From: ellen@mail.boi.hp.com (Ellen Osinski)
Subject: Re: Reader Bio's
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 14:36:54 GMT
Organization: The Land of Ice and Snow
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

My turn to take the plunge.  I will try to keep this short 8-) .

I'm Ellen Osinski.  I am a systems software engineer for Hewlett Packard
in Boise, Idaho.  I develop, install, and maintain UNIX based 
hardware/software solutions for use by manufacturing.

I have always wanted my own horse, but grew up in suburbia.  I did manage
to take hunt seat lessons for two years in 6th and 7th grade.  But, alas, 
the stable was then turned into a housing development.  I joined a riding 
Girl Scout troop as a member at large, but only managed to ride 4 - 5 
times a year.  After that I rode rentals once or twice a year.

I finally realized my lifelong dream of horse ownership two years after 
my husband and I had moved to Idaho.  We moved to the mountains on 2 1/2 
acres of land with a pre-fenced "horse" pen (it was previously a dog kennel). 
After a year, I decided it was "time".   With the saintly patience and 
support, tremendous expertise and experience of my friend, Kris Troxel 
(who was one of the first to post her bio), I bought my first horse:  BJS 
Toffee Bar, whom I call Amber, a 5 year old sorrel AQHA mare.  After 6 
months of horseownership, my non-horse husband decided that horses were 
"O.K." and wanted his own horse.  Again, with tremendous patience, support, 
and knowledge, Kris helped me find a suitable horse for my husband.  8 
months ago we bought Jokers Bald Eagle, whom we call Warrior, a 5 year old
leopard ApHC (Appaloosa) gelding.

We do not have a trailer.  Fortunately, our "backyard" is National Forest 
land in the mountains and all we do is trail ride.  We could travel for 
days through the National Forest land around us.  Both horses are wonderful 
trail horses.  We ride Western, but I also ride bareback regularly.

I generally ride alone, keeping both horses in top shape for mountain riding.  
My husband rides with me once a week.  I will ride so long as the temperature 
is above 10 degrees F.  But this winter, although it has been "warm" enough,
we have received a "normal" snowfall (approximately 5 feet of snow on the 
ground at the last measure) and I have not been able to ride.  I am 
suffering from severe riding withdrawal.  We were all learning driving 
in the interim (I would like to use the horses to haul logs out of the 
woods, etc.) until our plowed roads became too slick for the horses 
to traverse.  Consequently, currently, everyone has this winter off.  

This fall, 20 of us in two neighboring mountain communities have formed a 
mounted unit for Idaho Search and Rescue.  I am looking forward to the 
training we (the horses and I) will receive in this outfit.

We also have a 3 year old German Shorthaired Pointer pound puppy
who LOVES to go on rides, runs, and hikes, a 3 year old pound kitty, and 
a 7 year old cockatiel.

--

                 /\
                /**\    /\
               /****\  /**\
              /***   \/    \
      /\     /              \
     /**\  /                 \
    /**  \/     Ellen   - at the Double O
   /            Matthew - spouse, best friend, partner
  /             Jasmine - ruler of the roost           (female cockatiel)
 /              Cody    - mouse huntress extraordinaire(female pound kitty)
/               Blue    - electric puppy on springs    (male German Shorthaired
                                  \                     Pointer pound puppy)
                Amber   - trusty trail horse           (Quarter Horse mare)
                Warrior - go anywhere steed            (Appaloosa gelding)
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