Ever since I was a little girl I always loved horses more than anything, I had hundreds of Breyer collectible horses that I would spend hours playing with after school. The first time I got to see a horse in person was at the 4th of July rodeo. They had about 6 mini ponies saddled up, offering rides to the little kids. I remember begging my Dad to let me ride one, he knew how much I loved horses so of course he said yes. When I got in the saddle of a little grey pony with white spots I felt like I was on the top of the world. I wasn’t scared at all, I was overjoyed with excitement. Even though the ride was short and only in a few circles I was hooked on riding. I remember thinking I want to get really good at riding and someday be in a rodeo like the cowgirls barrel racing. Awhile after the rodeo my Dad started taking me to get riding lessons at this ranch called Triangle Five, I adored it there. I started riding a cherry red horse named Starbuck with three white socks on his feet and a white star between his eyes. To this day he is still the best horse I have ever ridden, he was so careful and cautious with me. When I started to get more confident in my riding abilities he would listen to every que I gave him, whether it was to move forward faster or cross a stream. I took lessons for quite a few years until I moved to Gresham to be with my Mom more. Thats when I met a lady named Linda Peterson who owns R&R Ranch near Sandy. I started riding a horse named Calypso who looked exactly like Starbuck. He was younger though so he would test me and sometimes not listen and be as careful with me as Starbuck. Even though that was the first time I was actually nervous riding, it taught me a lot about how to handle a horse that may be a little stubborn at times. Calypso and I started OHSET (Oregon High School Equestrian Team) my junior year at Sam Barlow. I always hated school sports and activities but OHSET was one of the most enjoyable things I have done for school. We weren’t the best or the fastest, but he was the first horse I got to run a barrel pattern which had been my goal to do ever since I was a little girl at the 4th of July rodeo. I was so proud of myself in that moment. After Calypso I was given a big dark brown quarter horse named Dani, he was the most beautiful horse I had ever seen. But he had a rough past and didn’t like to be saddled and ridden. Linda gave him to me as a summer project since OHSET was over and I couldn’t afford to go to every summer barrel race. We started slow with just ground work, working him on a lunge line with a saddle on to get him confident moving with one on. It took several months but I can’t explain how good I felt about myself when I was finally able to get on him and ride. I’m very thankful for Linda, without her I wouldn’t know how to run a barrel pattern and train a unbroke horse. Training Dani to be a well behaved horse though was more gratifying than running a barrel pattern. He changed my future to wanting to be a famous barrel racer to an authentic horse trainer.