HOWLING OAK RANCH
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Karen's Horse Page
I was one of those little girls who was fascinated by horses. All I ever wanted was a pony, or if I couldn't have that, another Breyer model horse. Finally, after years of begging and pleading, I got a horse. She was a little half-Arabian mare. She was a green-broke two year old when I got her, and I was a green 13 year old girl - not the best combination! But somehow, she and I did OK together. I ended up being an OK self-taught rider, and we did extensive trail riding on local trails and in Rocky Mountain National Park. I was heart broken when I had to sell her to attend college.
I did manage to do a bit of riding in my twenties - when I visited my Dad at his Montana cattle ranch, in Alaska on a friend's Paso Finos. But then last year, twenty-five years after selling my little Arab, and after a miserable couple years watching my Dad die of cancer and dealing with his estate, I found I had a bit of money and a need for something enjoyable in my life.
I couldn't get excited about riding Western in CA. So I started English lessons at the UCD equestrian center in January of 2010, and by March, I was looking for a horse to lease. I was fortunate to locate a quiet 16 hand Freisian gelding, Goliath, on whom I took dressage lessons with his trainer, Ryan Oropeza.
Soon I was doing a little jumping on the lesson horses at UCD, and that led me to remember my childhood envy of friends who competed in jumping. In June, I began half-leasing a nice little bay quarter horse gelding (Skylar) and taking jumping and flat lessons on him with Ryan. I also continued dressage lessons on Goliath. It was obvious that I was in love with riding again, and that this time I was going to pursue Hunter-Jumpers and Dressage.
In August 2010, I bought Leo, a 16.3 hand appendix quarter horse who has had a career as a medals horse, jumping up to 3 feet, and also has basic dressage training to Level 1. This kind, forgiving horse has a big stride and a lot of power, and has required me to get into much better shape, to begin to ride him well.
I have a lot of work ahead of me to become truly fit again and to improve my equitation, but I am having fun! And Leo seems to be willing to adjust to his new, lighter work load and his sometimes uncoordinated rider.