Sanibel Baby

Proudly owned by Christine Olsen

This story was sent to us by Amber Allen, who is Christine Olsen's trainer.

Sanibel came off the track on June 6, 2000, as a three year old with a fractured sesimoid.  We had the surgery performed up at the University of Wisconsin to remove the chip. With six months off, she was set to return to any type of training.

Our facility trains many types of horses, mostly for the hunter ring, and Sanibel was started in training to be a hunter. Christine had leased a horse the summer when Sanibel was recovering and she often asked to brush Sanibel and give her treats.

Christine offically owned Sanibel in June 2001.  After almost an entire year of brushing and admiring Sanibel, Christine's dream came true. Christine and Sanibel have been extremely successful in the show ring this year.

They started their show career in Feburary 2002 at a hunter show at Dassenbrook where the two placed in almost every class they entered in the long stirrup division.  Their success continued through out the summer at an Illinois Short Circuit hunter show at State Line Farm where they placed in both the Long Stirrup Division and the Beginner Hunter Division. 

Along with preparing for horse shows, Christine and Sanibel also participate in the Fourth of July Parades in Niles and Glenview. To cap off a wonderful summer, Christine and Sanibel showed at the hunter show at Fields and Fences where Christine and Sanibel Baby were Reserve Champion Limit Hunter. These two are partners for life and have really made one of those "connections of a lifetime."

Although Sanibel was not a winning race horse, she is a beautiful hunter and a friend to Christine. It's wth sheer amazement and wonder when you see these two work together that Sanibel was days from you know where. Love and determination are amazing things and here is proof of what happens when the two come together. As Christine and Sanibel's trainer, I wish them the best of luck in the future!