Horse & cat people, greetings!
My equine companion is La Bonita, a registered Iberian Warmblood (1/2 Andalusian, other 1/2 is American Saddlebred), born in West Virginia in March 1999.
In 2002, I found myself entering a whole new world of horsemanship, sort of a cross of "horse whispering" and psychology. It does take time... I finally started riding Bonita in early Spring 2005. Well worth the effort and time. Bonita is the perfect partner for anything I want to do with her. Proof for the maxim, "Make haste slowly." In 2009 I got into conditioning Bonita to do 25 mile competitive trail rides. Great motivator to make one make time to go out and enjoy the horse! Check out the button at the left - it takes you to the "tracks" of trails I've ridden in Natchaug & Goodwin forests and from the Marlborough scout camp.
Bonita's predecessor was Eli, an off-the-track Thoroughbred and a true gentleman. Unfortunately, he was prevented from reaching his full potential as my dressage and sidesaddle mount when he contracted EPM, a neurological disease.
In 2001, I became a certified riding instructor with the American Riding Instructors Association, in dressage and huntseat. Someday I hope to become certified in side saddle, too. And, maybe, if I win the lottery and can really get into instructing, I will pursue certification in Centered Riding.
In July 2004, I moved from a carefree condo to a lovely old farm with an old farmhouse, circa 1850 &1950, some acreage, a barn, a workshop complete with old tools, a garage with attached greenhouse, and -- believe it or not -- what was a Scandinavian steam bath shed! All this, so I could keep the horse at home at long last & to give myself more of a challenge (!). I am loving it! My only problem is leaving the farm to go to work to PAY for the place.
In August 2008, my pet pony acquired a pet pony of her very own, at least for a couple of months -- Jasper, a 7 year old American Shetland. When he first arrived at Erin's at ~2 years old, he put the "D" in Dysfunctional -- he was like a "D"eer!! He has made tremendous progress. In January 2009 he left for "college" - he went to Maryland to be started in driving. He's back with Erin now, as a successful driving school grad.
I'm also a devoted cat person, with three fuzzfaces in the house and two tigers in the barn. House cats have discovered the joys of indoor safaris, hunting live squeaky toys more commonly known as "mice." Makes for some less-than-restful nights for me, however.
