Dani's Diary

[daniellaaarisen]

Vivfox suggested that I start this thread, so I suppose I will! Apparently, I have some interesting things to talk about, both FM and non-FM related-- my experiences meeting Mick and Stevie and flirting with Lindsey (buahaha), my extensive work with horses, my aspirations as a writer, my close ties to France... I've recieved a few questions about the following things in private messages, so I guess this can be a place to just kinda share what I do....?? We'll see what it becomes.

First post: horses

On the West coast, my equestrian sport isn't taken very seriously, especially when compared to the hunter/jumper scene back East. Because of that, the few of us who take riding seriously have a better chance of success in the horse world than all of the serious riders on the other coast.

I own one horse, Sebastian:







Over the past three years, him and I are achieved a lot more than I would have ever imagined-- I basically trained him myself, considering he was absolutely psychotic when I first bought him. A year later, him and I were showing against horses ten times his price ($200,000+) and kicking their butts We were ranked 3rd on the West coast in 2007.

Unfortunately, he was badly injured in January of 2008 and it took six months for him to heal. After vet bills like you couldn't fathom, he was finally healthy again-- but for a price. My parents were exasperated and with the recession slowly becoming a more and more prominent issue, we needed to move him from my stable to a field 2+ hours away from my house. Although my family is financially able to bring him back to me at this point, they are enjoying the ability to have "wiggle room" again. And so, to my complete devastation, there's a great chance I will never be able to show my own horse again-- I have one year left of high school and by the time I'm out of college, he will be old and crickety.

It's not all bad, though-- his absence has given me the time to basically intern for some of the greatest California trainers. I am paid to train young horses and "problem" horses. I then bring them to horse shows and if we "ribbon" (recieve top marks), I am paid based on our placings. It's an awesome experience, especially since the path I am on logistically leads to a career in horse training. I'm just wholeheartedly dedicating to writing and hopefully teaching-- it just feels like a waste to have such phenomenal experiences handed to me in the equine industry and throw them away for a job that is no where near guaranteed.



So yes-- that's chapter one, I suppose. It's so weird to write about myself on a forum about something entirely unrelated.... sorry if this is just weird, haha.

[vivfox]

I love your story so far. Sebastian is a handsome horse and I'm sorry for you and him that he got hurt. Such is the fate in the life of an athlete.
In the photo with the two young ladies and Sebastian, which one is you?
Thank you for sharing your story so far. It always amazes me that us tiny human beings can tame a wild horse. Personally I would never enter a pen with a crazed animal. I mean really, whose gonna punish 'em when they get outta line?

[Lala]

It's crazy that you've accomplished so much at such a young age. When I was your age (which makes me sound old, but really wasn't that long ago) I was doing trig homework, making subs for minimum wage and listening to a lot of Fleetwood Mac.

Really neat stuff! Looking forward to chapter 2.

[daniellaaarisen]

Originally Posted by vivfox

I love your story so far. Sebastian is a handsome horse and I'm sorry for you and him that he got hurt. Such is the fate in the life of an athlete.
In the photo with the two young ladies and Sebastian, which one is you?
Thank you for sharing your story so far. It always amazes me that us tiny human beings can tame a wild horse. Personally I would never enter a pen with a crazed animal. I mean really, whose gonna punish 'em when they get outta line?

I'm the taller one, on the left. The girl on the right is my sister.

Oh, trust me-- us horse people are crazy I have had so many concussions from falls that I lost count and I also cracked my tailbone a few years back. Within my trainer's customers alone, we had 3 ER visits within a summer. One thing's for sure, though-- we love it enough to get back on no matter what happened the day before (or, in my case, two minutes before.... oh, the joy of riding young and problem horses-- you HAVE to get back on and fix the problem ASAP or else they aren't learning anything from it)

[daniellaaarisen]

Originally Posted by Lala

It's crazy that you've accomplished so much at such a young age. When I was your age (which makes me sound old, but really wasn't that long ago) I was doing trig homework, making subs for minimum wage and listening to a lot of Fleetwood Mac.

Really neat stuff! Looking forward to chapter 2.

Ha, it doesn't even feel like I "accomplished" anything. I just got a bunch of lucky breaks and before I knew it, I was flying to Germany to stay at an Olympian rider's house. These things kinda sneak up on you

And believe me-- I do my fair share of homework. And minimum wage work. And I DEFINITELY listen to too much Fleetwood Mac.

[vivfox]

I just remembered the name of Stevie's Australian racehorse: Illume

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

Apparently, I have some interesting things to talk about, both FM and non-FM related-- my experiences meeting Mick and Stevie and flirting with Lindsey (buahaha)




So yes-- that's chapter one, I suppose. It's so weird to write about myself on a forum about something entirely unrelated.... sorry if this is just weird, haha.

Hi Daniellaaarisen,

Your story is starting to remind me of the movie "The Crush". Are you familiar
with it? (no offense intended at all)
Being compared to Alicia Silverstone isn't so bad, is it?

[daniellaaarisen]

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

Hi Daniellaaarisen,

Your story is starting to remind me of the movie "The Crush". Are you familiar
with it? (no offense intended at all)
Being compared to Alicia Silverstone isn't so bad, is it?

Viv-- AWESOME name. That's so cool that she technically has a horse... it makes me feel even more connected to La Nicks and further establishes my entire "kindred spirits" theory

iamnotafraid-- I haven't seen "The Crush". Brief synopsis?

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

iamnotafraid-- I haven't seen "The Crush". Brief synopsis?

Well a few of the things you've written about yourself reminded me of the young
woman Alicia Silverstone plays in "The Crush". She's a teenager who rides horses,
likes older men (didn't you write that about yourself?). A journalist moves in to
her parents guesthouse, and she develops this crush on him.

