December 2017 FRC Member Newsletter

was obvious, get another horse to keep him company. Mom got her first horse.
My first horse was a pretty palomino mare who was quiet and polite and rode nicely around the
ring. We lived in hunt country with miles of trails and a variety of terrain with streams, ditches,
wooden bridges, etc. The mare did not like trail riding. I began lessons with a local teacher
and soon began learning to jump, first on her horses, then tried mine. Sigh. The mare had no
interest in jumping either...just walk, trot, canter around an enclosed ring. I had higher
ambitions so I began the search for another horse, and rode our daughter's horse, Pepsi, when
he was available.
Meanwhile, younger daughter turned 6 yrs., got her first pony and joined Pony Club. Older
daughter hit that early teen growth stage and suddenly her legs were too long for Pepsi. She
needed a taller horse and I inherited her very kind and experienced Pepsi, and really began to
ride. We were reasonably successful at local schooling shows and I was invited to join the
local hunt. Soon the Pony Club asked me to take on teaching the lower level kids. I did and I
loved it! Eventually, Pepsi aged and was retired. Over time, I owned several more horses that
I hunted and evented before deciding it was time for me to retire from jumping big fences and
concentrate on dressage. I lucked into a 4 th level horse who took over my education and a few
years later I was able to achieve the PSG (Prix St. George) level before giving up competition.
I have been so very lucky! Each time I was ready for a new horse, the right one for me
appeared! A few times I purchased one that wasn't quite what I needed, but then the right one
would come along and I could move on.
We moved to this area in 1997 after my husband retired. I heard about FRC, attended a
couple of meetings and joined quickly. I have been a FRC member ever since. I became a
member to avail myself of the various activities FRC offers. I enjoy all the different programs
and also the comradery. My scholastic background is in education and I have extensive
experience with Pony Club. Educational opportunities, schooling shows and interesting
meeting programs were just what I wanted as my horses and I moved through the levels.
My activities with Foothills Riding Club have spanned all these years. I served several years on
the FRC Board and 2 terms as President. There I used the same idea as I did when Vice-
President of Instruction for Pony Club - - organizing the group with each member having a
specific job and working together to get things done. Hence the Retreat Day each January
where we could organize our tasks and plan our activities for the year.
At present, some aging aches and pains limit my activites, but I still volunteer for sitting jobs,
i.e. office work, golf cart delivery, etc. for FRC, FENCE, TROT and TIEC, and several
committees at Tryon Estates.