The Joy of a Horse: Bailey’s Story

Bailey Foote Blount’s horse journey has taken her across disciplines, counties, and events, yet a constant thread has shined through: her love for simply being in the presence of these special creatures. She acts on this passion through community involvement supporting the horse industry and is often the first person called when assistance is needed with a horse rescue. Horses have returned the favor, giving her joy through personal trials.

As a second grader, Bailey remembers one of her school friends who took riding lessons and would share stories about the horses she rode. At the time, Bailey had tried all sorts of activities, but nothing stuck with her. Something about the idea of horses intrigued her, and her family enrolled her in lessons at a barn that focused on Saddlebreds and Western pleasure. Her first horse was a Paint (Pinto) Saddlebred mare named Misty, which her grandparents gifted her.

While Misty didn’t wind up making a show horse or being the best fit for Bailey, she gave Bailey lessons about grit and perseverance and planted the seed of dedication to lifelong learning about good horsemanship. Although the arena wasn’t her place to shine, years later, Misty became an amazing lesson horse and was a key part of Bailey’s lesson program when she began teaching others. Plus, this introduction into horse ownership was a source of bonding for Bailey and her dad as they both shared a love of horses.

In the meantime, Bailey found herself with a new saddle seat horse named Finn, who quickly stole her heart. Finn was a show saddlebred horse who helped her fall in love with Saddle Seat. Together, they began winning at shows throughout the region, progressing to higher and higher levels. When they reached their peak and it came time for a step up horse, Bailey declared she wasn’t going to do Saddle Seat if it wasn’t with Finn–so they both stepped away from it. Finn went into retirement and Bailey pursued her horse journey in the western world, with barrel racing as a focus.

Around this same time, Bailey graduated from high school and moved to Williamston to attend Martin Community College. As she had gotten older, she had begun to see more of what horsemanship could be like and wanted to go deeper into the nuances that best served the animals. While the program wasn’t the right fit, her own horse business as an instructor began taking off more during this time.
Bailey gained a following for beginner riding lessons, teaching out of two different barns before later becoming the manager of all the boarding horses and trail rides for Barnhill’s Dairy, a farm whose trails appeared on Best of America by Horseback. Bailey also returned to school and earned a degree in Agribusiness.

She had and maintains a unique approach to riding lessons and educating people about
horses. As a teacher, she never wanted her students to feel pressured about winning ribbons and being competitive. Instead, she wanted them to have fun and enjoy the horses. She hoped they could discover the joy and pleasure that came from partnership with their mount. In addition, she worked as a traveling trainer, going to local farms to help people work through issues with their horses and see their good qualities beneath the quirks.

Her time barrel racing and teaching lessons led to her being named Miss Southern Horse Festival for the NC Horse Council. During that role, she discovered the Miss Rodeo NC organization and competed in their pageants as well, being crowned as a runner-up for one year. She has continued with the organization and now serves as a board member for Miss Rodeo NC. In addition, she was a multi-year volunteer and resource for the local animal control authorities assisting with horse rescues and interventions. It is this community involvement that points back to the love she has for the horses themselves.

They aren’t just a tool for Bailey, but individual spirits.

A bad horse accident a few years ago and the birth of her daughter caused Bailey to re-
evaluate her relationship with horses. Bailey was out feeding her horses when the gate got away from her. As she went to grab it before the horses got out, it swung and slapped her mare on the hind end. The mare kicked out, hitting her hip. As Bailey turned to close the gate, she kicked out again, this time hitting her face. The impact fractured multiple areas in her cheek, shattered her jaw joint, lacerated her ear, severed a facial nerve, and affected her hearing. Bailey stayed conscious and was able to call for help. Within 24 hours, she underwent two surgeries to place hardware for wires and repair the nerve and ear. Her jaw was wired shut for four weeks, followed by rubber bands for two more.

Despite this traumatic incident, her core love of horses didn’t change, nor did Bailey blame her mare.

Instead, she shared this hopeful wisdom with others: “Life has a way of testing our strength in the moments we least expect. A horse accident can shake not only our bodies but also our confidence, leaving doubts where there was once courage. 

Healing—both physically and mentally—takes time, patience, and resilience. I had to trust the process. Each small step forward, whether it’s leading a horse in and out of a gate, rebuilding trust with my herd, or simply believing in myself  again, is a victory.

Scars don’t define you; they remind you of the battles you survived. You are braver than you know, stronger than you feel, and more capable than you imagine. Keep going, one ride, one step, one breath at a time. The journey back may not be easy, but it will be worth it.”

As she regains her confidence, she has found joy in the simple pleasures of owning horses that are so easy to take for granted: feeding, watching them play in the pasture, learning their personalities, and doing life with them. She counts her blessings and is quick to share stories of the time she and her family spend enjoying their four-legged companions.