I am a writer and a horsewoman, a wife, a mother and a grandmother. So far my life’s journey has taken me from one coast to another, from adventure, to fear, back to adventure. I am artistic, obsessive and spiritual. I like details cared for, foundations laid, freedom and independence exercised. I know to whom I belong and where I’m headed. I believe life is a gift that should not be wasted. Everyday has its own importance.
I grew up on Long Island , New York during the ’60s. Life was a great mixture of friends, horses, beach, ice skating, parties, rebellion and… school. I graduated from Bellport Senior High School in 1967. School was not a favorite although I did attend Suffolk and then went on to the Potomac Horse Center in Maryland. PHC fed the real me, the horsewoman, and was the right choice for my path.
Backing up little bit to the horses on Long Island. I kept my horse at Betty Puleston’s Farm in Brookhaven. Betty had a profound effect on how I ended up viewing the world. I’m not sure that was Betty’s intention but her farm was the one place that I could be who I was without out a cloud of criticism and condemnation.
My interest with horses was correct technical riding and I worked on it regularly. I was a little odd I suppose because I enjoyed working on technique more than going out for trail rides. Not that I didn’t trail ride… during the first week that I owned my horse, I think I was 12 or so, some friends and I rode many miles to a prison work farm in Yaphank. My Dad would have croaked. I did a lot of things that my Dad didn’t like so it was always better if he didn’t know.
Some of the adventures that I had with my horse, Red, have left marks in my small society. The last time I looked (many years ago) the Bellport dock wore a sign that said “No horses”. In the 60s, Red and I had been a regular on that dock. His hoof prints were left for eternity in the asphalt, or at least they were left until repaving.
Another favorite ride was from Brookhaven along the railroad tracks , down William Floyd Parkway and over the Smith’s Point Beach Bridge. My friend, Karen, and I usually made that trip together. The last time I looked at the bridge it also bore a “No Horses” sort of sign. But playing behind the dunes on our horses and terrorizing the folks and their dogs as they strolled along the waters edge made the long ride complete. And then there were the night time rides down to the end of Edgar Ave and Bay Road. We’d yell and whoop at the cars containing lovers and then race away.
Swimming the horses in the bay was another Equestrian pastime. After riding far enough into the water, I’d dive off of Red’s hindquarters. That was great until he realized that once I dove he was free to race back to Puleston’s leaving me to walk a couple of miles to the barn.
But my true passion was for equitation. I took instruction from Joan Johnson at Equitation Lodge and Smoke Run Farm, and later my instruction came from Jay MaCrate. I competed in Equitation Classes when ever I was allowed and loved competing in Medal and Maclays. My showing was limited by a Dad who hadn’t a clue about the call on my life. I was, after all, the only horse lover in our family for many generations back.
I was hired out of school by an Equestrian Center in Kansas City. That started my life away from Long Island. Being rather independent, I preferred to be my own boss. After we got married Rick and I started Fox School of Horsemanship, which is relocated in Arizona these days. Many adventures have occured during my travels from Long Island to 2009.
