In 1970, Mary's son Bruce McBride purchased a 3/4 Arabian gelding from his grandmother in Alberta and had it shipped to Ontario as a present for Helen (his youngest sister). Helen loved riding and competing, so they were at a horse show or fair every weekend all summer long. Mary Hume, a good friend, suggested that Mary would enjoy showing a horse at halter , so the two of them started looking for a weanling to buy.
Mary McBride had just saved the money to buy herself a new fridge, stove, washer and dryer, but on reflection, it made more sense to her to forget the washer and dryer for a while and purchase a yearling filly from local breeder, Ernie Beauvais.
Thus started a long love affair with Korja and the Arabian horse for Mary.