One in a million This month’s winner is Dusti, aka JB Casbrook, who was nominated by Claire Ritchie of Feilding. She writes: When I tell my friends that a year ago, I was scared of horses, they don’t believe me. But I’d been injured from a kick to the hip, and after that I’d decided I hated horses. But in the next school holidays, Mum dragged me to the arena to watch my sister have a lesson with her trainer. She was enjoying herself, and I was sulking, when Mum’s friend asked me if I wanted to have a ride on Dusti. He was a short and kind of funny-looking chestnut quarter horse gelding. I was scared to ride him, as I didn’t want to be hurt like the last time. I got on him, clutching on the horn of the western saddle for dear life, but Dusti didn’t move. Someone had to come behind him and give him a slap on the backside before he would move a hoof – the perfect horse for a beginner like me. Dusti became the most fun and best friend I had ever had. We ended up leasing him for a year and we placed in every class we competed in at Western shows. In our last show together, we won our first class. It was freestyle costume reining which was awesome, as deep down I knew that this was our last show. In May, we were told that Dusti had been bought by a lovely family in Christchurch. My heart was ripped out by the thought that Dusti would be leaving our farm in the Manawatu, but I knew that he was going to a great home with young boy who wanted a “bomb proof” horse to learn to ride on. Dusti left on the Majestic horse truck to go to Christchurch where he was greeted by his new family, who love him dearly. He has fitted in well with his new family and adapted to the climate with his new pyjamas and plenty of grass.  I am now riding Opal, my sister’s Appaloosa, and am very excited to show her this season. Since meeting Dusti, my attitude has changed totally. I am addicted to horses and can’t get enough. Dusti is definitely one in a million.     Is your horse or pony one in a million? Each month we’ll feature one very special equine on this page. They don’t have to be champions, or have won hundreds of rosettes, to qualify. Just send in a picture of your horse or pony with a brief letter explaining why you’re nominating him or her. The featured horse each month will win a voucher to the value of $100 from theSaddlery Warehouse. Send to: Saddlery Warehouse One in a Million NZ Horse & Pony Magazine PO Box 12965 Penrose, Auckland or email editor@horse-pony.co.nz. Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you’d like your photograph returned.