Kim Stevenson describes herself as a “horse crazy girl,” having been obsessed with them from an early age. Every Christmas, her favorite present was a renewed subscription to the Arabian Horse World magazine. She would tear out pages and cover her bedroom with photos of her favorite horses.
“Most girls my age had posters on their wall of popular music artists or celebrities on their walls,” Stevenson said. “I wanted nothing to do with them; all I cared about was putting my favorite Arabians up in my bedroom.”
While her parents did not share her level of enthusiasm for horses, they supported her desire to be around them and connected her with a local Arabian Horse trainer. Stevenson quickly fell in love with the breed, competing in local A-class and 4-H shows.
Like many equestrians, Stevenson eventually drifted away from the sport. She left for college and found herself spending less and less time around horses as other commitments demanded her focus.
“Once I went off to college, my parents sold my horse because I was too busy to ride,” she said. “My soon-to-be husband promised me that one day we would have another horse. It was hard to wait, but we had three boys and needed to juggle their school, sports, and other activity commitments. There just wasn’t any time for horses.”
But Stevenson never let go of that dream. After her youngest child left for college, she decided it was time to invest in her passion once again. She returned to her childhood Arabian trainer and began searching for her new partner. Stevenson initially purchased a Working Western horse but knew she wanted to return to the Western Pleasure ring.
“I had always shown Western Pleasure in the main ring as a youth rider, and I knew I wanted to get back into it,” she said.
This is when Texas Me LF, better known as “Dallas,” entered her life.
Understanding the competitive nature of Western Pleasure and the significant financial investment required to purchase and campaign a fully trained horse, Stevenson and her husband decided to look for a promising young prospect. After a couple of disappointing barn visits, they found Dallas.
“The minute they brought Dallas in from the pasture, my trainer and I turned to each other and said, ‘That’s the one,’” Stevenson recalled. “They hadn’t even trotted her or let her off the line yet. It was love at first sight.”
Texas Me LF is a black Half-Arabian, Half-Quarter Horse mare by the late Arabian stallion Monticello V. Along with her striking appearance, she possesses a kind temperament and eagerness to learn. After Stevenson purchased her, Dallas remained at the original farm to grow up, before starting ‘kindergarten’ with Jeff Lee.
“Jeff and I were in awe of her,” Stevenson said. “She took to everything like a duck to water. Nothing phased her.”
Dallas traveled to Arizona when she was two with Stevenson and began her under saddle training with Ali Brady. When Brady sat on Dallas for the first time, the mare acted as if she had been doing it for years.
“We kept saying she’s a special horse,” Stevenson said. “She’s stunningly beautiful and certainly stands out, but her demeanor and willingness are truly what makes her exceptional.”
Stevenson soon took over the ride and found success almost immediately. The duo earned Scottsdale and regional championships as a Junior Horse in the Western division and made their debut in the bridle this year as a six-year-old, repeating their Regional Championship win. With that momentum behind them, it only made sense to travel to the Arabian Youth & Mid Summer Nationals.
“She has exceeded any expectations I had for her,” said Stevenson. “We decided to go to Mid Summer because we were on a roll.”
The Arabian Youth & Mid Summer Nationals is one of the most prestigious competitions for junior and adult athletes competing with Arabian and Half-Arabian horses in riding, driving, and handling. The event attracts top competition while offering fun experiences for exhibitors and spectators alike.
The duo topped their championship classes at Mid Summer, with Brady and Dallas securing their title together as well. As someone who sometimes struggles with show nerves, Stevenson leaned on Dallas for her calm and confident presence.
“She was so steady the entire time,” she said. “The more I went around the ring, the more confident I became. It was like she was saying ‘Relax, I’ve got you.’”
Hearing their names announced as unanimous champions is a moment Stevenson will never forget.
“It was a dream come true and lots of years in the making,” she said. “All the waiting, the 30 years it took me to get back into the saddle and then the time it took for her to grow up, was worth every second. She’s turned out to be a spectacular horse.’”
Stevenson plans to continue showing Dallas through the remainder of the season, with sights set on another successful outing at U.S. Nationals in October. While she has no intention of parting with the mare, their future endeavors may shift beyond the show ring.
Earlier this Spring, the Stevenson family welcomed their first foal out of Dallas via recipient mare.
“The foal is stunning,” Stevenson said. “He’s everything you could hope for in the first foal out of your heart horse.”
Stevenson intends to keep showing Dallas until her son is ready to enter the arena. At that point, Dallas will enjoy a well-deserved break and may even carry a foal of her own.
“We’ll let her carry her own baby, spend her time in a pasture, and be a fat and happy mama,” she said.
No matter where Dallas’ journey leads next, Stevenson will always cherish the mare who helped bring her passion and lifelong dreams full circle.
“There aren’t words in the English language to describe what it means to find my way back to the sport I loved,” she said. “It was like someone has taken a piece of my heart away for the last 30 years, and Dallas brought it back. I’m whole again.”