Cob Jockey

Horses all over our tree.

Everyone has a story about what first got them into horses.  For me, it was my mom and her extensive collection of Breyers.  I had little to no very early childhood horse exposure (until age 6 when my mom got Little Red), and yet I still inherited the bug.  For the record, my brother and sister missed the bug (their hobbies are much cheaper!)

Her two loves, Secretariat and Ruffian.

My mom got bit by the horse bug early, much to the chagrin of her parents, who were suburban Chicagoans with absolutely no ties to the horse industry.  She grew up in love with Secretariat and her model horses.  When she was old enough to start babysitting to earn money for lessons, she and her equally horse crazy best friend Dawn started taking lessons, begging anyone with a working car to drive them to the barn.  She took a few years of H/J lessons and did some showing, but quit when she went to college and didn't start riding again until she got her own horse, Little Red.  These days, she calls him her "psychiatrist" and he and his fat donkey friend Festus enjoy long, lazy days on their farm.

Though she really doesn't ride anymore, she's still as horse-crazy as ever.  The house is full of Ruffian and Secretariat memorabilia, her collection of antique Kentucky Derby glasses, and of course, the Breyers.  My dad and I share a love of running and fitness, and my mom and I share a love of horses and riding.  One of these days, I'm going to get her to take a lesson with me at my barn and go for an actual ride with my mom for the first time in a very long time!

Love you, Mom!