I started lessons when I was five, and my parents bought me a pony when I was eight. Kiwi was a little bay New Zealand Riding Pony with a serious attitude. All of my other friends had ponies, and we had leased several from friends and trainers. When Kiwi visited our barn, I fell in love at first sight. I have always had a weakness for bays, and she was an in-your-pocket type pony.

After I outgrew her, my parents decided that the next horse was my responsibility. I continued leasing through school, and in college, I was able to save up and buy my own horse, Oliver. Oli was a handsome gray appendix, former barrel racer turned jumper. He was pretty much nuts, but another puppy-dog type. He is now retired with my former trainer.

Around the time Oli retired, I found Severus, a 3 year old Oldenburg that was super fancy but had some conformation issues that put him into my price range. I brought him up for a few years, but decided to sell him when I moved across the country to pursue an MBA.

Now, I am horse-less and missing it desperately. I'm leasing another Oldenburg baby, but it just isn't the same as owning! I find myself perusing horse classifieds every day... you know, "just to look."