My life with horses started out pretty early.  I was put on my first horse around the age of two, but not alone.  My Popaw of course was there with me, holding me on.  I knew I was going to be a rider because I started out loving horses and they loved me.  I started riding by myself when I was around six years old.  I did have a few accidents in the beginning and do expect to have a few more as time goes on.  At one time I was not thrown but did fall off riding and hit my face and my head and was unconscious.  My Popaw and my Mom rushed me to the hospital but I was okay.  It took me about four years to get over the fear.  I was terrified of horses but still had a love for them.

In 1998, my Uncle John gave me a small pony, he was beautiful but yet not.  We called him Little Man because he looked like a little horse, had the face of a horse but a pony body.  He was white with black spots.  I won many a trophy with him in the pony classes.  At the barn he was my pet, did what ever I wanted and it was a sad day when he passed away.  He was an awesome pet and a lot of company to me. 

In 2006, it happened, the most wonderful horse.  Popaw bought him for me but I knew long before Popaw bought him that he was going to be mine.  He belonged to my cousin, but every time I saw him I told him, "Scud, you're going to belong to me."  He was the horse I had been waiting for.  He was chestnut and a bay gelding with a little stretch of white going down from his head to his nose.  He had his own personality and followed me everywhere.  I could just drop the reins and he'd go with me.  One day he didn't want to go into his stall when I told him to so I looked at him and said, "You're grounded, now go into your stall." His ears went down and he turned around and went right into his stall.  I knew right then that we understood each other.

Scud and I won many, many trophies and ribbons together in 2006.  I'm hoping to win many more this year and the remaining time I have with him.  I don't know what I would do if I didn't have him.  He is not only a horse and a pet, but he is my friend.  I can spend hours grooming and riding him.

This story was written in 2006  and I lost my precious friend and pet in 2007.  It was a very sad time in my life but I have been blessed with another horse that seems to have the same personality as Scud.  His name is Magic, spelled differently because he is special, "MAJIK."  He is really an amazing horse and I love him very much.