage. We came home to Kentucky April 2023, and competed at MLEC Spring Classic and received High Score at First Level. He had so much promise!

Then in May of 23, he came in from the field one day with severe back pain. He was soon diagnosed and treated for Lymes Disease, but the back pain never got better. Through many x-rays, ultrasounds, and bone scans the vet team at Rood and Riddle could never pinpoint a diagnosis or cause other than knowing it is muscular. He gets lots of modalities daily, regular bodywork by Beth Sabor, focused nutrition, supplements and chinese herbs. The biggest thing to help him has been his rehab work. Working with Dr. Megan Repking of Vetspine long distance for additional insight to develop a unique physical therapy program that focuses on slow strengthening of his back has been the biggest help. I've been doing lots of long line work, in hand, ground work, etc- which is working! Now we have added working with weights on a surcingle and with a saddle, weighted boots, only canter, over poles, hill work. His back pain definitely improves with and after work.

While I don’t know if he will ultimately have to retire at a very young age or make a full recovery back to competition, it is looking like a year after symptom onset I will be able to try to ride walk soon. This horse has made me think outside the box more than others in my career. He has led me to look into and learn way more ground work. Originally to deal with his red zone phobic reactions because my go to ways were not working. And then in his lengthy physical therapy! He has helped me grow in my horsemanship and education. He’s the soundest most spectacular looking unrideable horse I’ve ever seen.