Mac

Though I firmly believe that the relationship between horse and human extends far beyond the saddle, I do genuinely enjoy riding. With both a visual and hearing impairment, combined with a decade-long battle with anxiety, a unicorn would be a more accurate description of my perfect mount.

Enter MacDaddy � affectionately known as Mac � a plain bay, 14.3-hand gelding with a larger-than-life personality and an even bigger heart. From the moment he arrived at Kilkern Farm in Millis, Massachusetts in May 2023, Mac quietly began proving that unicorns do, in fact, exist. As a school horse, Mac has fulfilled this role countless times. He offers consistency without dullness, kindness without weakness, and patience without expectation. He has an innate ability to meet his rider exactly where they are � physically, mentally, and emotionally � whether that means carrying a nervous rider through a tough course, lending confidence to someone finding their balance, or simply being steady when the world feels loud and overwhelming.

When Mac first arrived, my biggest fear wasn�t whether he�d be good enough, it was getting too attached. Years of uncertainty had trained me to brace for loss, constantly worrying about what might happen in the next six months instead of allowing myself to enjoy the present moment. Nearly three years later, Mac is still here. In that time, he has taught me that partnership doesn�t have to come with an expiration date. I am incredibly grateful to watch him offer the same quiet confidence, reliability, and heart to countless kiddos at Kilkern as my lease has now expired.

Mac may be a school horse by title, but in practice, he is a teacher, a therapist, a confidence-builder, and � without question � a true unicorn.