The internet was growing fast and furious when I was in middle school and junior high. I remember traveling to an entirely different town to take lessons on internet use and a bit of basic HTML coding. I loved it! I was hooked.
At some point, I found online horse simulation games, known to that community as SIM games. I started playing a couple different ones, but I ended up settling in just a single game eventually. It was initially just words and randomizers to run the shows, but we evolved to borrowing pictures (with permission!) from real life horses. We’d stick a little note on our websites identifying the real horse, but we’d have a “SIM horse” of a different name with that photo.
I know, it’s a little confusing.
We had some horse shows that were judged by these photos, so it was a challenge to hunt down the best we could find.
I, of course, had Arabians. Over the years, my SIM horses won countless National titles in this little SIM game. Their pedigrees grew from generation to generation. They were coveted by other members of the game.
As I learned more about Arabians and showing horses, I think I was a bit of a groupie. I convinced my parents to take me to every Arabian horse show held in the area, and that included a couple of trips to US Nationals in Louisville.
I was absolutely starstruck that first time! The horses, the people, the packed stands. It was all outstanding to see in person. I remember my excitement to see it all.
Thanks to the SIM community, I convinced my parents to let me start taking regular lessons. I think by the time I attended US Nationals to watch for the first time, I had done some open shows with my horses. My horses were aging by then, but a friend let me show hers. My mom & I helped her with chores and at shows, so it really was a win/win.
It’s really pretty funny to think that some goofy online simulated community of pixel horses is what inspired me to step up and show horses. I’m thankful every day that my parents supported my wild ideas and that they still do.
More than once, I’ve wondered if I would have ever decided to show horses if it weren’t for playing those games. It was like my fake horses’ successes made me want it more in real life.
The fact that I have multiple National Championship trophies in my house is still astounding. I’ll discuss more about the journey to them as this goes, but I really did have to give more why here.
Silhouette Arabians 