Esmeralda was a special horse for me. She was not on our sales list, but I felt in my heart it was the right time and situation to let her go to a new home and sometimes we are asked to make a sacrifice to receive the next blessing. I'd say she was a once in a lifetime, but I believe God will bless me with another when the time is right. She was conceived on my farm in TX a few months after Carlos and I started dating, was born in Ocala and then came back to Texas when she was 3 weeks old. She was always something special and while Carlos usually had the best horses, Esmeralda chose me as her own and taught me the world of the Paso Fino show ring. It was even better that she was grey - my favorite color from the time I was a little girl. She loved to give hugs, and had a fantastic personality. She did everything I ever asked of her with a desire for perfection that came from within her. I showed her at her first show when she was 3 years old and she entered the arena like she had been born there - nothing ruffled her and she seldom spooked. At PFHA Nationals in 2002, Esmeralda and I made it to the last 8 horses in a 54-horse Pleasure Mares class, which was a huge honor, even though we did not receive placement. She and Shelley DeLong were quite a team at the National level, placing in Performance Sub-Junior and Junior and were Reserve National Champion Pleasure Junior in 2002. She hated entering the arena last  - she was a fierce competitor and knew the show procedures so well that she responded to the announcer, even in a work-off. Because of this, she taught many children to show on her - she took over for them and safely returned them to their parents at the end of the class - usually with the blue ribbon. She was always trustworthy - I taught children as young as 3 to ride on her and I myself rode her when I was 8 months pregnant. She gave Isabella the confidence to ride in her first show in walk corto leadline at Extravaganza 2007. She is a gem and has been my equine partner for 12 years.

She gave us some wonderful offspring, who carry their mother's temperament and honesty. Campana made dreams come true for two of her owners: Diane Jones' first National ribbon in Fino A/O 3yr. Filles and later for Alison Crooks she was National Champion Sub-Junior Horsemanship. Esmeralda's next colt was struck by lightning and died just after weaning. Retrato was next and is a 3 year old and has his mother's wonderful disposition and unflappable nature. There is another yearling colt by Patrimonio de Besilu and her last filly for us by Comentario de Selecta was just weaned and is spectacular. She is the only one to have her mother's color and very similar markings.

Congratulations to the Besilu Collection where she will teach the Leon grandchildren to ride.  

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