Introductions

Welcome to my blog! My name is Patricia Augustine. I am sixteen years old and I live in Texas. I have been riding Dressage for around ten years, but my horsey-obsession began at birth! My four-legged dance partner is named Bohemio CR, or as we call him, "Boz."


Boz is a thirteen year-old, red-headed Lusitano gelding that I have been riding for a little over a year. We've competed USEF First through Third Level and started to show the FEI Junior tests in March of 2019. We are currently trying for the Region 9 NAYC Junior Team (Go Region 9!!)


I decided to start a blog because I thought that sharing my experiences online would be a great way to document them. Boz and I have a lot of "firsts" planned this year, and I'm so excited to be able to write about them.


You might be wondering where the term "Red Wonder Horse" came from, and I'm happy to explain! In July of 2017, Boz had a reaction to a rabies vaccine in his right-hind leg. What was first thought to be minor inflammation from the injection turned into a horrible bacterial infection known as clostridial myositis. Most people are familiar with this bacteria, as it is often associated with Banamine injections given in the muscle; however, I hope to raise awareness that this infection can occur with any type of intramuscular injection.

At the time, Boz belonged to (and still does) a very close friend of mine, but that didn't make it any less difficult. My heart hurt for my friend and for her family during those weeks. I was a working student for a Dressage trainer across the state at the time. I remember making a trip home for a weekend visit and my mom and I stopped by the equine hospital to say "goodbye" to him. The prognosis wasn't good, and we didn't know if we would have another chance. I hadn't developed a connection with him yet, but seeing any horse in that type of situation is enough to weigh heavy on your heart. It is an infection that few horses survive, and he was truly fighting for his life.


He should have died.


But he didn't. He is a fighter at heart, and survived through the thick of it. Boz spent six weeks in ICU, but with the help of a phenomenal team of vets, and the unwavering faith of his owner, Boz was cleared to go home in late September of 2017. In January of 2018, Boz and I started our journey together.


He had most of the muscle in his right-hind leg taken out, so re-developing that the best that we could was our first goal. He was such a trier in the beginning, but his personality was quiet. The infection had changed a part of him, and he was very insecure in almost everything. Flash-forward a year, and this goofball has an ego the size of a blimp, often trying to tell me that he knows everything!

He has come so far, and he has helped me grow in so many ways. Not limited to my equestrian life, this horse has taught me so many valuable life lessons that I hope to share on here. I can't imagine going through this incredible journey without him, and I hope you all enjoy my semi-coherent ramblings about this miracle horse. Thank you for reading!