Horses and All Things Equestrian

I have had a passion for horses since I can remember. I was the classic "horse crazy" girl.  I thought about horses all the time; I drew horse pictures; I wanted only horse related gifts; and I rode horses whenever I had a chance.  I learned how to run and gallop like a horse and I dreamed that somehow it was possible to magically transform myself into a horse. I believed that there was no better aspiration than being an Olympic rider.  Yes, I was "horse crazy" and everyone in my family knew it!



Fifty some years later, I am still riding horses and hope to be until the day I die. No longer "crazy" I still have a deep love for horses as well as an appreciation for what they mean to me and the impact they have had on my life.  I have ridden nearly every style of equitation (the manner of riding a horse, be it English, Hunt Seat, Dressage, etc.). I have shown horses and competed in various disciplines, used horses for work such as managing cattle, and ridden for the sheer pleasure of it. I worked as a professional in the horse world as well - as a trainer and instructor, teaching students to ride and training horses to be productive partners with their riders. I worked my way up the ladder, so to speak, as any good horseman does...learning to clean stalls and wash tack in order to ride when I didn't own a horse. I also groomed horses for shows and as a young girl was thrilled to take the reins of the show jumpers as they exited the ring, cooling them out, bathing them and seeing to their needs. All this was a true labor of love.  I went on to run my own farm as well as co-manage a large show and training facility. Through these experiences, I gained extensive knowledge in stable management, including veterinary procedures and care. This knowledge I passed to my students, who learned to care for a horse as well as ride.


The last ten years, I have become increasingly involved in equestrian activities in the medieval living history group, the SCA. Within this organization, riders recreate some of the experiences of the medieval equestrian and participate in historical games and activities which were a part of life in the Middle Ages. We also research techniques relative to horses, such as the training and the equipment used on horses in this time period.

Within these pages I hope to share some of my knowledge and relate stories about some of the horses I have known. I plan to share training tips and recommendations for teaching horses to be better partners with their owners, and vice versa. I will also share my research relative to horses in the Middle Ages. I hope that you enjoy what you find here and it enhances your understanding of horses. May you share my love for these beautiful creatures!