Gail Hilburn sent us the following email regarding their CANTER OTT TB, named Cheshire Kitty:

I found out about the Canter program and decided to take a chance and purchase
a horse (from a picture?!?!).  Everyone thought I was crazy!

I spoke with the trainer's wife, who was very candid with me about the horse, helped me arrange shipping, and made the overall purchase a breeze.  "Cheshire Kitty", a 3 year old, 16.3 hand filly arrived at our home/farm on July 2, 2001.   She was so beautiful I could not believe it - dark bay with dapples, blaze, sock.   She politely walked up my driveway around the house to the barn and her new home.   She proceeded to settle in very quickly.  She was amazingly quiet, sweet and affectionate.

We gave her her own pasture, but she begged to be with the two geldings, so we let her in with them and everyone was happy.  We let her relax for about three weeks, then we couldn't wait any longer and my 18 yo daughter hopped on her.  (I thought my husband was going to kill me!!!)  We were only going to walk, but everything was going so well, we moved on to trot and canter that same day.  The 2nd day my 14 yo daughter, Claire, rode her and fell in love a001&ince we had just sold her pony, Chess is now Claire's horse. Everything went so well during the first week we moved on to trotting poles, then started jumping x's.  She loves to jump and as soon as she figured out what she was "doing" at this place, she totally settled in and began trusting us totally.  The second week we progressed on to small grids.  Now Chess has been on trail rides, schooled cross country jumps up to Novice level (including water, ditches and banks) and attended her first jumping clinic in an indoor arena.

Now it is August 29, 2001 - we haven't had her two months!!

She loves us and we love her.  We plan on eventing her at low levels, then
moving on to equitation, jumpers and eventually letting her having a baby.  She has the talent and disposition for any sport.

We couldn't be happier!!!

Gail, Abby and Claire Hilburn

PS - Her show name will be Checkmate - so look for her next year in the ratings.

Here are some pictures of Cheshire Kitty: