Satellites gone up to the sky….
things like that drive me out of my mind.
I watched it for a little while.
I like to watch things on TV.
Bom Bom Bom. Satellite of Love.
Bom Bom Bom. Satellite of Love.
Bom Bom Bom. Satellite of Love.
Lou Reed
“Juliet’s horse was bought for $600.00 including the saddle. We saved that horse from the glue factory!” Juliet’s father Larry often said. He was a fairly small horse, just barely 13 hands but he was perfect for Juliet as she was 12 years old and barely 5’ 4”. Satellite was not a fancy horse. He was part quarter horse and part thoroughbred and part something unknown, but he was extremely fast and very loyal. He was a plain brown and had a dull coat. His head low and his neck flat with no arch so he did not look particularly regal. He was kept at the new Tropical Park Equestrian Center in West Dade near Juliet’s home.
Juliet bonded with her horse right away and named him Satellite. She walked to the stables from her house and rode every day in Summer, either in the ring or on the trails near the park. It was 1979 and cow pastures dominated the landscape of West Dade. Satellite knew Western and English commands. Juliet often wondered how he ended up a trail horse after being trained as an English show horse. She wanted to know his whole story and often asked him directly but never got an answer. She loved to pat him on the neck, kiss his nose, groom him, and give him carrots. Her instructor, Ms. Martin taught her how to care for him, check his feet and ears, and clean the saddle and bridal with leather soap.
Ms. Martin taught Juliet to ride with a long leg, dressage style, using her body to steer him not putting pressure on the bit. “Lower your stirrups” she would say. “Lower your heels. Lighter in the mouth, don’t pull on the reins.” After several months of training, Satellite and Juliet were agile and responsive.
The following Summer, Juliet entered into two equestrian competitions. One was at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, and one was a lesser-known event at Tropical Park in West Dade. She entered into the easiest event first and won first place in every category: Walk, trot canter, jumping. Satellite was so excited to compete, he whinnied loudly, showing off. Several girls ran up to Juliet afterwards and asked her about him. Where did you get him? How old is he? How often do you practice? Juliet answered every question humbly. “I wish I had that horse!” One girl remarked.
Juliet prepared for the bigger show in Palm Beach which would be competitive. The big day came, and her father wished her good luck. Satellite and another gelding named Sam were in the horse trailer and Juliet shared the front bench with a fellow rider from Miami and the driver. Ms. Martin drove separately in her Honda with her daughter. They slowly made their way to Palm Beach County. Satellite whinnied at least 5 times on the trip and once again, long, and loud, when they arrived. Juliet could feel the tension in the air, and she and her horse shared a competitive spirit. Juliet entered into walk, trot, canter and felt really good about it. She was number 25 and had to wait her turn to enter the ring. She could hear the judge’s comment on her form as she trotted by. “Number 25” she heard them murmur. She felt tingles go through her body when she realized that she and Satellite were in perfect synchronicity. He was truly a show horse, she thought. “I think I might have won something! She told Ms. Martin right after competing. “I don’t think so honey.” Ms. Martin said. “It’s very competitive here. This was just for practice.” The judges announced her name over the loudspeaker. “Juliet Remines on Satellite for 6th place”. It was a huge honor as she was coming up against girls with horses worth over $100,000. These were girls whose families were competing in horse competitions for generations. Juliet proudly brought her ribbon home to show her father.
Over the next year Juliet grew a few inches outgrowing Satellite. Her legs hung down way below his belly and she felt her weight would crush him. Juliet felt awkward and embarrassed to ride him, hating her body. A little girl from Virginia named Suzy visited Tropical Park and asked if she could ride him. She had seen them compete at the show in Palm Beach. Ms. Martin often took the younger girls out on trial with her. Reluctantly, Juliet let Suzy ride Satellite. After the ride, Ms. Martin said “They are nice together and Suzy fell in love with him.” Suzy’s father offered to buy Satellite and take him to their farm in Virginia. Juliet spoke to her father, and he arranged the deal.
