During my time at Chaparral I became pretty close with my site manager, and she offered her personal horse up to me one day a week to enjoy for the last month in the state.

I was so grateful for the opportunity, and really used it to hone in on certain lease aspects I wanted to experience again. She was kind enough to let me ride for free, something I will never be able to thank her enough for.

She’s a 16hh, bay roan Quarter Horse mare with Hancock in her bloodlines. She’s a great all around mare, and isn’t the slightest bit truly mareish. She got a sloppy grain bucket on top of her daily hay, and as many cookies as she deserved, her words not mine.

She has a ranch background and is a seasoned trail mount, though my boss said she could probably go English if I wanted to try my saddle on her. She was 12 or so and had enough experience under her cinch to do whatever. I appreciated my time with her. I went out about 4 times to see and ride her, and even brought my Gram out once to see me ride.

I wish I had more time to spend with her, but life had other plans and took me out East to Arizona, but I have the ability to ride her when I’m back in the Bay.