I made the mistake of only riding our own horses until just a few years ago, when ours got too old to ride. Well, I rode a few others, but nothing regularly. After my horse got old, it was almost like starting to date after a divorce. I had been with the same horse for 25 years!

A couple of other people have said that there are some horses you just feel comfortable with. I don't feel comfortable riding my kids' horses, but I feel fine with the kids on them, so I pretty much didn't ride any more. I have been borrowing friends' horses for mounted band and that's nerve-racking, let me tell you.

When Mom bought Buddy for me in August, I was afraid that I wouldn't be comfortable with him, but I am. Even when he's nervous in the parades, I'm fine. I ride him at a canter bareback and with only a halter. On only our 2nd ride, we went on a 4-wheeling trail ride with a bunch of other horses. We were fine. It is such a relief! It is the pits to be a horse-crazy person that won't ride!

Now I just have to get over the fact that everyone else in the family has pretty registered horses and I have a homely grade. Sigh. I'm sure that soon I'll be so in love I won't notice.