Home:
Brentwood,
Tennessee

Photo:
Michael's Photography

As people would come looking for a horse to buy, Jesse would show off this proud but temperamental athlete, hoping to find him a good home. But, After Midnight wouldn't let anyone in the saddle but Jesse. As a horse that had only "run left for a living," he was very stiff to his right, and his strong "Ewe" neck made him look like a camel. Finally, when After Midnight wouldn't sell, the friendly farm's owner accepted an offer from Jesse. She would put $500.00 down (her life savings) and make monthly payments. For Jesse and After Midnight, a love affair was born.

Jesse had her work cut out for her, After Midnight had two speeds: Full Speed Ahead, and Mach 1. As an ex-Steeplechaser, anytime After Midnight came close to a race course or a cross-country course, he would start to jig and run. If a Dressage ring was inside the race track, like the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the Dressage test was sure to be a disaster. It was years before Jesse could slow After Midnight down enough to begin competing at the Beginner Novice level in the Middle Tennessee Pony Club Horse Trials.

During their first years of competitive horseback riding, Jesse and After Midnight participated in 4-H programs, eventually winning State Championships in Open Jumping, and representing Tennessee at the Southern Regional 4-H Championships in Oklahoma and Louisiana.

All their hard work paid off when, in 1999, Jesse was ranked 8th in the USCTA National Awards for Preliminary Junior Rider, and After Midnight was ranked 18th nationally in Preliminary Horse. That same year, the twosome also won the USCTA Bronze Medal Award for placing 2nd three times at the Preliminary level in the same competition year.

During the Summer of 2000, Jesse, through her membership with the Middle Tennessee Pony Club, took the USPC H-A rating exam and was one of only three candidates out of nine, who passed the three day test. She plans to take her A rating in 2001. Jesse represents MTPC at Regional and National USPC Rallies. In the Summer of 2000, she was invited by the USPC to be a Visiting Instructor in Riverton, Connecticut, and taught 12 students of varying ages and abilities.

In 1995 Jesse began training with Bill and Lori Hoos, and went on to be a working student for them in 1996 and 1997 With Bill and Lori as her trainers, Jesse and After Midnight went from last place in Novice at Big Bear H.T. to placing 2nd in their first Intermediate Horse Trials at River Glen in 1999.

Jesse and After Midnight Photo by Cheryl Clark

"I remember my first two events that I rode with Bill as my trainer. I really wanted to impress him," Jesse laughs. "I fell off in the water, and After Midnight took the next two jumps by himself. After I caught him and remounted, we finished both events, but not until I won the coveted, 'Wil-Lo Blue Farm, Golden Snorkel Award!' People wanted to know how I got my flippers into my stirrups!"

Jesse plans to continue riding After Midnight at the Intermediate Level, and is bringing along a new horse, a seven year old chestnut Thoroughbred, named Desert Fox. She'll be starting him at Novice Level.

In 1999, Jesse graduated from Franklin Road Academy as President of the Senior Class. As a full-time student at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Jesse majors in Agri-Business with a specialty in Equine Science, and is on the Dean's List. In the evenings, she works as a cook at a fine dining restaurant in Franklin, TN, to make ends meet.

Jesse and After Midnight Photo by Jim Stoner Photography

Jesse is a proud member of the American Horse Trials Foundation; and she is grateful to all of the sponsors who are making it possible for her to pursue her goal of someday making the United States Equestrian Team.

... As for After Midnight, he continues to find the sweetest grass in the field, and his eyes are always searching for that next jump.