My name is Tina Nunez, and like many of you, I've been an avid horse lover ever since I can remember. I remember begging my dad, "Daddy, please,  PLEEAASSEE can I have a horse?" His answer was to bring me a Shetland pony.  He told me to learn on her, and then he would buy me a horse. I'm sure he thought that I would loose interest and he wouldn't have to go any further with this nonsense. Well, that Shetland was an excellent teacher. She taught me balance...riding to one side while she sideswipes the fence is not easy!  She taught me timing...ducking in just the nick of time to miss that low tree branch. She taught me patience, it was quite the waiting game when I wanted to ride and she didn't. She gave me strength...you HAD to have muscles to stop her from charging back to the barn! She also taught me agility...playing cowboys and Indians was so much more fun when you could run and jump on the horse from the backend!

And so, thanks to Trixie, I got my first real horse. Candy was a beautiful sorrel paint 14hh cutting horse. I had no idea what a cutting horse was and was quite displeased that she wasn't much bigger than the pony. (I of course just knew I should have a horse as big as a house, you know) Our first trip down the gravel lane to the creek was nice (no saddle, only bridle). We slowly walked to the creek, took a drink and we sat admiring the view. When we turned to go back to the barn she took off! And in the fashion in which I was used to, I grabbed up the reins and jerked real hard to get her to stop. Not a good thing to do on a cutting horse, because SHE would actually STOP, and fast. I flew head first over her head and landed on the gravel, hitting my head on a rock. I walked her back the rest of the way, handed the reins to my dad and said, "I don't want her." He said, "Get your fanny back up on that horse." And that was that. Candy and I were inseparable for the next few years. Unfortunately, when my family had to move, it was to a house where we could not have the horses, so I was without a horse for a few years.

In the interim, I cleaned stalls for riding privileges, begged, borrowed and stole for even the slightest chance of sitting on one, or petting one, etc. I'm sure you all have been there done that!

My next horse was a freebie. I was working for the Marion County Extension Service in the 4-H Department and a man called to say that he had a horse that he would give someone if they'd just come and get it. I didn't have a trailer, so I rode him from his fancy home near Geist to 56th & SR 37 where I boarded him. California (Callie) was a beautiful standard bred that'd been on a thick green pasture AND grain for several years without being ridden. He had a sway back and a big belly. But he was a sweetheart. I kept him until I could no longer afford the boarding fees. I was in my 20's then.

A few years ago, the bug hit me again, and hard. I lived in the city and had been desperately trying to convince my husband to move to the country. Not being the horse enthusiast I was, he didn't quite understand. Finally, city life got the best of him, and he agreed we could find a place in the country. Of course, I immediately began looking around for a horse. I knew we had time, so I didn't have to hurry, and in doing so, I found a wonderful 15-year-old Arab/Appaloosa mare. We had to board her because we hadn't found our own place yet, but it was worth it!

In July, 2004 we found our dream home in Franklin, IN and now have 3 horses, the Arab/Appy mare, a Heinz 57 mare, a Tennessee Walker gelding, and an adorable 10 month old Arab/Appy filly named Summer. Summer is the result of extremely poor boarding management. Our Arab/Appy mare got pregnant by the "too young" stud colt!, but Summer's a little dream.

It's at the horrible boarding place thatI found my friend Teri, who is also a new member. We were thrilled to find each other, and also thrilled to find an entire group of ladies who are as crazy as we are about horses. Our friends and most of our family think we are nuts. Husbands definitely are not horsey people, and the kids' interest comes and goes. We have all that and the fact that we are both Leo's in common, so we completely understand each other. Teri keeps her 4-year-old Tennessee Walker gelding and her year old Arab/Appy filly (same darned stud colt) at my place.

I look forward to being able to join in on the rides and group fun with all of you. I was never involved in showing or 4-H (other than working there) and so riding in parades and attending some of the events sounds like a lot of fun. I can't wait to get to know you and share more horse stories with you.