My mother jokes that she must have been bit by a horse when she was pregnant with me. That is the only explanation she can think of for why I would be completely horse crazy from the day I entered this world. As far back as I can remember, a horse was always the number one thing on any wish list I had (Christmas, birthday, etc). And every year at Christmas, I checked the back yard and driveway to see if there was a pony waiting for me. Of course, there never was. However, my mom worked at a hospital and had a few friends that had horses. They were happy to indulge my horse addiction by letting me come out and ride their horses.

At the age of 14, one of those friends, who raised draft horses, but also had a few riding horses, free-leased me a young Appy mare to ride and show as I pleased. This mare became my life and we showed in 4-H through my senior year in high school. During this time I also worked with teams of Percherons, Belgians and a Morgan gelding. I helped with their daily care, training, parade work and sleigh rides and also learned to hitch and drive -- both team and single horse. The summer before my senior year in high school, I worked at a camp in central Wisconsin teaching basic riding and leading trail rides. It was a great learning experience for me. The Appy mare was sold before I went to college as there was no way I could afford both school and a horse.

I took a couple of years off from horses during college, but it seemed that something was always missing. The summer before my junior year in college, I started taking riding lessons. This was the first time in my life that I had formal riding lessons .. It was during this time that I was introduced to the worlds of dressage and 3-day eventing. I was hooked! I love the challenge of dressage and the fact that when its good -- its effortless, like dancing with my horse. Likewise, I love the partnership and trust required for the cross country and show jumping phases of 3-day eventing. I did catch-riding all through college on any horse anyone would let me ride. This included a neat AngloArab gelding, a number of riding club-owned lesson horses (I was their schooling rider), my trainer's dressage horse and I also got to start a couple young Percheron/TB crosses that were bred by friends of mine.

There have been other issues in my life, including a divorce, that have led to having to give up horses, but it was always temporary. In 2001, I met a wonderful man who supports my passions, even though they are not his own. In late 2002, I moved to Indiana from Wisconsin and met some wonderful ladies through a sidesaddle club. Those relationships have led to other riding opportunities. However, in October of 2003, my boyfriend David helped me to purchase Jewel In The Hills, a 1998 Thoroughbred mare. I was smitten with Jewel from the first moment I saw her. I purchased her off the track and have done all of her retraining myself. She is a Secretariat great-granddaughter and like her famed ancestor, is smart, sassy and athletic, but also bold and willing. She tries hard to please and is a fantastic all around horse. As her training progresses, she is more and more competitive in the dressage ring, yet she is bold enough to lead a trail ride of strange horses in new territory or hack out on our own on the cross country course. She is a great mare and I truly lucked out!

I'm excited to be a member of the RHPC. I look forward to opportunities to meet other members and sharing horsey stories! And although I've only been an official member for less than a week, I've already started shopping around for pink accessories.