From: lrichard@ics.uci.edu (Leigh Richards)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Re: Readers Bio
Date: 27 Jan 93 00:32:05 GMT
Reply-To: lrichard@ics.uci.edu (Leigh Richards)
Organization: Univ. of Calif., Irvine, Info. & Computer Sci. Dept.


Here's another one for the files (I tried to post last week, but I
guess I blew it and it ended up being sent directly to Brandy.  I
hope this one works! I've also asked Brandy to post the 1st one for
me, so if the following is redundant, I apologize in advance).

Hi there.  My name is Leigh Richards and I've been reading this
newsgroup for about two years now.  I've never posted before; there 
have been many times I have wanted to, but didn't know how to 
go about doing it.

I've been horse crazy for as long as I can remember, and knew I was
"hooked" when, at the age of 5, the pony my Dad's friend put me on
ran off with me and the slipped saddle under its belly--I was so mad
that I made them put the saddle back on, and I climbed right back 
on!  Then, on my thirteenth birthday (and after years of whining), 
my grandparents bought me my first horse, Champ.  We spent only
one year together as I had to sell him when my Dad was transferred
to California, but tht year was the best year of my youth!

About 5 years ago, I discovered that UCI (the University of California,
Irvine) had an equestrian club that was run cooperatively by its
members--i.e., all of the care of the horses and the facility is 
done by the owners/members.  Being that caring for a horse is for
me one of the main joys of ownership, I quickly put my name on the 
waiting list.  About 1 year later, I was the proud owner of a crazy
Arabian that took me for many wild rides!  It was great at first, 
but then my over-30 bones started complaining, and after a fall
that left me with 6 stitches in my head and one hell of a headache,
I decided to purchase a mount of a more honest nature.

I bought my Morgan, Travis, in August of '90, and in November of
'90, he spooked while on trail and ran away with me.  Being 
inexperienced (and somewhat shy of falling again), I decided to 
hang on.  Well, that didn't last long, and I ended up with a 
broken back (in 2 places) and a crushed ankle from that fall. 
Needless to say, my riding days were over for quite a while!

To pass the time and to build my strength, I spent hours reading,
watching, grooming, and mucking.  During the past 2 years, Travis 
and I have built a very strong bond, and I'm convinced that he
learned something valuable from this experience as well.  

After 2 surgeries to bond my spine, and 1 to remove the pins,
I started riding Travis again about 9 months ago.  Most of my friends 
think I'm crazy, but those with horses applaud my efforts!  I'm
certainly a much more safety-concious rider, and the club gets
an earful every time I see our members doing something foolish (like
riding on trail alone and/or without a helmet!).

Riding and working with horses is my greatest pleasure in life, and 
I am grateful to have such a beautiful place to keep/ride my horse.
Someday I hope to have a farm/ranch of my own, and I would like to
try my hand at breeding and/or training--but dreams are dreams...

I love reading this newsgroup and I have learned a great deal from
it.  I also welcome mail from other horse enthusiasts; I can be
reached directly at:

	lrichard@ics.uci.edu

Sorry for the ramblings, but what can I say!

Leigh      
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian