She’s My Little Lady: The Story of My Heart Horse’s Legacy

First and foremost, I want to talk about Lady of the Dance, my heart horse. If you’ve followed along with my journey, you already know how much this incredible mare means to me. Lady isn’t just a horse — she’s literally my best friend and has shaped every part of my riding career she inspires me in ways I can barely put into words.

There’s a more detailed post coming soon all about Lady herself, but for now, I’ll share a little of how we got here — and how she gave me the greatest gift I could have ever imagined: my dream filly, Little Lady.

If you’ve read the Dressage Roots post, you’ll know where Lady began her journey. From the start, I knew she was special — the kind of horse that changes your life. Naturally, I dreamed of breeding her one day, hoping to pass on her incredible qualities.

The Embryo Transfer Years:

At the farm where I got Lady, they had an advanced breeding program that introduced me to something fascinating: embryo transfer.

If you’re unfamiliar, embryo transfer is somewhat like surrogacy for horses. You breed the mare as if she were going to carry the foal, but a few days later, the embryo is carefully flushed from her uterus and implanted into a surrogate mare, who then carries and foals the baby. It’s a delicate process, but it allows a talented competition mare to continue her riding career without taking time off to carry a foal.

During my time at the farm, Lady successfully produced four amazing colts through this method. Each one was unique and beautiful — full of promise and personality. But deep down, I couldn’t help holding onto one dream: to have a filly — my carbon copy of Lady.

Trying Again — One More Time for My Dream Filly

As Lady and I advanced in our riding careers and I grew deeper into all aspects of my equestrian life, that dream of a filly never faded. Eventually, I decided it was time to try again  one last time for my dream foal.

This time, I wanted Lady to carry the foal herself. I was busy starting my business, and some downtime toward the end of her pregnancy wouldn’t hurt either of us. It felt right  a chance for Lady to slow down and for me to experience the process more personally.

With the incredible help of Dreamcatcher Meadows — multiple-time USDF Sport Horse Breeders of the Year and lifelong mentors of mine I began researching the perfect stallion. After lots of discussion, pedigree studying, and dreaming, we settled on Secret, a breathtaking young stallion from Germany known for his movement, bloodlines, temperament and presence.

We bred Lady, and just 14 days later, the ultrasound confirmed it — we had an embryo! I remember crying uncontrollably here… haha

Now, with horses, you can’t tell the sex of the foal until birth, so all we could do was wait and hope for a successful pregnancy journey and a healthy foal and healthy mare.  Lady carried beautifully, every check-up going smoothly. As the months passed, excitement built right alongside my nerves.

The Longest Night — and the Greatest Surprise

The days leading up to Lady’s foaling were some of the most sleepless nights of my life. Horses foal naturally, of course, but when it’s your heart horse, the worry feels so personal. I had cameras and alarm systems set up in the barn so I wouldn’t miss a single moment.

Then, one night  3 a.m.  the alarm went off. I checked the cameras, and there she was: Lady, in labor.

People are often surprised to learn that horses usually give birth very quickly. Within minutes, my foal was on the ground. My heart stopped as I looked closer and realized — it was a FILLY!

I burst into tears. After all the years of dreaming, hoping, and trying  I finally had my little girl. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I noticed her markings: not one, but two perfect little snips on her nose, and three white stockings, just like her mama. My carbon copy had arrived.

The birth of Little Lady! My heart! 

Naming Little Lady

So this is how Little Lady came to grace our world.

I had many names picked out — thoughtful, elegant show names that tied into Lady’s heritage  but as everyone in the horse world knows, barn names have a way of choosing themselves. With her resemblance to Lady, I naturally began calling her “Little Lady.” At first, it was just a nickname, but before long, it was the only name that felt right.

Her registered name? “She’s My Little Lady.”

The Summer of 2022: Foal Snuggles and Firsts

The summer of 2022 was one of pure joy full of baby cuddles, snip kisses, tiny milestones, and so much love. Little Lady’s first halter, first time leading, first hoof trim  every step was a new adventure, and she handled each one like a little pro.

At Dreamcatcher Meadows, foals are weaned together as a group, which makes for a smooth and low-stress experience. The foals live in a herd with their moms before weaning, forming friendships and herd bonds that make the process gentle and natural. Little Lady was weaned alongside her buddies, growing strong and confident in her familiar surroundings, with plenty of love and attention from everyone.

A New Chapter in Smithers (2023)

In 2023, I moved all my horses  Lady, Little Lady, and the rest of my herd up to Smithers with me. For Little Lady, it was a big milestone: her first trailer ride, first big move, and first time settling into a new home.

She took it all in stride, curious and calm, just like her mom. I’m convinced that spending so much time with Lady gave her a sense of security and trust. Lady quietly showing her how to handle new experiences.

Lady & Little Lady on their journey to Smithers! 

Now and Next: Little Lady at Three (2025)

Fast forward to today — Little Lady is three years old!

At Dreamcatcher Meadows, we’ve always believed in giving young horses the right start. Our three-year-olds are introduced lightly to training, learning about balance, tack, and confidence under saddle  before getting a well-earned break over the winter.

This past summer, Little Lady returned to Dreamcatcher Meadows for her first months of training, and she absolutely thrived. The team there has such a beautiful way of starting young horses always focusing on creating happy, confident, willing partners.

And just recently, I’ve had the joy of riding her for the very first time. Sitting on a horse I bred, raised, and dreamed of for so long is a feeling unlike any other. Literally seeing her as an embryo on the screen of the ultra sound to fitting her saddle and tack to riding her. Like wow. 

Full Circle: What Lady Taught Me

Now, as Little Lady begins her own journey under saddle, I can’t help but reflect on how much her mom, Lady of the Dance, has taught me. Lady was the horse who made me the rider I am today, I am endlessly grateful.

And now, through Little Lady, I get to relive all those lessons  from the first ride to the first show  but this time with a horse I brought into the world so intentionally. 

It feels like coming full circle  the continuation of a bond that began years ago and now lives on through Lady’s daughter. My hope is to be the best partner I can be for both of them, to carry forward everything Lady gave me, and to watch Little Lady blossom into herself and carry Lady of the Dance’s legacy forward. 

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about breeding or training, it's about love, legacy, and the unbreakable bond between a horse and the person who believes in them.

So that is the beginning of the story about Little Lady,  my dream foal, a carbon copy of my heart horse Lady, and who now carries our story into the future. 

I'd love to hear your Heart Horse Stories! Drop them in the comments below! 

Lots of love,

Kirsi <3