I grew up as a Hoosier “Farmer’s Daughter” and, as a country girl, horses were a part of my life. During those years of growing up, I had two horses. Animals of which I was terrified! Not like most of you gals who would ride a steer if it were the only animal around that looked vaguely like a horse. It was not until I had been married about six years that I became infected with horse fever, I bought bought a Tennessee Walker that was blind in one eye and who (according to the vet) probably rode with Teddy Roosevelt up the San Juan Hill. At that time we lived in the town of Coatsville. My husband built a stall for him in our garage. Although I am sure things have changed by now, there were no laws outlawing having a horse in your garage inside the town corporation back then. We had him for a couple of ears then took him to my cousin’s farm where he lived a few more years. In 1994, we bought six acres near Hazelwood and built our house. About a year later, I read an article about a lady who had a back injury and was told she would have to give up horseback riding. A friend of hers in California told her about the Peruvian Paso, which she said anyone could ride because they were so smooth. Well, that article (much to my husband’s terror) got my brain thinking again... Our son was grown, I was not getting any younger, if I am going to get into horses in this life, I had better do it now. I determined that I was no longer going to be afraid of horses. I was going to learn to ride -- if it killed me or not. Besides, we had about four good acres going to waste. So, at fifty-two years old, I got another hours -- a Peruvian named Piramide” (That is a whole other story). Since then, I have had several other horses, all gaited. Now I ride a six-year-old spotted saddle gelding which was born on our small farm. He will probably be my last horse because I surely do love and trust him.

Now that I have mastered (almost) my fear of horses, I want to go on and swim in the Senior Olympics. But first I will have to master my other fear: my fear of water, Oh, and I will have to learn to swim. Or, perhaps I will just let my horse swim across a river or two -- I think that might do just as well.