Malibu's Yvonne Smith and Frosty Do the Impossible

Normally, I handle all things cars. But when a story like this comes to me, something truly inspirational … it belongs on Malibu Patch.

My next door neighbor Yvonne Smith is a uniquely querky woman. She would consider it an insult to call her normal by any means. (And what is normal anyway?)

But Yvonne loves horses. I mean … REALLY loves horses. And she has been loving them for a very long time. Althought Yvonne's age is a mystery, her spirit and energy is only 12-years-old.

Yvonne loves all animals in a way that you and I could only aspire. Her passion for giving goes beyond normal and into the realm of spirit. An attraction that transposes a normal conversation into an unforgettable experience. You don't mess with this woman, as major clients discovered when she headed the 1984 campaign for Apple. But that's another story … Back up on the horse, Fireball.

In her words …

"This is Bo Frost, my 87th Adoption. He is a Holsteiner, imported from Germany.

20 years old and only one kidney. But he has a huge and generous heart that more than makes up for it.

Three days a week, he "trains" little kids here in Malibu. Some of them with disabilities … by letting them walk and trot him around the ring. He also lets little kids finger paint on him! The other three days, he pursues his PASSION, which is JUMPING. And as you can see, Bo is now an amazing jumper.

I have never ridden a horse who loves to jump as much as Bo does. I'm a quiet, calm rider, and I'm told he's never been happier than he is when I jump him. We are a great team and loyal partners.

But the cool thing is ... neither of us is supposed to be able to do this.

Not long ago, Bo was essentially going to be put out to pasture. And my orthopedic surgeons told me that I would NEVER ride again, much less jump again due to a very serious riding accident.”

But as I said ... You don't mess with Yvonne when she wants something.

“With Bo as my inspiration, and absolute confirmation of what I could do along with  love, faith, and ignoring most people, we set out."

Bo (Frosty) is the 87^th horse that Yvonne has rehabilitated. That, along with hundreds of dog adoptions and placements. But not so Bo could walk...

So he could COMPETE …

A few weeks ago, Yvonne and Bo entered the Blenheim Summer Classic in San Juan Capistrano. And for a horse that was to be put down, he and Yvonne won ribbons in EVERY SINGLE EVENT. Against REAL 12-year-olds…

How does someone do this? How do they take thoughts and ideas of mortality and transpose them into ACTION and SUCCESS. 

For Yvonne … it's in the GIVING.

“Hillary Ridland at Equi Sports International at Sycamore Farms in Serra Retreat helped me get this horse. She and Equi Sports International made it all possible. They really deserve credit for making all this happen. 

Hillary and Shannon Rose also worked very hard to make it possible for me to ride again. They and Frosty are the real heroes of this story, certainly not I. I'm just the unbelievably blessed beneficiary of their kindness and hard work."

Success doesn't come from what you do. It comes from what you GIVE. And I, for one, will be giving a lot more, thanks to Yvonne and Frosty.