I am eight years old. When I was five years old in 2007, my family went to Hunewill Guest Ranch in Bridgeport, California,
for our summer vacation, where we have gone every year since then. My Dad’s family used to go there when he was a boy.
I rode a mustang pony mare, named Peggy, for the entire week. When I came home, I wanted to take horseback riding lessons
and have my very own horse.
For Christmas that year, my Grandmother gave me
horseback riding lessons as a gift. I took English riding lessons on a horse name Hebe because my Mom could not find a Western
trainer that would take a six year old. I learned to do some jumping but I decided I would rather learn Western riding.
In March 2008, I began taking riding lessons with Mary Rose Anderson. At first I rode Gracie in Orange Park Acres.
When Gracie moved to Rancho del Rio Stables, I took lessons there. Mary Rose taught me how to get Gracie ready to ride. I
learned how to brush her, clean her hooves, and put on Gracie’s tack. She also taught me what to do after I was done
riding and it was time to put Gracie back in her stall. I take lessons at least once every week and sometimes more than that.
Gracie is the best horse in the world. She is so sweet and gentle. Gracie has had a couple of babies and I hope we can buy
one of them someday.
Mary Rose taught me how to do gymkhana patterns. At
first, Gracie and I would walk the patterns, then trot the patterns and, eventually, lope the patterns. It was so much fun.
She asked me to demonstrate the gymkhana patterns at Day of the Horse at Rancho del Rio. She also organized “play days”
for us. It was fun to compete with other students.
In April 2009, Mary
Rose said I was ready to compete at the Orange Park Acres Gymkhana shows. Mary Rose was my coach. We got up early and met
at Rancho del Rio. We put the horses in the trailer and drove to the show. We had so much fun. She would ride Lacey Jones,
and I would ride Gracie. Gracie and I are an excellent team. In October 2009, at the Southern Regions Invitational Gymkhana
show in Fullerton, Mary Rose coached me and I won my first belt buckle, taking 5th place in Division 7.
For Christmas last year, my parents leased a bay pony gelding for me. His name is Spike. Mary Rose and I are training
him to be a gymkhana pony. This show season I am riding Gracie in the shows at Fullerton and Orange Park Acres, and sometimes,
Spike, too. Mary Rose is right there with me and coaches me when it is my turn to compete. Gracie and I won 1st
place in Division 7 at the Orange Park Acres show on May 29, 2010, and 2nd place in Division 7 at the Fullerton
show on June 5, 2010.
I just love horses. I love to ride them, especially Gracie.
Mary Rose is the best trainer. Her teaching has given me confidence to get out there and ride like a cowgirl! When I grow
up I want to have lots of horses and ride all day and every day.
