Mica Burton Instagram – A very informal (and long but it’s a good read I promise) post to announce the arrival of my new equine baby boy: Ace! I also want to acknowledge up front that I cannot write this post without appreciating the insane privilege I have to be able to experience any of this hobby let alone the process of bringing home a horse.
• Since April of 2024 I have been hunting for a new partner, a perfect fit to meet me where I am and carry me to where I want to be (competing at 1m eventually??). That job is hard. Hell, it felt endless. But the immaculate @cellardoorequestrian did what she does best; she said hey let’s just go to Florida, ride like 40 horses in less than 72 hours, and find your new match. And fuck, y’all, we did. After my trial ride with Ace— mere HOURS before we boarded a plane to go back home— I sat on his back and cried. I sobbed because I knew he was it. He is a sweetheart, so smart, and is everything I was looking for.
I had around 20 potential names drawn up after narrowing it down from WAY too many; I put together every mix of fictional characters/Taylor Swift songs/mythology references you can think of. Right before heading to Florida, I was pretty sure I’d be changing his show name to “Thousand Sunny” after the ship from One Piece, but the barn name had to come from him. I looked in his eyes after our ride, and he was Ace. Portgas D. Ace from One Piece, specifically (photo in the last slide drawn by the manga’s creator for those who don’t watch anime). He had many many chances to be a mix of things I love— a potential barn name was Gryphon which is also very cool— but One Piece won two for two!
Anyway, I am home from the barn after staring at him for 6 hours straight and I just broke down crying. Happy tears. Tears of disbelief.
I have a reason to smile when so much has been so painful. It doesn’t feel real, but I am so happy it is. | Posted on 14/Mar/2025 03:38:14
