But after graduation I had to face the sad reality that, still a middle-class city kid, I had to get a job, an apartment, support myself…. I’d NEVER be able to afford to ride like that again. Yet the thought of selling my saddle never entered my mind. For years, from apartment-to-apartment and house-to-house, I took my saddle with me. Something inside me would not let go of the dream.

Then one day, after half a lifetime of loving horses with far too little exposure to them, fate (in the form of my sister, Patty) intervened and brought “Pins” into my life. An off-the-track bay thoroughbred, Pins had spent the previous five years under saddle then as a broodmare. And now she was MINE and my Great Equine Adventure began!

My very first ride on Pins left me on crutches with a concussion! Of course the fall was entirely my fault, the result of a rookie mistake. But not to be deterred from my lifelong dream, I was soon back in the saddle and things were wonderful… until they weren’t.

My scant riding experience and limited knowledge of equine behavior put Pins at a distinct advantage, which she began to capitalize on as she took advantage of us. Facing a future being confined to the protected and boring environment of the indoor area was bleak, depressing, intolerable. Obviously something (I’d ASSuMEd this horse) needed to be fixed.

What I quickly learned is that it was ME that needed to be fixed, educated in “Basic Horse 101.” With the help of several Parelli tapes, a professional trainer and a “graduation” trail ride my world changed forever. On that ride I “got it.” I understood how the horse-human dynamic should work and I embraced an exciting future – limitless possibilities of what I could learn and Pins and I could do together. I had to find a way to get us out of the arena and do more of this fabulous trail riding!

But with few connections in the “horse world” I had no idea how to go about trail riding: where I could ride? …with who? …how could I find out? There must be other riders looking for this info. And as Pins and I rode along on that fabulous trail ride wnyHorse.info was born: a resource providing equine information and the opportunity for equestrians to connect!

I hope you find my site useful and I welcome your comments.

Mary Szarek
Equine Connections Facilitator