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First let me tell you that this "Mikey" is a female, and for the past several years I have resided in Middle Tennessee, about 45 miles out of Nashville. I am originally from the desert of Southern California. I started riding as a toddler, and grew up in the competitive atmosphere of gymkhanas and rodeos.
My grandfather, who worked at a stockyard, presented me with my first "very own" horse. This was a yearling that had gotten down under the feet of several horses in a truck. Weak and bruised he was to be destroyed, but my grandfather rescued the little Welsh pony. I was only 3 or 4 years old, but can remember that the first few days we had "Cuddles", his condition was touch and go. To keep constant watch on him, we would take him into the old farmhouse, running for a tub whenever "nature called". From that point on I lived and breathed horses. Every spare moment found me with my pony. When darkness or weather kept me inside, I made pipe cleaner horses, transformed into paints, bays, blacks etc. by using crayons, and attached cotton manes and tails.
When my father returned from the war, my mom started breaking horses. The first Mustangs I ever saw where the two she bought from and old Indian with the name of Zip. He traveled from Nevada to California in a covered wagon, with a string of Mustangs in tow. No, please, I am not quite that old, but this was just his mode of transportation. It was from him that my mom learned of how the Indians used the techniques we now call natural horsemanship. Every time Zip brought a string of horses into California, he would visit and share his knowledge with us.
A panic-stricken horse, running under a tree limb and knocking my mom off, ended her riding career. As I was outgrowing my pony, she focused all her attention on preparing the 2 Mustangs and me for competition.. I competed in endurance type trail rides, gymkhanas, team roping, and in the summer earned my first wages jockeying for my uncles racing stable. I was in my early teens when my folks presented me with a little bay half-Arabian filly. Orphaned shortly after birth, I hand fed this baby, and when she was four trained her under my mothers watchful eyes. Amber and I were inseparable, if not competing; we happily rode in the mountains that surrounded the farm. She was my transportation to and from my uncle's stable, 14 miles every day. I was the only one to ever ride "Forever Amber", in fact when I vied for and won the title of Rodeo queen, the judges had me tie her when the contestants were asked to trade horses. Yes, she had spirit! Out of high school I married and moved to Burbank, California. Of course Amber went with me and we rode very different trails in Griffith Park.
A few years later found me in circumstances where I was forced to sell my precious mare. With my heart broken, it would be 25 years before I was to even touch another horse. I will never forget Amber, and tears still well up in my eyes whenever I think of her. She will always inhabit a very large portion of my heart, and gallop through my memories with her black mane and tail fanned out in the wind.
I thank the persistence of a young girl who pestered me enough, that I got on her mare one day. A bay Arabian mare no less! I didn't want to get off, and I felt as though Amber and I were again chasing the wind, and romping on desert sands. I was hooked, and upon the insistence of my husband, and the youthful urgings of my son, purchased a gray Arabian gelding 3 months later.
It took awhile, but my earlier knowledge came back. Now I know what "I've forgotten more than some ever know" really meansit is not bragging, but regret. When working with horses I have a tendency to feel what they must experience when introduced to our human inventions. What would a bit being yanked on feel like? How much weight to carry is too much? Made of flesh and blood like usonly so much can be accomplished at one time. These "equine feelings" of mine go on and on.
My husband respects, almost always understands, and supports my love for the horse. Country Trails is our 40-acre ranch completely devoted to horse activities, be it; training, taming, practicing for shows, leisurely rides on our trails, or just sharing a moment with one of our 4 legged friends.
I have developed my own training regime and technique for horses and their owners called Middleman to Master, and when not working with a client can be found starting a young horse or polishing my own skills for the show ring. My competitive spirit still prevails, but my main interest now is for pleasure classes, reining, and music freestyle. My stable also sponsors a drill team.