A few weeks before he was going to be sold, Juliet took him for one last ride to her home up the street to have her father say goodbye to him. They rode to her house in Westchester, mostly walking the entire way and tied him up in the yard. Juliet’s neighbor made a loud noise and spooked Satellite who bolted, breaking the harness and ran back to the stables. Cars were honking and swerving to avoid him. He was nicked in the leg at the entrance to the Park.
Satellite couldn’t stand for a few weeks but the family from Virginia bought him anyway. Juliet was heartbroken. She felt so guilty that she had caused him harm. Suzy’s father told Juliet he put Satellite out to pasture in Virginia so he could heal. She never heard about Satellite again. Juliet fell into a depression and could not bond with another horse and for a time her grades suffered in school. Eventually Juliet moved on but was never able to completely come to terms with the events of that year.
Dana Martin and Satellite entered Juliet’s thoughts repeatedly over the next 30 years. She often dreamed about Satellite and imagined him running free in a big open field with wildflowers. Her time with Satellite was a happy period in her life that ended rather abruptly. Juliet came across a picture of herself in full riding gear and thought about Ms. Martin intensely. She felt the urgent need to connect with her. She searched the Internet with the words, “Dana Martin obituary” remembering her being in her 40’s when she knew her. However, what she found was that Dana Martin was alive and well, exhibiting her art at the Wellington Library in Palm Beach and promoting her new book about her life instructing children how to ride and care for horses.
Memories of Ms. Martin flooded Juliet’s mind; her English accent, and her personality which was graceful, persistence, patient, and kind. She dressed in jodhpurs and riding boots daily with a button-down white cotton blouse and wore her hair very teased and full. She had Anglican features with a long slender nose and high cheekbones. Juliet remembered riding in circles around the ring on a windy day while Ms. Martin stood in the center correcting her. Suddenly, Ms. Martin’s hair blew back. It was the first time Juliet saw a large tumor on her head. After the lesson was over, Juliet walked up to her and couldn’t look her in the eyes. “Are you ok? She asked, deeply concerned and out of breath. “Yes, honey, I’m fine.” Ms. Martin said looking away. “Are you going to have surgery? “Juliet asked. “No, honey. I just pray a lot.” After that day, Juliet noticed Ms. Martin taking breaks in her car, “Why does she go to her car so much? Juliet asked Ms. Martin’s daughter. “That’s where she prays. We are Christian Scientists.” Ms. Martin’s daughter explained.
After reading the article about her success as a riding instructor and painter, Juliet decided to reach out to her instructor on her website. Ms. Martin called back the next day. “Is this Juliet Reminis?” She said excitedly. Juliet said “yes! Is this Dana Martin? “They had a lively talk about the horses they knew. Bean, Stanley, Willow, and Satellite. They talked about Ms. Martin’s children and Juliet’s siblings and father. They talked about the fate of Satellite after being sold to the little girl who lived in Virginia. “I was so worried about him.” Juliet said, “They were a very good family and I’m sure they took good care of Satellite.” Ms. Martin assured. “You are featured in my book. I’d like to send you a copy. Please send me your address.” Ms. Martin insisted. Juliet was overjoyed. “There’s still a picture of you hanging in the stables.” Ms. Martin exclaimed. “Are you still a Christian Scientist? “Juliet asked her. “oh, yes.” Ms. Martin replied happily. Juliet shared her experience battling cancer. “I’m a survivor and I believe in the healing power of prayer.” “You are in the beginning of the book.” Ms. Martin explained. “In the late 80’s I was gifted the use of a piece of land near a preserve in West Palm Beach. I was able to build my own stables and had access to the preserve for trail rides. Children came from all over Florida for lessons.” Ms. Martin explained. Juliet imagined this idealistic place.
Juliet received the large coffee table book in the mail a week later along with a portrait of Willow, a beautiful gray mare. Juliet looked through the book with anticipation and found a picture of herself and Satellite.
Juliet felt a certain distance and sadness and wished she could be in the same room as Ms. Martin as they spoke about their lives. She longed for those carefree days of learning and exploring. She was relieved to have some closure regarding that chapter of her life and was comforted and reassured about Ms. Martin’s success and Satellite’s fate. Juliet prayed deeply that night for Ms. Martin and thanked “God” for all her blessings.
