Cathis Dancin (aka Nica)

New owner, Alyssa Bagin, from Wisconsin, writes:

I am an 11-year-old girl from Wisconsin. In October of 2002, I got a wonderful horse from the CANTER program. Through this program I got the thing that I wanted the most in my life. I got a 4-year-old bay (with four white socks) TB mare named Cathis Dancin now known as Nica.

Nica really matters a lot to me. When people say that they are going to get an ex-race horse I will not look at them like they are crazy, because I now know myself how much of a success they can be. I love my horse so much. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Nica has started a new career now being an excellent hunter jumper. It is so amazing how the CANTER program can change a normal ex-race horse's life in an instant.

When I saw Nica's picture, I secretly knew that she would be the best horse for me even though I didn't admit it. Once we got down to Fairmount Park and we found out how nice the trainer and his wife were, and how they took care of the horses there like they were their own, it made me feel really good to get Nica from them. If you really love horses the way that I do and you need a good companion like I did, then the CANTER program would be a good place for you to go to get that.

Nica has been kept busy having me ride her. I try to spend as much time with her as possible. Nica has many plans for the summer of 2003. She was trained three days a week for about three months and has improved so much since her arrival at Blue Spring Farm (the barn she is boarded at). This summer, now that Nica is moving along very quickly, she will be ready to show Hunter Jumper.

I think that the CANTER program is a great way to go to get your companion and best friend. When we went down with a group of people from the farm I am at to find three horses, we got what we wanted. The horses we got were Cathis Dancin (Nica), Spanky Do, and Bo's Wish. They have all turned out great. Each one of these horses has and will continue to make their owners very proud of them. In my opinion this is a program that you are guaranteed to find what you are looking for. The CANTER program is such a great place to find a horse because it gives ex-race horses a second chance that they deserve to be good at something else.

I have learned so much after getting Nica. When we first got her, I was scared, but later I lightened up and finally let her into my life and now she has made a great companion. Once you get your horse from CANTER you have to let them know that there is a place in your life for them. After you let them know that they are like a child to you, you will go through so many times when you get frustrated with them but you always have to remember that they are still learning how to do something new and different for the first time in their life. Something that I learned from having Nica is that things don't always come the way that you want them and at the exact time that you want them.

For the time that I have had Nica she has proven to me how wonderful she is and how it is so strange that she and I were sort of made for each other. We have almost the exact same personality. My life without Nica seems like it would have been terrible. Now that I have her I feel like my life is finally complete. I feel like I don't have any more empty spaces. Nica has changed my life. Not in a bad way but in an extremely good way. It is like she knows what I am thinking. Nica and I went to a show in June of 2003 and then another one in October of 2003. She and I did very well. My friend Stephanie also went to these two shows with me and did very well.

In my first show Nica and I received 3rd , 4th, and 6th place ribbons. In my second show Nica and I received FIVE 1st place ribbons and a reserve champion ribbon. Since these shows she has shown me how much she really wants to work. My first show was an experience that I will never forget. Nica and I learned so many things that will carry through out both our lives. Nica has a very flashy color to her, something that is very eye catching. I learned that Nica's colors could either work against me if I am having an off show or they can work to my advantage. So far they have helped me a lot.

One way to tell how much I love her is when I have to turn her out in the paddock or put her in her stall at night, I don't want to. I hate to have to leave her because I love her so much. I love her so much that it hurts me to go on trips because I miss her. Nica now knows my voice so well. When I am sad she is always right there. If I cry, she doesn't take her eye off of me. All she does is watches me. That is one thing that tells me how much she loves me and how much she hates to see me sad. Nica loves to be ridden and she especially loves to show. Even if she doesn't do what she is supposed to do at home whenever we go to a show she knows what she has to do and that she should do it. She also knows that after the shows if she does what she is supposed to do she will get tons of extra treats.

Nica has filled my life with excitement. Because of Nica, I will never forget all the things that I have gone through with her and all of the things that she is teaching me. Nica has also boosted my confidence. She has led me to the point where my mom and I bought a colt named Baxter.

Nica has given me the experience and even more of the joy of riding. She and I have both brought each other a long way through a windy path full of trouble, hope, courage, experience, and most of all LOVE. Nica has brought me to the realization that I can do anything that I want to as long as I set my mind on to it and never give up.

Even when Nica passes on (which wont be for a long while) I will always remember her. She has a place in my heart forever.


Our five blue ribbons!


We make a great team!