From the age of 12 years I was raised on a farm in Morgan County, Indiana.  My first encounter with horses was with my dad’s old work horses, Sawdust and Doc.  I would ride Doc home from the fields after Dad had worked them.  We also rented out ponies to neighboring farms. 

My first pony was Daisy.  Daisy was followed by Cricket, then Joyce.  Another horse my family kept was named Romeo.  But Romeo he was not!  He would take you to the nearest tree limb and try and knock you off, or stop going down hill and try to put you over his head, or take a 360 and knock you off the side.  Dad finally sold him. 

One day mom and I hooked Daisy up to a 2 seat cart and out the barn lot she went full bore down the road and right into the neighbor's fence.  She broke the fence and the wagon and left mom and I sprawled out everywhere.  Dad wouldn't fix the wagon for us; he said he had never seen such a sight.  Besides, we had to pay for the repair to the neighbor's fence. 

We had a few more horses that came and went.  I remember that I once rode in Kerry's Rodeo, barrel racing. 

Then dad bought Champ!  Champ became my best friend and buddy.  He would come to me anytime I called for him, no matter how far out in the field he was.  At that time in my life, I probably spent more time with Champ then any human.  I thought him all kinds of tricks.  I almost wish I had not of become so close to Champ because one day as Champ was laying down in the yard and I was lay relaxing with him, my head resting on his neck, reading a newspaper, a man drove up to our house and offered to buy Champ.  To my disbelief my Dad sold him!  As you can imagine my heart was broken.  I cried for days.  I had lost my best friend.  I guess dad felt bad because he finally bought me another horse, Roxey.  She was not Champ but she was a good horse and a pal.  Dad let me keep her till I got married and then he sold her.  I could not stay too mad at him because I soon had children and a family to care for. 

I have never owned another horse or had much to do with them outside of riding a neighbors or family members on occasion.  However as my children grew I did notice that one of them (my daughter, Lona) must have inherited the horse gene.  Through Lona’s love of horses, I am able to wander back to to those wonderful days of my youth, and spend time with her and her horses.  Up until a couple of years ago I was even riding again.  Now, due to an ear problem (Vertigo) I can no longer ride.  I still love the horses and since I have joined the RHPC I think I will be able to till the good Lord takes me home.