Rocco’s story- As written by Tori
Rocco was and is so much more than “just a horse “, he completely changed the course of my life.
Before Rocco, I aspired to represent Australia at the Olympics in either eventing or dressage. After Rocco, I find myself in a career more fulfilling than I could have dreamt of.
Looking back now, Rocco’s and my story is a happy one, but in the moment, caught in the depths of the emotions, it was at times heartbreaking and dream-crushing.
My parents bought Rocco for me so I could pursue a career at the highest levels of dressage. Before Rocco, from the age of 12 to 18, I evented and loved it, until a rotational fall over a cross-country jump scared me into deciding I wasn’t brave enough to reach the top level in Eventing. And so I decided to change my focus to dressage.
My mum and I travelled to Queensland to look at six horses for sale. One was a 3yo, ¾ Warmblood, ¼ TB gelding, with huge movement; that was Rocco!
Shortly after Rocco arrived home, he began displaying intermittent soundness issues. I did everything in my power, with the knowledge I had at the time, to help him and figure out what was going on. Vet visits, ultrasounds, X-rays, nerve blocks, different farriers, saddle fits, bodyworkers, but nothing was giving me the answers I longed for.
In desperation, I started doing things I wouldn’t usually do: riding bareback (because that eliminated saddle fit as an issue), and, since I was no longer riding with a saddle and only going slow, I decided to forget the bridle too and teach him to go bridle-less.
In my search for answers, I began learning about classical dressage and in-hand work. I attended animal communication workshops, enrolled in online psychic development classes, and earned my Reiki 1 and Reiki 2 certificates. The path I started down was far from the path I imagined, but Rocco started improving, and my thirst for knowledge grew.
I became obsessed with the nuances of in-hand work, and I started attending whole-horse dissections and later began assisting. I began using my knowledge to help other horses. The more horses I worked with, the better my eye became for functional movement and healthy posture. My focus shifted to rehabilitating horses and teaching what I was learning to other horse-and-owner combinations. Before Rocco's retirement in late 2024, we presented together at various Equestrian events and only ever rode bareback and bridleless. He is now happily retired on 1,500 acres with his two friends Clancy and Frankie. And me, well, I wouldn’t be where I am without the journey he allowed me to live.
