*Riding and jumping Carson at Ridgefield Arena, Wildwood, MO in 2021. Carson is half Arabian and half Quarter Horse.*

Horses are my love. I have loved horses since I was old enough to walk. Thoroughbreds are my dream. And of course, Secretariat was my hero!! I was four years old when he won the Triple Crown. And I was absolutely smitten!

In the spring of 1975, when I was eight years old and in third grade, Mom and Dad took me to Claiborne Farm, where Secretariat retired to stud. I had stars and love in my blue eyes and was about to fulfil my dream of meeting Secretariat!!

When we arrived, my dad talked to the gentleman that greeted us, but sadly, there were no tours being given that day. My little heart sank and my eyes filled with disappointment. Then the man said maybe this other man could help us. There was still hope!

That other man? Unbeknownst to us, that man was Secretariat’s personal groom!

My dad asked the man if there was any way for his little girl to meet Secretariat. It was our only opportunity because Mom and I were tagging along on a business trip with my dad. My dream, almost crushed, now had another chance.

As I looked at the man with my big blue eyes, overflowing with hope and a shy smile, he offered to give us a personal tour! Then he told us that he was Secretariat’s personal groom!

Secretariat’s groom took us around on a tour of everything. It was absolutely incredible!! I met Riva Ridge, another amazing racehorse, and of course my hero – Secretariat! Both were turned out in their paddocks. The groom told us stories.

As I stood admiring and petting Secretariat, he said I probably wouldn’t want to sit on him because he was muddy. (Yes, even racehorse heroes love a good roll in the mud!) I looked the groom straight in the eyes and said I didn’t care anything about the mud! Pleaaase!!

The groom put me up on Secretariat’s back and it was the most amazing and beautiful experience ever!! I loved him SO much! It remains a pinnacle experience of my life! (Sadly, we didn’t get a photo because our camera broke right before we made it to Claiborne Farm.)

We were able to tour the breeding operation and see Secretariat’s stall. That’s when the groom gave me some of Secretariat’s mane! I have it to this day in a frame, circled around an artist’s rendering of Secretariat that we bought there.

I will treasure this memory forever!

*Me and Carson after riding (and jumping!) last summer!*

I grew up around horses visiting our family farm (that has been in Mom’s family since 1902, and which is now owned by my mom and dad) in Northeast Missouri. I rode my cousins’ horses every chance I got! One time I was riding Lady around the bins and was supposed to just walk, but I trotted instead. (And so many more stories!)

Back home, I took English riding lessons as a little girl and even had my own horse – Ginger – when I was 7-8 years old that we bought from my uncle / cousins.

When I was in 4th grade, I wanted to be a jockey! Thoroughbreds and thoroughbred racing were everything to me. Seattle Slew. Affirmed and Alydar and their battles – EPIC! All the horses, riders, breeders, stories, tracks. Though my dream of being a jockey faded over time, as did my following dream of being an exercise rider, it never detoured me from my passion for horses. I remained steadfast to my first love!

I have read all the books and watched all the movies on all the famous thoroughbred race horses. I was more horse crazy than boy crazy as a young girl.

*Riding in Nebraska 2011: “Want to ride?” Wearing a skirt? No problem!! - every spring for many years, though not always in a skirt! ;)*

When I was in high school, my parents and I went to Eagle Hurst ranch on vacation every summer. I saved up all my money and went riding several times a day! Most of the time it was just me and the guide, and we cantered and galloped and he let me help him care for the horses. My favorite was Admiral, a Tennessee Walking Horse with a lot of spunk! In the evening, I would sneak into the fields and just hang out with the horses that were turned out for the night.

I double majored my first year in college in Equestrian Science (and business) and took Hunt Seat at William Woods University (before transferring to American University / AU). Jumping horses, caring for horses – all the things. It was amazing.

When I graduated from AU, on our drive back to St. Louis from Washington, D.C., we absolutely stopped and watched races at Churchill Downs! And I even got to see jockey Pat Day ride in person!

*New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program - Kentucky, Aug. 2021*

My dream of several decades is to adopt a thoroughbred off the track (OTTB). I visited New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program in Kentucky in August 2021 and had a private tour, continuing my preparation for that dream. I’m determined to make it reality!

In 2021, I also took up Hunt Seat again to get myself ready and increase my skill set. Of course, I follow all things thoroughbred horses on social media. I promised a while back that I was going to write this blog post. Two of my favorite sites? Secretariat’s official Facebook page and New Vocations.

My entire life, I’ve ridden every chance I get! I’ve ridden hunt seat in Dingle, Ireland, trotting through town and down to the beach with my tourmates waving to me from our hotel as we rode by – just me and the guide.

I’ve road-tripped to Nebraska annually to visit a friend and each time rode her sister-in-law’s horses when she asked me if I wanted to ride. My first trip there, I took her up on her offer and jumped up on one of her horses, cantering – even though I was wearing a skirt!

Love, joy, freedom, beauty, grace, strength, perseverance – the majesty of the horse. A life’s passion. A famous racehorse. And a little girl’s dream.

Secretariat and a Little Girl's Dream