How many "Horsey Ladies" are here?

[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!