Hi, I’m Seven.
Yes, like the number.
No, I don’t know why either.
I used to race—well, I used to run fast in straight lines while humans yelled things.
Then one day I stopped doing that, and they called me an OTTB, which I later learned means:
Officially Transitioned To Being Beautiful.
And that’s when Marli showed up.
She walked into the arena, quiet but determined.
Not loud like some riders.
Not overly careful either.
Just… calm.
Horses notice that kind of calm.
She didn’t rush.
She didn’t pull.
She didn’t fuss about her reins every 3 seconds.
Instead, she looked at me like I was not just a horse—
but her horse.
Humans don’t always realize this,
but we know before you do.
She rode me that day.
We only jumped little fences.
But I felt something new.
She didn’t push me to be fancy.
She didn’t rush me to be perfect.
She let me think.
She let me try.
She let me be proud when I did it well.
So naturally, I gave her my best trot—
my show trot, the one I save for special humans.
A week later, she came back.
Two weeks later, she brought treats.
Three weeks later, she brought a saddle that actually fit.
Four weeks later, she brought tears.
Happy ones.
Because I was officially hers.
And that’s when our real adventure began.
She said we’d start at 2’.
Then maybe 2’3”.
Then—possibly—2’6”.
I said,
“I will do it…
but only if the jumps are decorated nicely.”
She agreed.
I jumped.
She cheered (quietly, but I felt it).
We grew.
We learned.
We went to places with fancy initials like WEC.
There were flowers.
I did not spook.
(Okay—only once.)
Marli likes to say I gave her confidence.
But here’s a secret:
She gave me mine, too.
She believed in me
before I believed in myself.
Now when we walk into the ring,
she doesn’t wonder if we belong.
She knows we do.
And I do, too.
Because I’m not just Seven anymore.
I’m Marli’s Seven.
And we’re just getting started.
If you’re ever lucky enough to have a human who listens,
don’t just carry them.
Go with them.
Grow with them.
And trot a little fancier when they’re watching.
—
Follow her on Instagram: @eq_marliii
