Julian's Life Story of His Path to Competition

I just want to tell a story made out of true events, and 100% as it happened. This is the story of Julian Johansen, a true horse friend.

There was once a boy named Julian Becker Johansen. When he was 14 years old, he had riding lessons at a handicapped riding school near Bægmarksbro in Denmark. He rose on a Gelden who's name was Hugo, a black and white pinto draft horse, used to give riding lessons.

The horse Hugo and Julian got so good friends, that when Julian came in the stable, and said "Hello Hugo!," Hugo would respond with a "Viiihihihihie." You see, Julian and Hugo had a special connection.

Every time something felt wrong in Hugo's back on their riding lessons, Hugo told Julian so with his feelings, and Julian would do what he could to change the way he sat on Hugo's back. However, there was a huge issue in that since the riding instructor had other thoughts how to sit on a horse. She instructed Julian to: tighten the reins, hold your hands as if you were holding a cup of coffee or tea, legs in to the horse, sit straight and not like a bag of potato's, heels down, relax shoulders. When the instructor looked away, Julian would do as Hugo told him: legs a little more off my flanks, relax, lean forward a little, not that tight with the reins.

Julian thought they talked together with their minds, as it was like he could hear Hugo's voice inside his head; Hugo's voice was a deep gentle voice. At that time, Julian had no understanding of horse anatomy and did not know it was just because Julian was picking up on Hugo's feelings, and that as humans use words, horses use their body to convey their feelings.

As Julian grew up, he kept talking abut how he could ''talk'' with horses with his mind.

Later, Julian found himself at another riding school near Aarhus in Denmark called Skaade Riding Klub. He helped people groom their horses, clean their hooves, and saddle and bridle the horses. He became friends with a old women called Vivian Hell, whose horse was named Kelly. Kelly was often angry about being groomed in specific spots on his back, and would sometimes kick even at Julian who got to be friends with Kelly as Kelly had taken a liking to Julian.

One day, a vet finally found a reason why Kelly always was angry and kicked when brushed in those spots. Kelly had muscle rheumatism and in Denmark, there was no cure for that in horses. The vet recommended Kelly to be allowed to "sleep in" or in other words, be put to sleep and never wake up again.

Julian could not allow this without trying to do something before it was too late. He convinced Vivian that there had to be another solution and to please wait with making her decision. Vivian loved her horse but did not want him to suffer in pain. She agreed to Julian's request and put her faith in him to come up with an alternative. Julian's mom, Hanne Johansen, used a vet who had been educated in Germany. This vet revealed that there was indeed a cure for muscle rheumatism but it was illegal in Denmark. The cure existed for dogs in Germany meaning it would not completely cure Kelly either but it could at least remove the pain for a period of time every time he was given the medicine. Julian told Vivian of this vet that knew of this cure. Vivian decided to give it a try and the medicine was expensive. They tried it for some months and to their surprise it worked wonders!

Julian had saved Kelly's life. Now Kelly could live on and enjoy the fields but not being ridden anymore, just enjoying his old days as any horse should have the opportunity to do.