Several members of my extended family have blogs, and I thought it might be fun. No one may ever read it but me, but that's ok. I named my blog Horse Tales because many of my stories are likely to be about my horses, Shiloh and Hope. That being the case, allow me to introduce my equine companions.

Shiloh is a Clydesdale-Quarterhorse cross gelding. He's 10 years old, black with white markings, and he has BIG feet. A local trainer once told me that I could never sneak up on anyone while I was riding "Thunderhooves." She is entirely correct; we are hard to miss! I started riding when I was 47, so I wanted a fairly safe and trusty steed. Shiloh is really the perfect horse for me. He is very calm and sweet tempered and provides a wonderfully comfortable ride.

Hope is a Belgian--20+ years old, chestnut, with blond mane, tale, and feathers. She also has big feet, and she is also very, very sweet. In her earlier life she was an Amish work horse, and my trainer bought her at auction (saved her from the slaughterhouse) and used her as a lesson horse. I share-boarded Hope for about a year, and when my trainer sold her barn, I bought her. Right now she is working in a therapy riding program, and with her calm, even, reliable temperment she is perfect for the task. Unfortunately, she may not be able to do it much longer as she has ringbone (kind of like arthritis) that is limiting her ability to take the corners and carry people. I will likely have to find a retirement home for her and put her out to pasture to live out her days munching grass and enjoying the fresh air. Doesn't sound too bad to me!