When Aunt Mel was a child, she begged for a horse but never got one of her own. So when she graduated from college and got her first job, the first thing she bought was a horse – GiGi.

Aunt Mel’s friend, Lisa, grew up on a big horse farm. Her family bred and showed prize Arabian horses. One day, Lisa took Aunt Mel to one of the big pastures behind the riding ring. It was full of baby horses that had just been weaned from their mothers. They would live together for about a year, growing into mature horses until they were old enough to train for the shows. Lisa pointed out a delicate brown speckled baby and said she could be mine for a special “friend’s discount”. Aunt Mel fell in love.

GiGi was the baby of Lisa’s National Park Horse Arabian mare. She was bred to a famous stallion with the hope of having a large baby. But GiGi was born small and delicate – not the type of horse that the show crowd really wanted. But her delicate features suited Aunt Mel just fine. And it turns out that being dainty in appearance would have absolutely no bearing on GiGi’s personality. From day one, GiGi claimed her status as “top mare”. She was the boss over every horse she encountered. GiGi had very clear rules about behavior and hierarchy and she would reign her opinion on everyone including, sometimes, Aunt Mel.

GiGi lived at a few different farms until Aunt Mel purchased her own. GiGi was as happy as Aunt Mel to have a permanent home with a walk-in barn, grassy pastures and a big oak tree perfectly suited for afternoon naps in the shade.