I have loved animals since I was a young girl.  Cats, dogs, horses -- I loved them all.  Actually, I think I was more fascinated by them than anything.  I was a city slicker from a city slicker family.  It was only at fairs and of course on television that I was exposed to farm animals.
 
TV was my passion as a child.  Westerns were the best.  Dale Evans was my hero.  Then there was Fury, My Friend Flicka, and Silver -- the Lone Ranger’s horse.  “Hi Ho Silver! I am dating myself for sure.
 
As all young girls do, I fell in love with horses.  Outside of stick horses and riding the stairway bannister,  my exposure to the real thing took a while.  When I was 10 or 11, a friend got a horse.  When I went to see her we would ride “Babe” all over the place.  We rode bareback and together.  We had a blast.  I fell in love with Babe,  the gentle giant. 
 
Life happened after that.  Boys, education, marketable skill all took over as priorities,
 
At the age of 32 when life seemed at a standstill, I signed up for horseback riding lessons.  Do it while I am still young enough to figure it out,  that was my thinking, while I can still bounce.  That was just the beginning. I learned how to ride, groom a horse, take care of tack. I learned what it took to take care of a horse. From then, horses seemed to be the focus of the steps in my life:

I bought 1 horse.
 
I bought a 2nd horse

I moved to the country.

I built a barn.

I moved the horses out with me.

I absolutely loved taking care of my horses, seeing them everyday and just being with them.  The horses are gone now...old age and illness.  Where did the time go ?  I miss them.
 
I remember my dad telling me, "I can't think of anyone, in the last three generations, on either side of the family, having a horse."  I was more than happy being the one to break the chain.
 
Anyway, now I ride a scooter which is great.  The RHPC has made a place for me and others as Rowdy Roadies.  I get to ride my scooter, be with great people and be around horses.  Yep! I am in heaven.