Before I got Oakley, I'd never actually loaded a horse on a trailer myself. I've led horses up to someone who took them onto the trailer, I've seen it done a dozen times, but never done it myself. So, I figured, since he's going to have to go to shows, therefore I'd better learn how to put him on board and get him there safely, in comfort.

The first thing I learned was how not to do it.

Under instruction from his previous owner, we led him to the trailer. I climbed up…

I first decided I wanted a horse in 1974. Life circumstances changed and changed back until I was seriously getting ready to find one next year.

Opportunity knocked in early July. I answered, and on 1 August 2011, became the human half of a new partnership with a seven-year old bay gelding, a 16.2 HH Quarter-horse named Oakley Pine.

Pithy phrases like 'seize the day' and 'when opportunity knocks, answer the door' don't mention the corollary about needing antacids to…