I'm not sure if it's on DVD or not, I just saw it on one of the movie channels the
other night. Check it out, and see what you think.

(Please note, I'm not saying you're exactly like the Alicia Silverstone character!)

[Betsy]

Interesting story and the photos which accompanied were incredible.

Thanks

[daniellaaarisen]

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

Well a few of the things you've written about yourself reminded me of the young
woman Alicia Silverstone plays in "The Crush". She's a teenager who rides horses,
likes older men (didn't you write that about yourself?). A journalist moves in to
her parents guesthouse, and she develops this crush on him.

I'm not sure if it's on DVD or not, I just saw it on one of the movie channels the
other night. Check it out, and see what you think.

(Please note, I'm not saying you're exactly like the Alicia Silverstone character!)

I need to see this movie. That sounds EXACTLY like me. Yes-- you were right about the old men

And thank y0u, Betsy-- I'm glad my story is somewhat interesting!

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

I need to see this movie. That sounds EXACTLY like me. Yes-- you were right about the old men

And thank y0u, Betsy-- I'm glad my story is somewhat interesting!

I love how you're not even masking it with older anymore, just old. Bahahaha.

[daniellaaarisen]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

I love how you're not even masking it with older anymore, just old. Bahahaha.

aaaaaaaaand you totally understand. And love me for it. It was, after all, our initial means of bonding

[daniellaaarisen]

A lot of people have asked me about my ties to Dave Young, Stevie's old high school boyfriend pre-Lindsey.

In fourth grade (2001), he was my teacher. At 10 years old, I was ADDICTED to Stevie. It wasn't uncommon for me to practice my twirls during recess and belt "Nightbird" at any given moment . One day, I was being a total chiffonhead (as usual) and another teacher asked me if I liked Stevie Nicks. Naturally, I started gushing about her. She then asked me if I knew that Mr. Young had dated her. My jaw dropped to the floor and I literally sprinted across my elementary campus to find him.

Once I ran into his classroom, I panted out, "you dated Stevie?"

He smirked and laughed, obviously a bit confused that such a young person was questioning him about her. I was freaking out with excitement-- jabbering away about how much I love her writing and the influence it had in developing a love for writing my own words, blah blah blah. In my excitement-induced stupor, I asked, "is Stevie nice?" He just laughed and asked me, "what do you think, Dani? Do you think she would be nice?" Obviously, that was followed by more gushing. "He told me that he would personally pass on anything I might have wanted to give her-- he suggested I put my own poetry within the package.

That year, Stevie came to Concord, CA on October 1st for the Trouble in Shangri-La tour. My mom and I had seventh row seats for the upcoming show and a few days beforehand, I gave Mr. Young some writing to hopefully pass on to Stevie. That night, he was backstage at the show. Apparently, he gave her my writing and letter before the show and she read it while backstage . He said that Sheryl Crow and Stevie sat down together and read through it and that Sheryl said that my story reminded her of her own early passion for Stevie. He then told her that I was towards the front and to keep a lookout for me during the show if I was to somehow get closer to the stage.

During Edge of Seventeen, I was able to get up there and shake Stevie's hand. When she finally got to me, she knew who I was. A security guard lifted me up a little higher on the stage so I could see more eye-to-eye with her as she took my hand within both of her own, leaned down to kiss me on the cheek and tell me, "thank you for coming Danielle!"

It was amazing.

When I went to school the next day, Mr. Young had a signed tour booklet ready for me with a personal note inside. If anyone had doubts about my devotion to Stevie, that series of events sealed me as a die hard fan for eternity.

[CADreaming]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

A lot of people have asked me about my ties to Dave Young, Stevie's old high school boyfriend pre-Lindsey.

In fourth grade (2001), he was my teacher. At 10 years old, I was ADDICTED to Stevie. It wasn't uncommon for me to practice my twirls during recess and belt "Nightbird" at any given moment . One day, I was being a total chiffonhead (as usual) and another teacher asked me if I liked Stevie Nicks. Naturally, I started gushing about her. She then asked me if I knew that Mr. Young had dated her. My jaw dropped to the floor and I literally sprinted across my elementary campus to find him.

Once I ran into his classroom, I panted out, "you dated Stevie?"

He smirked and laughed, obviously a bit confused that such a young person was questioning him about her. I was freaking out with excitement-- jabbering away about how much I love her writing and the influence it had in developing a love for writing my own words, blah blah blah. In my excitement-induced stupor, I asked, "is Stevie nice?" He just laughed and asked me, "what do you think, Dani? Do you think she would be nice?" Obviously, that was followed by more gushing. "He told me that he would personally pass on anything I might have wanted to give her-- he suggested I put my own poetry within the package.

That year, Stevie came to Concord, CA on October 1st for the Trouble in Shangri-La tour. My mom and I had seventh row seats for the upcoming show and a few days beforehand, I gave Mr. Young some writing to hopefully pass on to Stevie. That night, he was backstage at the show. Apparently, he gave her my writing and letter before the show and she read it while backstage . He said that Sheryl Crow and Stevie sat down together and read through it and that Sheryl said that my story reminded her of her own early passion for Stevie. He then told her that I was towards the front and to keep a lookout for me during the show if I was to somehow get closer to the stage.

During Edge of Seventeen, I was able to get up there and shake Stevie's hand. When she finally got to me, she knew who I was. A security guard lifted me up a little higher on the stage so I could see more eye-to-eye with her as she took my hand within both of her own, leaned down to kiss me on the cheek and tell me, "thank you for coming Danielle!"

It was amazing.

When I went to school the next day, Mr. Young had a signed tour booklet ready for me with a personal note inside. If anyone had doubts about my devotion to Stevie, that series of events sealed me as a die hard fan for eternity.

AWESOME story, Danielle!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.