My name is Carismeldi Maria Estevez Garcia. I was born and raised in Santiago, Dominican Republic. My passion for horses started when I was around 4 – 5 years old, I remember that day as it was yesterday. My dad grew up in the countryside, at a place called Manacla. He grew up with donkeys and mules because his family grew up by doing the coffee business. My dad had around 12 mules and donkeys all combined. It was during the beginning of the year of 2008 that my family and I went to visit my dad’s family. My dad put me on top of his favorite mule, his name was “Mulito Prieto”) I was so happy, I just loved it afterwards.
Every time I used to go visit my dad’s family in the countryside, I always used to ask if I could ride, it was to the point that they were getting annoyed by me, but oh well. By that time, I did not take riding seriously because in the Dominican Republic, the equestrian sport is not very known, so there weren’t stables where I lived. On December 21st, 2014 my parents decided to move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in search of new opportunities for themselves, and for my older brother, my younger sister, and I. The first 3 years, I spent it by just staying home, doing homework, and taking care of my younger sister. In the summer of 2017, I realized how much I miss horseback riding; therefore, I started looking for summer camps near where I currently live. I found a facility that is based on polo, and that they also do lessons, and summer camp. I went for a week and I honestly did like being back on the saddle, and being around horses, it made me so happy. However, I did not know anything about riding horses, I never trotted or cantered, I was a complete beginner. I came back for 2018, but this time I volunteered. I was also paying for lessons at the same facility only for summer time. I wish I could do it more often, but I did not have enough time because of school.
I stayed there until 2019 and I left because of the drama, and how rude the owner is. I was there for 3 years, and I helped around at the barn. Cleaning stalls, feeding horses, turning in and out the horses, basically all barn chores, but the owner never let me ride a horse not even if it was for a free lesson, I had to pay for the lesson. I never bothered, I just loved so much being around horses, that as long as I could spend time with them, I did not care at all. I went to volunteer on Saturday morning at another facility. At that facility, I got free lessons as a reward for my work. I stayed there for around 3-4 months, but I couldn’t keep going because it got so complicated for my mom to drive me because of her job. I have realized that being around horses makes me so happy that I have decided I want to pursue a career in the horse industry. I am currently a junior at High School, and my main goal is to attend Delaware Valley University, located at Doylestown, for the class of 2026. I want to major in Equine Management, and minor in Equine Science with a focus on pre-vet. After I graduate college, I want to keep going with my education and become an equine veterinarian and own a stable of my own because that is my biggest dream.
My riding goals would be to keep taking lessons and get better with my riding skills when it comes to jumping. I prefer to be outside, so if I ever get the opportunity to show, it would be in eventing. Because my parents own a mini market, they do not have time to drive me to take lessons. I have been trying to find other facilities near me, but they are either too far, or confusing to get at and because I have to take an Uber, it gets complicated for me. I have a friend that she has been riding her whole life, she owns a horse and is also an instructor for lessons. After my past instructor moved out of state, I recently started going to Windswept Acres, located at Boyertown, Pennsylvania, which is where my friend is working at and giving me lessons. It is an hour away from where I live (which is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), but is it worth it because I am with someone I know at a place that it is easy for an Uber to get to, and the price for the lesson is affordable to me. For an Uber, I pay as much as $100 – $130 just for me to get to the barn depending on how busy Uber drivers are, and for lessons I pay $45 for an hour private lesson. My friend/instructor drives me back home, which I’m very grateful for. I am trying to save up for college, so the price for the lessons are affordable to me, but the price of the Uber it’s just taking away what I mostly make at my job at my parent’s mini-market as a cashier. I had to reduce the amount of lessons I take from once a week, to twice a month. It has become a challenge, but all I want is to be around horses, love and care for them.
My goals are for the long run, this is what I want. I am planning to move to Ocala, Florida as soon as I am done with veterinary school. For the veterinarian school, I either want to attend the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary, or Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. I am mostly nervous about Veterinary school, but hopefully I will get scholarships that will help me pay it off. I really don’t want to come out of my education owing money, that is why I’m planning to look for jobs and internships that will help me out to pay for my education, and at the same time, learning more about the horse industry, and the world of an equine veterinarian. I will work as hard as I can to make a difference in the horse industry, and to make my goals and dreams come true.