Ok, I couldn't help myself xD Here is riding instructor #2
Name: Julia (Jewels) Walsh
Age: I'm 30 years young!
Personality: I'm a light-hearted person. Always have been optimistic. My passion is for teaching, and for my students.
History: I grew up as a middle class girl, but that's ok. I guess it helped me really appreciate life's gifts. I wasn't as rich as some, but better off than most. My daddy left us when I was young, so It was just me and momma. She is the most selfless woman I know. Even when I was young, her life revolved around me, and she tried to give me everything. She tried me on a bunch of different hobbies: dance, music, karate. Nothing stuck for two long: except one thing. "I want to ride horses." *laughs* I don't remember telling her that, but she told me I did, when I was about 6 or 7.
So I took lessons. I competed on a low level when I was young, but got more serious the older I got. Horses and jumping became my identity, and I loved it. When I was 16, it was time for me to get a job. I was thinking about options, when my longtime jumping instructor told me that I had the perfect aptitude for teaching.*Laughs again* Me?! I said, no way! Being a teacher? It sounded so scary. But my mom agreed. I was a people person who loved my sport, and loved kids too.
So at the tender age of 16, I started teaching jumping. My first client was an 8-year-old-by, Stephen. My, it seems so strange to think that day was almost 15 years ago. I progressed in my teaching, and gained more and more clients. I was a pretty normal teenager, juggling school, work and friends. Then at 17 and a half I met him. Cory. The moment I met him I knew he was different, and he made me fall for him faster than I imagined possible. See, one of the repercussions of my dad not being there for me is that I never got to see a real loving relationship in action. Also, I had developed low self esteem. I didn't think I would ever find true love. But I was proved wrong. Cory and his gentle nature, shyness, quirky mischievousness, and passionate love: he was perfect for me in every way. I guess we both just met at the right time in our lives. We both knew we wanted a serious relationship.
2 years into our relationship, we were serious. I had just turned 20, he was 19. We knew we wanted to marry, but money was the only issue, and finishing college. But we were willing to wait, as long as it took, but hopefully not too long. It was a regular cold, icy January night, two weeks shy of valentines day. We had just finished watching a movie, our favorite past time. I walked him out to his car at 8pm--he always went home early on Sundays, to get up early for work Monday mornings. I never got the text that told me he was home. He never sent it. When the phone call came that told me his car had lost control on the ice...I didn't believe it. Cory always drove five miles under the speed limit.
After the funeral I took some recovery time. I dropped all my college classes and stopped all work. That was ok, because I lived with my momma. But I just wasn't the same. I refused to go to therapy, and after a while I refused to see any of my friends and I barley left the house. Finally I couldn't stand it anymore. He had been my life, and that life was gone. I needed something new. So one night I left without even a good buy to my momma. I took a train out to California and found new work...in jockeying. The thrill was amazing. The life was an unbelievable distraction. No one knew who I was. I was free to start over. I even made a name for myself (my riding name was Ruby. Don't ask: I well...I kinda had this hair dying faze. I dyed it red, and my name is Jewels so put two and two together...) and accumulated a small fortune riding a horse named Speed (yes haha, very funny.) His full name was "The Speed of Light."
But for being free, I still felt a huge burden upon me. Cory's loss was forever heavy on my heart. I just couldn't move on. I even refused all romantic advances on and off the track. The love Cory and I had was amazing. I just couldn't see any relationship topping it. After a two years, my Momma found out where I was and wrote and called me constantly. I never answered. I felt so ashamed for leaving her and my friends, I couldn't face it. After another year, I finally got the courage to write. I called too, and though things seemed a little tense, momma and all my old friends at home were soon updated on my life. But they didn't hate me. Sure, some of my besties felt betrayed, but I only heard one theme: come back home.
After four years away, I finally did it. It felt good to be back home, like I had never left. I put all my savings into an account for my mom's retirement funds, and began teaching jumping once more. I was 24 years old. At 25 similtaniously started teaching at the Mickinly place, and went back to school for a degree in interpersonal communications. Now I work at Bayley full time during the school year. None of the students know of my jockey history, and I'm glad it's that way. I learned enough from it for everyone: You can't run from your problems. I still miss Cory, and I remember his face like it was yesterday. But Bayley has been good for me. It has helped me to start moving on, and has reminded me to be myself.
Whoops, I'd better go! Classes are about to start.
Show History: I showed a lot when I was younger, and a little less frequently when I was a teenager and teaching myself. Now, I mostly focus on my students, but I do still show occasional.
I also can Jockey like no ones business.
Discipline: Showjumping teacher. I also know a bit about treating horses, home remedys and such, but I am no vet.
Other: This beauty here is Hunter. I rescued him from the racing tracks and taught him how to jump.
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