Horses in My Blood

I was born with a love of horses. “Horses are in my blood,” is what I like to say. Maybe my DNA? It started with my dad’s parents, and likely earlier than that.

My grandfather was a Captain in the British Cavalry at the start of the 1900’s, so of course he worked with horses all day, and he enjoyed them. But after his father passed away and the family business burned down, he and rest of the family immigrated to Michigan. Once settled, he met and married my grandmother and continued to love and ride horses. I do wish he could have seen how I’ve carried the family gene on.

My grandmother’s relatives drove stagecoaches and owned a livery stable in New York before moving to Michigan. We’re talking late-1800’s here! Gosh, I wish I’d known them. Imagine driving a stagecoach before other transportation was readily available. Fascinating.

As for me, I loved horses as soon as I could say the word. I grew up with a love of reading every horse book I could find, including The Black Stallion and other books by Walter Farley, also Black Beauty, and others.  But I also loved mysteries, and by the time I was ten I started writing my own mysteries featuring a girl and her horse.

My dream of owning a horse came true when I was fifteen. I spent hours trail riding by myself, even in summer when my friends were at the beach. My horse and I often swam in the nearby ponds on hot days, with me riding bareback, holding onto his mane and floating along with him as he propelled us through the water. The only problem was that I had to ride home in stinky and damp clothes! But those were heavenly days.

Since then, I’ve owned and shown horses in Western and English disciplines, and later in Reining and Cattle Sorting. I love spending family time with our Quarter Horses and going on quiet trail rides. It’s so peaceful. I often pretend I’m back in the 1800’s—until a plane flies overhead!

I feel a strong connection to my grandfather whenever I see these two photos together–my grandfather jumping a horse, looking strong and brave, and me making a sliding stop in a Reining competition.

These days, I’m polishing my first manuscript, Out After Midnight, about—what else? A thirteen-year-old girl and her horse, Badger. They’re searching a remote canyon for a missing stallion, and if they don’t find him soon, he won’t be able to win the money needed to save his owner’s ranch!

Yes, horses are in my blood, even when I’m writing.