Fallbrook Silver Spurs: The Beginning

A little bit of insight from Fallbrook Silver Spurs President, Jayne Olson:

"In 1996 I was in the middle of a bad custody battle
with my ex-husband. I had just purchased an old
California ranch home on three acres in Fallbrook,
CA. My daughter was turning ten, and was in love
with playing with toy horses. She saw an open area
with some fencing on the property, and said
"Mommy, we could get some horses." For her
birthday I got her a private lesson to learn how to
ride. After the lesson I could tell something was
different about her. She was her bubbly, happy self
for the first time in a long time. For over a year the
divorce was hard on everyone, but my daughter
seemed to have the hardest time adjusting. She was
carrying a burden of some sort, and I didn't know
what it was. After the lesson she was herself again.
We signed up for group riding lessons after seeing
this change. When she was brushing the ponies she
would talk to them. One day I walked close by, and
heard her telling the pony her secrets. It was about
how she was feeling about the divorce, and things
she thought she couldn't tell me. She could tell the
pony. Sad as this was, I realized how therapeutic
this was for her. From then on out I found a way to
finance my daughter's lessons.



In December of 2001 I purchased my first fjord,
and it only took several weeks to figure out how
unique this breed is. Katrine (aka Katy) came to me
by strange circumstance. I won't go into that now.
That is another story! I really didn't know what a
fjord was, but thought I had seen one at a Pony Club
Rally earlier in the year. My horse breed book was
pulled off of the shelf, and I tried to find the Fjord
Horse. I found Fjord in the Pony section. After
doing some fast reading and research I decided to


jump in and buy Katrine. Katy was seven and a half
years old, barely halter broke, and worse of all was a
"pet". She did jump into my trailer without
hesitation. Within three months she was attending
Open Shows with my trainer riding her in walk/trot,
Halter, and walk/jog. I had owned every breed of
horse before purchasing Katy, and was very
impressed with her. Yes, she is stubborn, and the
alpha over my other five fjords, but she is worth her
weight in gold when it comes to working with
children.

A friend of mine had started a new equestrian
non-profit in 2001 that catered to youth, and
affordable instruction. Our daughter's rode together
in the local Pony Club. She talked me into being the
Secretary, and my new husband into being the
Treasurer. My friend then had some issues in her
life, and quit doing the work as the President, as well
as her husband quit being the Vice President, and
another friend who was the Board Member at Large
also never showed up or assisted the club. So it was
my husband and I running the non-profit, and
the "friend" what was the absentee President
wouldn't let us put anyone else in office. One of the
trainers was quite the organizer, and helped
tremendously with fundraising, and
hosting Schooling Shows. We had drummed up over
40 families in the Fallbrook area to ride in the lesson
program of this group. This went on for several
years, and in 2004 a new non-profit was started
called "Fallbrook Silver Spurs". Lessons cost $25.00
per month for two lessons. "A" circuit instructors
teach the group, several Schooling Shows are hosted
yearly, as well as a three day summer camp, and
educational clinics.

What I am most proud of with Fallbrook Silver
Spurs is the sponsoring of children for our
Scholarship Program. The children who have
qualified in the past have had terrible things happen
to them. They may have had cancer, or their parents
are in prison or may be dead, and their grandparents
are raising them. Some parents have had many
surgeries, lost their jobs, or just are disabled, and do
not have the finances to have their child ride. There
are lots of sad stories that go along with the
Scholarship children. This is where my fjords come
in. Katy, Ry Ry, (Anika Reidun), MBF Kisha, and
OH Stors are lesson/camp veterans. Katy is the
consummate professional. She is now 16, and for
the past six years has helped more than 30 children
and adults achieve their dreams of riding and
showing in English, Western, Trail, showing Halter,
Cross Country, Trail, and low Hunter jumping.

On May 16th, 2010 Katy and Ry Ry had three
girls show them in English, and Western at the
Spring Open Schooling Show that was co-sponsored
by Fallbrook Silver Spurs and Sundance Hills
Equestrian Center. This was the first show for two
of them, and a second show for another. They faired
well without much coaching (I was stuck in the
announcer's booth all day), and let the fjords do what
they do best. Many ribbons are now lining the walls
of their rooms. Katy did Halter, English, Western,
and Trail with two of the girls. Ry Ry did Western
classes with another. Ry Ry did win "Naked Trail".
Ask me later...ha, ha!! My proudest moment at the
show was watching one of the girls assist the other
girls, students, care for the fjords, show Katy, and
helped take down the show. She had a smile on her
face the whole time. Felicia was my first
Scholarship child. She has come in and out of my
life for over six years, and here she is at 19 years of
age helping the other younger girls. She was giving
back without me asking her to. Her life hasn't been
an easy one, and seeing her take charge of the
younger girls to help them made my heart swell with
pride.

This June 17, 18, and 19th is Fallbrook Silver
Spur's Summer Camp. Adults as well as children are
encouraged to attend. Camp costs only $25.00 for
two lessons a day. This year Vaulting has been
added to the agenda as well as English, Western,
Dressage, and low jumping. A trail course will be
set up with a deep water crossing for attendees to
practice on. You will see Katy, Ry Ry, MBF Kisha,
and OH Stors there. I think Katy is going to become
a Vaulting horse this year! Fallbrook Silver Spurs is
sponsoring two little girls from the Boys and Girls
Club of North County San Diego for camp. Who
knows ....maybe there will be other fjords attending
this year! If you would like information about camp
email me @: mbffjords@gmail.com or call
(760)731-3268."


(From the "Spring 2010 Vestlandshest Newsletter")