Horses! I have loved horses since I was a little girl, even before I ever saw a real live equine. I collected model horses and read every horse related book in the school library. I took my first riding lesson through the Girl Scouts at the age of nine. They put me on the back of a 17 hand thoroughbred mare named Mayfair. It was scary to be so far up but Mayfair was a sweet tempered horse and I loved my lessons with her. Every year after that, I begged my parents for lessons. My family could only afford a few lessons a year. I vowed that some day, I would get a job with enough money to buy my own horse. Eventually, I did. College, law school, and a new job kept me away from horses for 15 years. Then a friend told me about Equestrian Vacations. We signed up for the Ring of Kerry trail ride in Ireland. It was wonderful! My interest in horses was officially renewed. I began taking riding lessons again upon our return home. My 2001 New Year's Resolution was to do the research to find out what all was involved in owning a horse, and whether it was feasible for me to get one. I succeeded beyond my expectations, and in September of that year, Sadie joined the family! Since then we have added Kansas, Bella, and Jetman to our herd. Having my own horse, I've discovered, is a huge commitment and time sink. Now I understand what it means to be a "horse-person". Once you have a horse, you don't really have much time for anything else. I don't regret it a bit! Fortunately, my husband, Kevin, remembered in Ireland that he likes horses too (his sister had owned horses when he was growing up). Kevin has not only been supportive, but an active participant in our new life as horse-people. The first year of owning a horse comes with a steep learning curve. Part of that is time-management, especially for those of us who work full-time. I have put together a list of Tips for Keeping a Horse and a Full-time Job based on my observations and experience. In addition to our weekly riding lessons with our trainer, Teri, Kevin and I attend regular clinics with Wendy Murdoch a Centered RidingTM instructor. |
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