Jess Goldner

Jess is mostly silent and reserved, keeping to herself and often seen being lost in her own world, which is no wonder after the losses she had to endure. One can see her soul-deep sadness, yet she remains strong, doing her best to live her life and be there for Ciara, and whoever else needs her. She has a tendency to be overworrying and overprotective, finding it hard to accept that Ciara is growing up and into her own person, but she's always guided by the best of intentions. Overall, she seems stiff and rigid until one gets to know her, but then the ice thaws and one can discover the sweet, sad woman beneath.

History

Jess was born as the second daughter of an equestrian family. She grew up on the family farm, Caravella Vale, among horses and under the watchful eye of her older sister Sarah, who was like a role mother and a second mother to Jess. The girls spent a lot of time with the horses, yet it was always clear that Sarah was the one destined to one day take over Caravella Vale.

Jess wasn't an overly popular child at school, she had her close group of friends, and up until the end of high school their little group was together, often coming to Caravella Vale to ride and just be on the wonderful farm. Sarah was already competing and was gaining a name for herself, but Jess just couldn't get herself to follow in her sister's footsteps, even though she was a talented rider. Instead, she went into university to study finances, thinking that she can either help Sarah out that way, or just start her own company someday.

At 19, she became an aunt, and despite the circumstances, young Ciara was the centre of their family. It didn't take long for Jess to get inspired and feel the need for her own family even at an early age, and the opportunity seemed to come when by the age of 21 she had a serious boyfriend who wanted a family with her. The pair started to try for a child, but none was conceived, and it was discovered at the end of a rather lengthy examination that Jess simply couldn't bear children of her own. It was a hard blow for her, even more so as her boyfriend broke up with her over it, and only her family's support got her through that time. It was hard to accept that no matter what, she couldn't have her own kids, but Sarah reassured her she can always adopt, and until then, Jess was glad to be able and help out with Ciara.

To channel her own grief, Jess went back to school and studied to become a kindergarten teacher, finding any and all opportunities to be among kids. While doing her studies, she started babysitting children for money whenever Sarah didn't need her. It took years, but Jess finally seemed to find her own, although she just didn't have any luck with men as they either didn't want a serious relationship, or didn't want a woman who couldn't have children.

The accident

Jess's world was again ripped apart in 2009. She went to support her sister in an eventing competition as well as watch over her niece while Sarah competed, and didn't expect that day to change her life. In a freak accident Sarah died, and her favourite stallion had to be put down not long after. Besides her grief and pain, Jess now had to take care of Ciara whom she adopted, as it was never a question that she would look after her niece.

The following years were hard. Caravella Vale was sold, and Jess moved away with Ciara, trying to establish a new normal in their everyday life. Whatever she had learnt about kids flew out the window when she had to deal with her niece, Jess just didn't know what to do when it came to her own family, and to the very much grieving 6-year-old girl. They got through the hard times together and seemed to move on, never looking back at the equestrian past after what happened to Sarah. Jess did her best to raise Ciara properly, while also making sure Sarah's memory was never forgotten - besides work and child-rearing, she had absolutely no time anymore to be looking for any kind of partnership.

Another move a few years ago brought Jess and Ciara close to Lovelyta Ranch, where they - almost literally - ran into the runaway mare Queen of Hearts. Ciara formed an immediate bond with the mare and despite Jess's forbidding, she helped in Queen's rehabilitation. Queen in turn helped both Jess and Ciara to open their hearts up to horses again and deal with their leftover grief, making Jess find her joy in these beautiful animals again.

Affiliation with Lovelyta

As Ciara spent a lot of time at Lovelyta with Queen, Jess couldn't help but stick around as well. First it was only Renée's innocent offer of riding Oro that got Jess back into the saddle, but the more she rode, the better she felt. She was offered a job as a rider, which Jess initially turned down, but then Renée asked her to help out with finances and accounting. Eventually with the expansion of Lovelyta Jess accepted a job offer to be the supervisor of the baroque division and breeding, also helping to train and compete the horses under ther care. She switched her kindergarten-job to part-time to have enough time to help out at Lovelyta.

[dr] 1st place - Oakways Rainbow August Show with LR Against the Odds