How many "Horsey Ladies" are here?

[Michelemarrano]

I find that as I meet other middle-aged female cyclists, many of us are former horsewomen that have too little time nor finances for horses at this juncture in life.

I'm almost 45 and raised, rode and showed American Saddlebred Five-Gaited horses back in the late 1970's. I outlived my Five-Gaited mare, who I rode on trails for pleasure and spent a lot of time working her in harness. She lived to such a ripe old age that Alzheimer's had set in. I have replaced her with a 2002 Bianchi Boardwalk cross-terrain bike newly outfitted with racing rims and slicks. I am the team captain of MS Team FedEx Ohio and I ride on the MS 150 bike tours.

Any show of hands of present or former horsewomen here? Many of the "bikey-ladies" here in Ohio rode hunter-jumpers. Not too many cowpokes, though.

BTW--My Bianchi still has that Saddlebred "look" about her--she's a mare!

[bikerHen'sChick]

Well, I'm not really middle aged but I had to post anyways. I'm a former/current horsey (young) lady. I did pony club and 4H all throuh my youth and now take lessons when I can afford them. Don't know if I could say which is better between bikes and horses, though. Bikes don't spook, but they also seem to throw you harder

[btchance]

Hey, me too. I grew up on a breeding farm in Oklahoma, showed growing up and got to the regional and national level while I was in college, but I had to sell my show horse to do lack of time and funds while in med school. I showed quarter horses in the all around divisions, mainly equitation classes, and some hunters. Right now, my MTB has taken the place of my horse to get away from stress (and seems to have as much a mind of its own as my last horse did or maybe that's just the handler)

[latelatebloomer]

You got me pegged. I had a devil of a pony growing up, volunteered some at a rescue called Last Chance Ranch, and have 3 li'l goats wandering around an 1 1/2 acre pasture that will one day hold a horse when I can afford to fix the fence, buy food, have time, and all that jazz. And my dream gift to myself when I turn 50 (4 years to go) is a pony trek in Mongolia.

But the bike is giving me strength, fitness, courage, self-esteem....I'll be a much better rider when I have the chance again.

[bikerHen]

Your right. There are alot of references to "when I rode horses" on this site. Count me in as a former horse owner. We had horses for almost fifteen years. Mostly for trail riding but I did "drive" my favorite mare as well. When we moved closer to town bye, bye horses. I miss them, but not the work, expense and responsibilty. Biking has filled the void, mostly. BikerHen

[Michelemarrano]

While I use the Bianchi for road riding, I picked up a Trek 28 speed MTB at a garage sale last year for $70--never been used!

We are also campers/RV-ers--it's nice to take the Trek on camping trips to tool around campgrounds and to some light trail riding--many of the rails-to-trails have ballast surfaces.

I know this is nuts---but I think of road riding in equestrian terms as "English" and mountain bikes a "Western"....anyone else see the same pattern?

[DressageAB]

Hi!
My name is Audrey, and as you can see by my avatar, I am a horsey lady too (the avartar is me and my horse Baby, this past summer). I have been teaching dressage and balance seat for 5 years, and on the side I write for the Northeast Equine Journal- don't know if any of you get it?
Anyways, i'm so excited that other ladies on these boards ride too! Its nice to hear all about your riding experiences

[eofelis]

Hi!
My name is Audrey, and on the side I write for the Northeast Equine Journal- don't know if any of you get it?

I live out here in western Colorado, and interestingly, the local Barnes and Noble store carries the NE Equine Journal. I like to look through it every now and them. I used to live in Ipswich, MA. I worked at Groton House Farm and Hamilton Farm.

[BikeMomma]

I've loved horses all my life, but have never owned one. I've drawn them in art since I was in the 2nd grade (my most horrific childhood memory is of my 2nd grade teacher throwing away my beautiful horse picture, drawn on the back of the class assignment I was supposed to be working on ). As soon as I could read, I would spend hours in the school library, finding and reading every horse book they had. I found Walter Farley and the Black Stallion series, and suddenly I had my own book collection started.

When I was nine, my mother finally caved and found a small local stable where I could take riding lessons. My first ride was bareback, then I mostly learned my horse(wo)manship skills on the western saddle. I absolutely loved English, and tried jumping (loved it!). After a couple years at that stable, my mom found a larger stable with more acreage and better facilities. The horses and instruction were better and my mom started taking lessons too (she rode as kid in England). We had alot of fun, and when money was tight, we would clean stalls and paddocks in exchange for the lessons. At this stable, my skills got better and showed a little with the school's horses (Novice/open jumping and English equitation classes). I still have all my ribbons.

My mom would also scrape together money every summer to send me to a weeklong 'horse camp' in Hilmar, CA. Rascal Slough Ranch owned and operated by a wonderful lady named Linda Stevenson. I went for five summers in a row. Each year, we were assigned a horse based on our skill level, and by the last year I attended, I had advanced to Linda's most treasured horse, Jackrabbit, a gorgeous appaloosa (mostly quarter horse). Jackrabbit was true to his name -- he'd jump anything, and Linda would keep Jack and me for a few extra minutes to work on our jumping skills. The tallest jump I tried with Jack was an oxer set up over two barrels with crossbars. Jack was awesome...Linda would even put a racing saddle on him and gallop around the arena.

