110 degrees magazine - Index

110 degrees magazine - magazine - Index

superstar but did well at smaller Western Horse,
Hunters Jumpers, and English Pleasure shows.
When Sherry was older, she and Apache loved
to go camping. They always had a wonderful
time together!
We had moved to Brentwood in 1979 and I spent
15 years commuting to Martinez where I managed
the Billing Department for the County Health
Services. I always lived closer to my horses than
to my job. I knew I would commute to the job,
but I wasn’t sure how faithful I would be commuting
to the horses.
I retired in 1995 and the next year started This
N That Tack Store, which is on the site of Brent -
wood Oaks Equestrian Center. We named it after
twin horses that were born to Chardonnay, which
were the last of Beau’s offspring. The colt was
named This Magic Moment and the filly was
That’s Entertainment so, for short, the two of
them were This and That.
My partner, Alison, had intended to raise and to
show Chardonnay’s offspring, so when we ended
up with twins, she decided to show them both.
Horses aren’t designed to have twins and one
is generally sickly and usually doesn’t make it. We
were very lucky that they both lived. Magic
Moment was the smaller of the two but grew to
be the larger one. He was an intelligent and
talented horse. Alison began training him in dressage
and he showed lots of potential.
For some reason Magic Moment especially liked
to work to Michael Jackson’s music. I bought
some fancy golden boots. In imitation of Michael
Jackson’s single glove, we planned to put a boot
on one of Magic Moment’s hoofs and then let him
perform to one of his favorite Michael Jackson
numbers. However, just when our hopes and
dreams for the horse had reached their zenith, the
compromised aspect of his birth kicked in and he
developed terrible spinal problems. We had to put
him down. He was only eight years old and that
was the toughest decision I ever made.
Horses are worse than dogs and cats when you
give them up. I once had five horses and now have
none, in part because it’s too difficult to let them
go. So now I just run my little shop, take care of
my 13 cats (I know! I know!) and do things like
watch Dr. Belliveau’s dog while she is riding.
And, of course, each day I pass among these
horses and my heart is stirred once again by how
they rejoice at my coming and by how my own
spirits are lifted simply to be in the presence of
these beautiful animals.
°
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PERSONA I BLOOM
BETTY GARRISON
AGE: 73
OCCUPATION:
RETIRED
PLACE OF BIRTH:
SAN FRANCISCO
LOCAL RESIDENCE:
BRENTWOOD
LIFE GOAL:
DOING WHAT I’M
DOING NOW
September/October 2008 www.110mag.com 75