I live in Southern California and am the owner/instructor of a small riding school called Kids Horsin’ Around. I am currently entrusted with the happiness and well-being of ten horses, four dogs, two cats, five rabbits, two Love Birds and a Green-winged Macaw; my world also includes three school aged children and a husband! We generally co-exist peacefully on our beautiful 2.5 acres in North San Diego County.
I grew up in New Hampshire, and in fact, while pawing over old photographs in the attic this morning, came across one of the earliest photos known of me on a pony…

Me on Frisky, a Shetland pony
I don’t ever remember seeing this photo, and I’m just as …chagrined as you are at my form and no helmet (we didn’t have seat belts in the car, either!!!) I never actually owned a horse, this pony was leased for the summer.
Need to go turn out some horses…will continue later…