When I opened my eyes after giving birth to my oldest daughter, the first thing that the nurse asked me was “are you Irish”?
The Irish side of my family hailed from Ireland during the 1800’s and I have always been proud of my Irish heritage. I was born in San Diego, and have lived in the La Mesa-El Cajon area my entire life. As a little girl, I lived and breathed horses and dreamed of a time I could look out my window and see horses.
At home, I would lead my little sister, Susie, around, once tying her to the chain link fence to “graze” while I was off riding my bike. When my mother looked out of the house and saw my sister tied to the fence she queried as to why Susan was there and went out and untied her. My sister was very good at snorting, whinnying, and pawing the ground like all horses do.
My earliest riding began with my Dad, after church on Sundays, at Bradley’s Stable in El Cajon when I was only four years old. I have very fond memories of the time I spent at the stable riding and the adventures my dad and I shared.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I got my first horse, Samantha. She was very gentle and taught me the basics while carrying my pregnant self and two year old daughter on many adventures.
After I gave birth, I purchased a 15-month old palomino paint filly that had been abused. Moonshine Miss was my first horse to train, and along with my daughters, my constant companion for 20 years. When Moon was old enough to ride and had experience on the trail, she happily carried me along with my two daughters on many trail rides all over San Diego County. She always knew when she had the “two special packages on board,” her “motherly instinct” always protecting the three of us.
Today, I have five horses on my property. My dream of being able to look out my window and see horses in my yard finally became a reality. Samantha and Moonshine are gone but not the beautiful memories that we shared. I now have Chief Flying Eagle, Moon’s foal, a palomino–paint gelding. Chief turned 29 years old in April and I proudly rode him in the 2002 Rose Parade.
Harley is my Cadillac gray Quarter Horse that I rode in the 2004 Rose Parade. She has been my parade horse for the last 10 years, and she is always quiet and never bothered by anything. Harley was initially bought for my husband to ride, but soon became mine. She was "green broke" and on her first trail ride
in Noble Canyon in Pine Valley, she really impressed me because she never shied when the mountain bikes came flying by us. She just stopped, took it all in, and then quietly continued up the trail. It was no big deal. I love her quiet gentle personality and her gentle eyes and face. I know that whoever is riding Harley is safe. |
