The Surprise Award!

By Patty Wilber

I got a text from my long-time friend and client, Cheryl Pozzi: “Hey. This is somewhat of a surprise, but I need you to be available for a Zoom call this Monday at 7 PM. I’ll send you the link.”

I am thinking: “That sounds odd. Kind of like some sort of scam.  But do people really get scams from phone numbers of people you actually know?”

So I reply: “More information needed.” (Not saying, “In case you’ve hacked my friend’s phone and are a scammer!”)

Cheryl says: ” You are getting an award.”

I am thinking: “What award?  I am going to two banquets this weekend (Paint and Appaloosa) where Gette (Suffragette CD) is getting four different Open Ranch Horse awards and $1750 to go along with her prize from the NM Buckskins ($350), so that’s all the awards my cool horse should be up for…”

So I reply: “Um this seems weird” (while thinking, “I am so not falling for this scam from my friend’s phone! I am on it. I am no gullible mark!)

And Cheryl says: “Well, Missy, I don’t want to tell you ALL the things, but you’re getting recognized and it’ll happen Monday night.”

So, I still am thinking, “this seriously has to be some weird sort of scam where the scammer (who has hacked into Cheryl’s phone) is going to send me a link, and when I click on it, my computer or phone will blow up, and all the money in my bank account will disappear.”

But…maybe it’s legit?

I text Cheryl’s partner, David. “Cheryl’s phone is sending me weird messages about a prize.”

Dave (laughing) texts me back to reassure me that Cheryl has control of her phone, and that there is a real award, from the NM Horse Council!

So, this past Monday, I logged into Zoom as instructed, and lo and behold, there was a meeting of the NM Horse Council!!  My computer did not vaporize, all my savings did not disappear, and instead I was awarded co-New Mexico Horseperson of the Year by the NM Horse Council (along with Jennifer Rios. She runs the Horse Shelter)!

What an honor and surprise! I do my thing over here in my not-super-fancy barn. I work to produce good horses, a few at a time, help riders, and give back to the horse community, but to learn that I have earned the esteem of people at a state-wide level has me feeling exhilarated (still!)  So, WOW what an honor and surprise!

Thank you, Cheryl, for nominating me! And for believing in me when I was just starting to train for the public by sending me many wonderful horses!

Shout out to Gette. I am pretty proud of my 4-year-old (in 2025) Appy pony from Heather McLevin at Thunderstuck Ranch. She had a very good year in 2025. She has a great work ethic and room to continue to improve. We are aiming at the Appaloosa National and World shows for 2026 in all the green and junior ranch events, as well as junior working cow horse!

Ok–NEXT week maybe I’ll write about riding in the Rt 66 Open Space! Or Arizona… since we are going to Ride Out Ranch near Florence Monday to Thursday to ride!