![]() WHAT was going on here? Who ARE these people and who taught them to ride? Could you even CALL this riding? My cowboy hat was replaced with a riding helmet, and that wonderful western style saddle with the handy “oh crap” horn to hold on to in case of emergencies was replaced with a dressage saddle that looked like a tiny thin strip of leather that was thrown over the horse’s back as an afterthought. Later I was to find that my snazzy leather cowboy boots were to be replaced with riding boots that practically came up to my butt cheeks. If I had to wear these “breeches” just to get to spend two weeks riding horses, I was in. They actually wanted me to wear something called “breeches.” It seemed that at Culver they rode “English style” and I needed to get fitted for riding breeches. The adventure began with getting my riding attire.Īs it turned out, I wasn’t going to be wearing my cowboy boots and hat. So at the age of 12, off I went one summer to ride like Roy! I was beyond thrilled! Day after day of riding horses. So Mom and Dad’s proposal was for me to attend that camp and see if horses were meant for me and I was meant for horses. Dressing For The Partīack in the early 70’s, Culver offered a two-week riding camp for boys and girls. So right there, in my backyard, was a PERFECT place for me to go experience horses. They have ridden in nearly every inaugural parade since Woodrow Wilson’s in 1913. They are known for many things, one of which is their riding program and their stable of over 100+ black horses called the Culver Black Horse Troop. We lived three miles from one of the nation’s finest college preparatory schools, Culver Academy. In fact, looking back now, I realize that their response was quite brilliant. Surprisingly, Mom and Dad weren’t discouraging. ![]() But it wasn’t until the age of 10, when we moved from town out to the country, that I started asking if I could have a horse.Īh – those words every parent must hate to hear. So you see, I loved animals and playing cowboy from a very early age. Before she yelled at me to get down, Grandma snapped this picture. Fortunately he was a good sport about the whole thing. She said it happened so fast she didn’t have time to try to stop me. Grandma said that in one instant I went from standing quietly behind the donkey to a running Roy-Rogers-type-leap-over-the-butt mount from behind. One of the animals was a donkey that I was particularly enamored with. I even remember my grandma and grandpa taking me to one of those local petting zoos when I was about 6 years old. Yes, I said “cowboy.” I was a tomboy – no dresses for me! Hello. I used to love to watch Roy Rogers and Dale Evans on TV. Maybe it happened way back when I was very young. I don’t recall at what age I started being drawn to horses. In this examination, I’m going to use myself as the example, and so … This won’t be scientific in nature, but more observational and using the process of elimination. They will be able to live among the rest of us with understanding and without ridicule … receiving the respect they so rightly deserve. People will no longer have to tiptoe around them in political correctness. It will simply be accepted as something they were “born with”… an inherited trait … not a disease and something worthy of psychoanalysis. No longer will people wonder if environment played a factor. By showing that this gene truly does exist, we will be helping to remove the stigma that these poor souls live with on a daily basis. There are things in this world that are best left unexplored, but I don’t feel that this is one of them. I have decided that it’s time to try to look further into whether or not there really is a “horse nut gene.” Sharon – Early Dreams of Riding Like the Wind
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