I took riding lessons in 1989-1996. I took lessons with Carole LeBlanc at Haskins Farm, in Berkeley. I rode once a week in the evening. I rode the school horses. In the Fall of 1991, I started showing in the horse shows at the Farm.In the Fall of 1992 I started riding a school horse named "Miss 545" nicknamed "Missy". Through the winter I rode her. Riding her on a regular basis enabled me to learn a lot about her and her way of going. I rode her in the horse show all of the 1993 show season. At each show I learned more, thus we did a little better each time. I ended the year with the most points accumulated from each of the 5 shows during the season. I received the Champion of the year in the Walk-Trot Division. |
| Missy and I |
 |
| 1993 Trophy |
 |
I had found Missy to be a great horse and also a good horsey friend. I saw and got to visit her and her babies that she had in the following years. She let me visit and pet her and her baby. She seemed to trust I wouldn't hurt her or her baby. I got a number of pictures of her with her baby out in the carrol. It was wonderful watching them run and play and just relax.I made a portrait of one of her babies and her. |
| Missy and SheZa |
 |
She developed a stifle probably after her last foal. It was slow at healing and would weaken the area permanently, thus they retired her from both the school program and from breeding. It was best to do so for her health and quality of life.Here is a portrait I did of her. |
| Missy |
 |
