What was it that inspired you to start riding? How old were you when you began riding? Was there a person or persons who supported you and really helped to make it happen? What was your first riding experience like?
According to my parents and family, my first steed was a bouncy horse. I do remember the feeling I had, and I think I even have an occasional fragment of an emotional memory of what it was like to be fueled by my toddler's imagination. I imagined galloping through fields and down forest trails - up hills, down into verdant valleys and even up the slope of mountainsides.
My older sisters had horses, and they let me ride upon their horses, who towered above my heads! Of course I wanted to have a horse of my very own! And at the age of five, to my delight, on Christmas morning my family blindfolded me and took me outside, where my very first pony, Domino, awaited me! Domino, as you might imagine, was a black & white Shetland. He wore a saddle & bridle, and a giant red bow was tied around his neck. This image is etched into my memory, and to this day is one of the happiest memories I have! I fell in love with riding, once and for all, and have loved horses and riding ever since!
If I ever finish combing through the huge volumes of photos from the past, I will pull up a photo of Domino and post it here!
I would love to see a picture of Domino! What an inspiring story! You, of course, were the instrumental person for the start of my riding adventures!