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About the author…
I grew up on an Iowa farm, with my Dad and Grandparents. The first horse I rode much as a young girl was a 1600 pound Percheron mare named Bell.
I graduated from Iowa State University in Journalism, and worked briefly with radio and newspaper and did some scriptwriting for audio and audiovisual training programs. I sold a few magazine articles, including one that was published in Horse Illustrated magazine in 1989 on distance riding. I've been a Realtor, specializing in horse properties, and I've managed a boarding stable and given basic riding lessons.
I've enjoyed competitive trail riding and I've recently discovered the fun of riding a Tennessee Walking Horse! Horses are hard work and relaxing therapy and each one is a challenge and a blessing all its own. And each horse has a different lesson for us.
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Boss Man's Beauty
Russ found "Ginger" in April, '07. She is as bombproof as they get, a 20 year old Fox Trotter, with Zane Grey in her background. Russ is finally enjoying his trail rides more than ever! We've had to experiment with supplements for her arthritis and hoof problems, but I think we've found the answers and she is one grand old mare! My granddaughters thought so too during Thanksgiving week when they rode! Ginger's story is in my new book on mares, scheduled for release in March, '08.
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Walker’s Velvet Queen
“Lady” is the TWH mare that my husband bought for himself in March '04 (because of her loving personality), but soon decided he didn’t want to deal with her “boss mare” ways! We traded her off, then got her back, for me. She is an excellent trail horse (if we stay away from big trucks, motorcycles and four wheelers!), and did OK in several horse shows in 2005 and 2007 (got one blue ribbon!). We did a 9 mile Hunter Pace in 2007 and our group came in second! She is the "inspiration" for my second book: "MARES! (ya gotta LOVE 'em)" that will be ready in March of 2008 (I hope!).
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Whoopie’s Rock a Color
“Rocky” has been with us since May, '05. Russ rode him on the trail for two years, then fed too much alfalfa for a time, and Rocky bucked once. I have been riding him since, and I find he has potential to be five-gaited! He is a TWH/SSH, from the King Ranch in Missouri, and he has a great disposition, very willing and smart, a kid at heart, loves to have fun. He is very sensible and doesn’t spook easily. We are working on lots of things: canter, jump, a faster gait, and headset. Doing great!
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Syn-cere
Syn-cere came to me as a 16 year old Arabian brood mare, proud and full of vigor! She had problems with being tied, with being haltered and bridled, and feeling any pressure on her head, after a previous trailer accident. She showed great intelligence as we overcame those ingrained fears! At 19, she placed 5th on her second Competitive Trail Ride. Syn-cere taught me the need to deal with our issues with quiet patience, one small step at a time. Syn-cere's story is included in the mare book.
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Traveller
Traveller is a Quarter horse mix, and he's been through EPM and is now probably about 22 years old. He has good days and bad, but I still ride him on those good days, and the grandkids were able to ride him twice in one week over Thanksgiving! He was my sensible, reliable trail horse for more than eight years, until EPM in 2004. I truly thank God for help with his healing and rehab (also Debbie Antognoli and Lynette Schneider). Traveller’s steady disposition helped me relax in the saddle and I have missed that!
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Fanny
Fanny was my true beginning. She was ornery and headstrong, full of spunk and energy, and she reacted to frightful surroundings with intimidating strength. But she was mine and she knew it, for 13 years. Her strength and energy was “the wind beneath my wings.”
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Little War Dude
“Dude” was Fanny’s only offspring, born in 1977, a blue roan appy with white blanket. I later taught him to “talk” to me with a flappy lip. We started one Competitive Ride, didn’t finish. He stepped in a hole during a conditioning ride and was never sound again. I “loaned” him to someone I trusted to care for him while I recovered from shoulder surgery, then discovered later that they had given him away! After telling me they wanted to keep him! I often wonder if he is still alive, and I will never loan out a horse again. Dude taught me a greater appreciation of loyalty and responsibility.
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And there were others. There was Sandy, a retired Quarter palomino show horse; Nugget, who bucked after he was wormed; Samson, an older Quarter-Saddlebred who didn’t want to go into a trailer; Sammy, the TWH field trial horse that wanted so much to please but was so nervous he worried his rider; Silver, an Arab endurance horse that slid into a fence and injured his leg the day after I realized what a great horse I had; Mandy, an Arab mare that had been badly mistreated and her young filly, Oksana, who had great promise for starting out as the smallest of twins! Every horse has a story to tell and lessons to share.
And here are a few extra snapshots, including one of my very first ride on my Uncle’s pony!
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