What is it about little girls and their love of horses? I swear that those of us with that double x chromosome are genetically predisposed to developing this attachment when we’re young. I remember a time when I was so obsessed with them that I was willing to do just about anything to own one. It was always just a pie in the sky though. I never actually considered the possibility that I might be able to do something about it. I just continued begging and pleading, hoping that one day my parents would simply cave and grant me my wish.

Triana Segovia isn’t just a dreamer though. She’s a doer. Only nine years of age, she has already set the goal to purchase her first horse by the time she’s eleven. If that sounds far-fetched, you need to check out the video. There’s passion and then there’s Triana’s love of horses. She’s at the North Shore Equestrian Centre twice a week for lessons, but don’t be mistaken; there is a lot of work and responsibility involved. Before a horse can be ridden each time, Triana needs to ‘tack it up.’ Releasing a horse afterwards is also a process which includes cleaning the equipment just used. It may sound like work, but not to Triana. She loves everything (and I do mean everything) about horses, even cleaning out their stalls.

Two years ago, when her mother was preparing an exhibit for the Eastside Culture Crawl, she suggested that Triana should display her own drawings and paintings. Originally a mere hobby, Triana’s talent very quickly evolved into a career! She had ten pieces that year and they sold out on the very first day. The following year, she returned to the same event with twice as many drawings and again repeated her success on day one. The demand was so great that she immediately went home and got back to work. Buyers had caught the bug and Triana had another clean sweep on day two.

Realizing the value of her product, Triana opened an account and now deposits every penny that is earned through her sales in the hopes of one day accumulating enough funds to buy a horse to call her own (“a big gray or white Appaloosa gelding” to be exact). That is no small task, so that’s where all of you come into play.

If you live in or around Vancouver, come and check out her inaugural art exhibit THIS Saturday August 4th from 7 to 9 PM at The Petri Dish, an eclectic little shop that is located at 42 Kingsway. You can support her by purchasing one of her affordable $4 cards. Larger drawings are also available that range in price from $10 to about $30 for a framed Triana original. Quite the burgeoning artist, her drawings are whimsical and possess a charm that only a child can transfer to paper.

If you didn’t at one point dream the same dream, I’m sure you know someone who did. This is your chance to make it a reality for a very deserving little girl.

If you don’t live ’round these parts, send me an email and I’ll let you know how you can help feed the Triana horse fund.