The closest I came to owning a horse, other than dreaming about it, was my mom and I almost leased a thoroughbred by the name of L.P. (short for longplay...he was looonng...perfect for me and my long legs). He was also a fearless jumper, and we had so much fun together. What stopped us from leasing was my step-dad changed jobs and we didn't have enough spare cash each month. I was sooo bummed. A couple years later, though, L.P. became sick, they couldn't put any weight on him, and then one morning they found him in the pasture. Sad. I loved that guy. He was a bay with a white star on his forehead. He was an failed racer that made it to the jumping circuit, and then eventually found himself at the meat truck. Thankfully, he was rescued and had a good life at the ranch.

One of my goals in life is to someday own a horse, and I'm stubborn enough to get there. But right now, my life is way too hectic and I don't even have time to take lessons like I'd love to. I tried a few years ago, bought new riding breeches and boots, but became pregnant with my second child soon thereafter, and then I've been too busy ever since. So for now, like you Maree, I am content to take my bike rides where there are horses. I found a Connemara breeding stable on my ride the other day. That one I had to stop for. The stable owner took notice of me sitting there out on the road and said hi to me as I finally rode off. I told her that her horses were beautiful, and I got a huge smiley "thanks" back. It's obvious that she loves what she's doing. I'll have to go that way again, for sure.

As a side note, I found that horses are truly in my blood. In addition to my mom riding in England when she was younger (she has lots of stories to tell), I recently found out more about my dad during a recent visit to the East Coast to see him. At one time, his mom owned 13 horses on their ranch in Maine, and would breed and raise them from foals. I got a few pics of my dad on a some of them. Awesome.

Sorry for the long post. I can't stfu, pardone my francais, about two subjects: horses and bikes! I look upon my riding lessons and times at horse camp as a kid very fondly. Thanks for reading!

[BikeMomma]

I live out here in western Colorado, and interestingly, the local Barnes and Noble store carries the NE Equine Journal. I like to look through it every now and them. I used to live in Ipswich, MA. I worked at Groton House Farm and Hamilton Farm.

I'll have to look for it at the Barnes & Noble here....at the same time I buy my VeloNews!

[TrekJeni]

While I use the Bianchi for road riding, I picked up a Trek 28 speed MTB at a garage sale last year for $70--never been used!

We are also campers/RV-ers--it's nice to take the Trek on camping trips to tool around campgrounds and to some light trail riding--many of the rails-to-trails have ballast surfaces.

I know this is nuts---but I think of road riding in equestrian terms as "English" and mountain bikes a "Western"....anyone else see the same pattern?

Don't know you but we have to get together! Live in Cincinnati and show dogs which require horses as I show dogs in hunting events! Showing dogs also requires you to own a camper so you can be relaxed and rested for the weekend! We frequent Ceasar's Creek in the pet loop. I ride a Trek 1000, bf rides a Madone and best friend also rides a Trek. My very first ride was the MS150 left went from Wilmington to UD and back. Doing it again! Any way to get on your team? Or do you have to work at FedEx?

Jeni

[Irulan]

I know this is nuts---but I think of road riding in equestrian terms as "English" and mountain bikes a "Western"....anyone else see the same pattern?

Never heard it put that way but it makes sense.
I had the horse bug, and then horses well into my teens. I jumped American Shetland, and hung out with the rodeo crowd. I had a pretty good deal. They boarded my pony, and I helped exercise and work their quarter horses. I'd go to rodeos with them and watch the kids while mom and dad partied. They taught me to rope and ride barrels. I also took some dressage classes at the time... then I discovered boys and parties, and that was the end of my horse chapter.

Irulan

[Michelemarrano]

Hi Jenn---While appx 60% of our team members are employees of the FedEx companies, we welcome EVERYONE!!!

Our MS 150 tour is the Pedal to the Point from Cleveland to Sandusky, Ohio on August 20-21, 2006. We even have a website: www.biketeam.fedex.org.

You can also enroll for the 2006 PTTP on the national ms website at www.nmssohiobuckeye.org. Our team name is MS TEAM FEDEX and our team code is OHABFEDC01.

You can email me at home this week--- hoepfnert@yahoo.com---

I have a dear friend from college---she and her family are campers--who just moved to Batavia and is interested in taking up cycling with the Little Miami Bike trail near her home. Perhaps we can ride in the Cincy-Dayton area.

[singletrackmind]

I would have been a horse person-had I ever been able to afford it. Ah well, I've still got half a life or so to go, barring accidents and illness, so who knows? We do hope to move to a home with acreage when we get older......

[sydney_b]

Barrel horses. Currently too busy with work and sons to ride horses much, so spend most of my time putting commuter and errand miles on my two wheeled steed. Find I get the same thrill rolling full tilt down a hill as full tilt on my barrel horses.