Like I said, I've loved horses and ponies since I was about four years old. I rode my neighbor's ponies for a number of years (boy, was my dad lucky!) and then worked as a camp riding instructor for four summers. After I graduated from college, I was privileged to ride my neighbor's horse for a number of years. After she was sold, I went on a few trail rides but didn't do any regular riding.

In October 2001, my friend invited me up to see her horse and introduced me to another friend of hers who had horses for lease. Well, that was the day I met Christine (her registered name is Garland). I've been riding her on and off since then. She's trained in dressage (I'm not, but have had a few lessons) and knows way more than I do, but we get along very well. I'm very pleased to be back in the saddle again.

Below are some horse pix from over the years. Most are thumbnailed to speed up the page load time. Just click on the pix to see them larger.

Thunder and I - I think I'm about 10 years old in this one.

Lightning - Though you can't hardly see him. Gutsy little guy.

Riding the draft horses at the summer camp.

Blasher - tall, skinny and used to try to scrape kids off in the trees on trail rides.

Sunlight - one of my "project" horses at camp.

Shay - I don't think she ever put her ears forward. Another camp horse.

One of my favorite camp horses - McQue. Sweet tempered and smooth.

Another favorite from camp - this is Tom and I at a winter retreat.

 Punky and I ready to go for a ride. She's in her polo gear since she was also used as a polo pony. She could haul ass, baby!

Christine (aka Garland) - She's looking pretty here (especially considering she's never been in a halter class and wasn't sure what she was supposed to be doing while we were taking pictures of her).