Today’s tidbit: “A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves — strong, powerful, beautiful — and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence. — Pam Brown

Happy Friday! Since this is my first equestrian post, I thought I’d first start off with a little bit of background. Since middle school, I have been riding horses and going to the barn 4-5 days a week. I was fortunate to get my own horse, Bailey (well, large adorable pony) in high school. Although the horses I rode, trainers I learned from and barn locations changed, the wonderful feeling I get pulling up to the gate of a barn and being greeted by happy horses never seems to change. It’s an experience I can’t explain or compare to anything else.

You can count on more posts about riding and Bailey later, but for now I wanted to share some pictures of the barn decorated for the holidays.

Isn’t he adorable?!

Be sure to click below to read more and check out more pictures. Enjoy!

During high school, I was able to get to the point where I was showing every weekend on Bailey. I practically lived at the barn and show grounds, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my mom and wonderful friends and trainers — a special thanks to Terri at Clairvaux and Jana at Anyplace Farm.

With so many positive memories surrounding riding and Bailey, one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made was to sell my pony when I left for college at RIT. It was a long and difficult process finding him a new home where someone would love him as much as me, but the wait paid off and I found him the perfect home! It is a private barn in Great Falls where he has the company of another pony along with two horses. It is a beautiful property with unbelievable care and the nicest family now owns him. What made the process even easier is that they still allow me to come out and ride Bailey! It is so nice seeing him well-adjusted and happy, and knowing he is loved and well cared for!

I just love pulling up to their gate, no matter what time of year, and seeing the horses out grazing in the pasture or popping their heads out of their stall doors. I do believe you form a bond with horses and they remember you. Whenever I walk out to the pasture and call Bailey’s name (or as I like to call him, Bailsman or the Bailmeister) he still looks up and will walk over to me.

How could you not love pulling up to this place, it is amazing — and exactly what a pony as wonderful as Bailey deserved in a new home!