Michael David Brown and Dots On A Dice Celebrate Camaraderie and Courage in Heroes On Horses Class
By Sarah Welk Baynum
This wasn’t Michael David Brown’s first time entering the Heroes On Horses Walk Trot Independent class at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, but he says what makes it truly special is how it unites heroes from across the nation.
“I placed third the first time and fifth the second, but this is my first win,” Brown said. “Having an event like this for veterans is incredible. It brings people back together—whether they served in Vietnam or are serving now—and that’s such a good thing.”
Brown said he was especially grateful for the opportunity to ride a horse donated by Albion College.
“They even let me train at their facility with my coach. Dots On A Dice is actually one of the Albion horses they use there, and the owner was more than happy to let me ride that horse for this event.”
Photo credit: NSBA
However, Brown is usually the one supporting from the sidelines while his wife trains and competes—making this event a rare occasion for him to be the one in the saddle.
“I’m the support guy—that’s normally my job,” Brown said. “I help her get her horse ready for the shows and haul her there. I’m retired from the Department of Corrections now, so I have more time to help her chase her dream.”
Before working in the Department of Corrections, Brown spent years serving his country as a U.S. Army Military Police officer. He completed Basic and AIT training at Fort McClellan—a base now closed—before deploying to Busan, South Korea.
What was meant to be a 12-month tour turned into two years abroad, followed by assignments at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Brown later trained for Middle East combat at the National Training Center (NTC) in California before spending six months overseas.
“I was part of a direct-support platoon, so when they deployed, we went first,” Brown said. “Honestly, the sandstorms there were worse than in Kuwait. I even got caught in a hailstorm in Kuwait—we were getting pelted in the back.”
Horses have long played a healing role in the lives of military veterans—and for good reason.
“I think horses are therapeutic—they really are,” Brown says. “I don’t work with them as much as my wife does, but I still love being around them. They’re good for people.”
The camaraderie among veterans and the tribute that Heroes on Horses pays to those who have sacrificed for our freedom are what make this class especially meaningful.
“I love this class—and this show,” Brown said. “For the veterans who come here to ride, it’s really special. I only wish we had a little more time together, because it’s always a lot of rushing around as soon as we get here. But it’s amazing to see how much it’s grown. Last year there were 16 entries, and this year the class was huge—it’s great to see. It’s a tear-jerker, though, and I had to contain myself a couple of times—it’s tough when you listen to everybody’s stories.”
Brown said hearing those stories reminds him of the bond that only fellow service members truly understand. “Some of these guys have been through a lot worse than me, and they’re still cheerful, with good attitudes most of the time—which is incredible,” he said. “You just don’t get that kind of camaraderie anywhere else. I spent 20 years in the Department of Corrections and never felt the kind of connection I had with my fellow soldiers—especially in Korea. Overseas, that’s your family. You’re in it together. You can’t just go home for the weekend—you’re stuck in another country. It’s dirty, and life is viewed so differently there. It really puts things in perspective.”
Watch the reel of the class and warmup:
