I, too, was one of the "horse crazy" little girls.  Unlike many of my Red Hat girlfriends, however, I was fortunate enough to always live in rural areas.  I had my first Shetland pony (Fury) when I was only five.  My next equine was a donkey named Jenny (really original – huh?) who just happened to be the best donkey in the whole wide world.  After several years of owning Jenny, Dad told me it was time to sell her!  It broke my heart when she was loaded up and off we went to the sale barn.  I remember Dad making me ride her in the sale ring and crying my heart out.  Unknown to me Dad had his eye on a sorrel and white paint mare.  We came home with that mare whose name was Trixie.  As I look back now, I see that had to be the gentlest, kindest horse around.  Trixie and I became the very best friends spending all of our free time together.  After five years of owning Trixie, we had to move to Indianapolis where there was no place for Trixie.  Needless to say I was heartbroken.

It seems that, in my life, things always turn up horses.  In High school in Indianapolis I made a new friend who was as horse crazy as I.  We spent every Saturday riding at Driver's on the south side of Indy.