I've been riding since I can remember. Being on a horse is as natural to me as walking.
I was a barn rat. All I wanted to do was ride anything I could get my hands on. I worked for my first instructor Carol Mayo tacking and un-tacking horses many weekends and some days after school. In return I got lessons. I used to grumble about it as a kid, but looking back I realize I was very lucky to get some excellent instruction on a number of different horses. I'm convinced the key to riding is riding as many horses as you can, as much as you can!
I wasn't really in Pony Club and didn't get the chance to do Young Riders, but I wanted it and I was curious. I hung out at the barn and watched the vet and the farrier and the floater. I watched other people ride and other people's lessons. I asked questions and got involved.
I got my first horse at the end of my sophomore year in high school. Sterling is a big, dapple gray quarter horse. He wasn't particularly fancy or particularly well built, but he was amazingly kind. My mother and I shared him and he took me to my first training level events, before he broke and became my mom's.
In college, I worked for Stephie Baer. Stephie has been an amazing support and mentor for me throughout the years. I worked for her through college and even though I did not have a horse, she seemed to find me things to compete. I owe her a great deal.
I tried not to do the horsey thing for a long time. Working for Stephie, I realized how much work horses were. Horses were not glamorous. Most days you just had to put your head down and keep trudging. I wanted to be an amateur so that horses were a hobby. I didn't want to be in the barn 15 hours every day and on the road every weekend. I didn't want to deal with lame horses, and sick horses, and other crazy horse people.
I failed.
Over the years, after graduating from college and then graduate school in London and then working in museums, conservation, and even a movie, I found myself coming back to horses. Sometimes the universe tells you what to do, so I'm doing it! And I'm glad. Horses may be a lot of work, and there are days I never want to see a horse, but they are few and far between.
I'm exceedingly thankful to have found such an amazing equine partner. Many people go their whole lives without getting such a lucky break. So we're going for it!
Please follow our journey. I think it's going to be an exciting one!
I was a barn rat. All I wanted to do was ride anything I could get my hands on. I worked for my first instructor Carol Mayo tacking and un-tacking horses many weekends and some days after school. In return I got lessons. I used to grumble about it as a kid, but looking back I realize I was very lucky to get some excellent instruction on a number of different horses. I'm convinced the key to riding is riding as many horses as you can, as much as you can!
I wasn't really in Pony Club and didn't get the chance to do Young Riders, but I wanted it and I was curious. I hung out at the barn and watched the vet and the farrier and the floater. I watched other people ride and other people's lessons. I asked questions and got involved.
I got my first horse at the end of my sophomore year in high school. Sterling is a big, dapple gray quarter horse. He wasn't particularly fancy or particularly well built, but he was amazingly kind. My mother and I shared him and he took me to my first training level events, before he broke and became my mom's.
In college, I worked for Stephie Baer. Stephie has been an amazing support and mentor for me throughout the years. I worked for her through college and even though I did not have a horse, she seemed to find me things to compete. I owe her a great deal.
I tried not to do the horsey thing for a long time. Working for Stephie, I realized how much work horses were. Horses were not glamorous. Most days you just had to put your head down and keep trudging. I wanted to be an amateur so that horses were a hobby. I didn't want to be in the barn 15 hours every day and on the road every weekend. I didn't want to deal with lame horses, and sick horses, and other crazy horse people.
I failed.
Over the years, after graduating from college and then graduate school in London and then working in museums, conservation, and even a movie, I found myself coming back to horses. Sometimes the universe tells you what to do, so I'm doing it! And I'm glad. Horses may be a lot of work, and there are days I never want to see a horse, but they are few and far between.
I'm exceedingly thankful to have found such an amazing equine partner. Many people go their whole lives without getting such a lucky break. So we're going for it!
Please follow our journey. I think it's going to be an exciting one!
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