Athletes come in all shapes and sizes. They use different training regimens to be at the top at their game, and chances are their passion for the sport they excel in and comes from deep within their hearts.

They say that if you love something enough, anything is possible. To me this was nothing more than a statement, until my partner in the sport that defines a huge part of me came into my life and changed the way I will view passion and drive, forever.

Ten years ago, when I met him in France and we decided he would be the horse to further my riding career, we were both just kids. Fric Frac was only six, and I was twelve. I had no idea how far we would go together, the obstacles we would face, the successes we would have, and the unimaginable injuries we would have to overcome against all odds when everyone said it was impossible to continue our careers together and achieve our highest goals!

Over the last ten years, I have learned more about life then about riding from him. Few horses in the world ever get to the top level in the sport of 3-day Eventing because it requires such amazing athleticism, passion, and a little bit of outright insanity to jump over the biggest, widest jumps in the world, including ditches and water at top speed with out ever thinking twice about it or endangering your rider.

If he were simply just another top level 3-Day Eventing horse, he would still be one of the amazing ones at the top of his game. However, when you find out that Fric does all of this completely blind in his right eye, you begin to realize that he is truly remarkable. Fric has no depth perception, which requires him to believe in himself and in me 100 percent.

More than anything though, from the time I met this horse many years ago, I have never questioned his love and passion for what he does. Cross-Country Jumping keeps him going. It lights a fire within his heart so big that no injury or set back could ever keep him from excelling in what he loves most.

Like all great athletes, he loves the game! When Fric comes out of the start box, you would never know he has a disability watching him. If anything, at times, he can be a bit over cocky and sure of himself. I saw a video of the two of us at the World Cup qualifier last year, and his ears were pinned forward the entire time he was on course, and he radiated with excitement. For those of you who do not know anything about horses, this is what they do when they are excited or alert.

I was told that it would be unsafe to let him jump again when Fric had a freak accident that caused him to go blind in his right eye, especially for a horse that would be competing at the top level of the sport. But, after much discussion, everyone involved agreed that because he was so talented, we would give him a shot. If he ever wavered he would be retired from Eventing. That was seven years and hundreds of shows ago and Fric has proven to all of us that if you love to do something enough, you can overcome any odds.

Words can not truly describe how much he has taught me, both in my riding career and about life, and where he may just be a horse to many, he will always be much more than that to me.

Over the years, countless people have told me how amazing they think Fric is, and for those of you who will never have the opportunity to meet him, I hope that you can experience something similar to what I have. Or if nothing else that this story will inspire you to dig deep within yourself for what you love.

Like a very special horse has shown me, if you love a sport or something enough, no matter who says you cannot achieve your dreams and goals, anything is possible.

Train hard, be passionate and reach for your dreams, and Fric…THANK YOU, FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!

-Frankie