I am 33, full of anxiety, full of personality, love to laugh, love to ride, and love being independent.  I live in Greenwood with my three children and my Missouri Foxtrotter.

I have loved horses all my life and was promised a horse or pony at the age of two.  My father would take me to auctions and we would buy horse tack one piece at a time until there was nothing left to buy but a horse.  I would always ask when we were going to get this horse and one excuse after another would come up.

My dad had horses when he was a teenager and used to be in shows, so I would go through all his ribbons, plaques, trophies, and pictures and wonder why I couldn't be doing the same thing.  He would always tell me that I couldn't have a horse until I was responsible enough to take care of it.

I lost track of my dream until after I had graduated, got married, and had my second child.  My father asked me if I wanted to go to an auction with him, and reluctantly I said yes.  I fell in love that night with a big Quarterhorse named Gus.  He was sold to someone else that evening and my heart was broken.  Dad said that I couldn't buy every horse that I saw.  Two days later (Mother's Day), I went to my parents house and there stood Gus in the pasture waiting for me.  My dad had bought him without me knowing and had him delivered.  I stood there looking at Gus with tears in my eyes and wondered if this was really happening.  With this acquistion, I became a horseowner at the age of 26 not knowing a thing about horses, other than they looked pretty and I knew that I could love them.

Gus was definitely not a beginner horse, he was huge and spooked at everything!  Over time, I began to wonder why I had wanted a horse my whole life and I was now becoming afraid to be around him or ride him.  After a couple of years, I sold him to a teenage girl that used him for barrels........match found!  After Gus, I researched every breed of horse by Internet, books, & horse owners.  I hung out at auction rings, horse fairs, mounted shootings, rodeo's, etc. to see if horse ownership was for me.  I decided that I wanted to buy a gaited horse, so I researched every gaited breed & made the decision to buy a Missouri Foxtrotter.  I am now the proud owner of Beamer, my 15 year old mare, who is teaching me how to ride.  In October 2005, I entered my first fun show & received 5 ribbons.  Goal accomplished!!

I have suffered from panic & anxiety disorder for the last 12 years of my life & it is my goal to overcome it.  I remember my first overnight camping at JW Jones wondering if I was going to be able to stay through the night, explaining to Belinda that I may not be there in the morning when she woke up.  Belinda & Jane befriended me that evening helping me set up my tent, giving me extra blankets, an air mattress, flashlight, etc.  (I wasn't very prepared).  Waking up the next morning in disbelief that I actually stayed, I decided to make more friends.  That morning I met Ann & Mic and we have been friends ever since.  She has been instructed to help me out of a panic attack if one comes on by "whatever means necessary"!  By the way… I always carry Xanax on me, so if you're the lucky one to be with me when I "freak out" shove some pills in my mouth & make me happy again!!!

Joining Red Hats & Purple Chaps has given me confidence as a person and as a rider.  Everyone that I have met has been very supportive and helpful.  Hanging out with all of these ladies who don't know what "no" is or who have no limitations is absolutely inspiring to a person who was told her whole life that "girls" can't do certain things.  Thanks to everyone who has helped me so far.