Happy birthday, Mom!

I swear I offered her my helmet.

Today is my mom's birthday! She happens to be out here visiting (she wants to run wedding errands and celebrate our October birthdays), so I did what any sensible person would do: dragged her to the barn bright and early before work this morning so she could visit the horses! She petted and fed and brushed Moe and Gina and Freddie, and even climbed aboard Gina to cool her out for me.

My mom and I definitely don't see eye to eye all the time; we disagree on topics ranging from at what length my hair looks best to if country ham is delicious (it is) to if 'professional horse person' is a valid career choice. But one thing we've always agreed on is that horses are awesome.

My mom had an Arabian gelding before I was born and took lessons at a hunter barn. (My mom is a total hunter princess, y'all.) When I was 4, she bought me my very first pony, a rotten Shetland named Daisy. She took me to my first riding lessons. When we moved to Tennessee, she found a trainer for me to take lessons from. She hauled me to horse shows despite not feeling very confident about her ability to drive the truck and trailer. She volunteered to jump judge at Pony Club events and worked to put together the show program for the big horse trial every year. She's walked my horses after cross-country while I gulped down Gatorade. She asks me how Moe and Gina are doing every week when she calls me. 

My mother and I don't always get along or agree, but I am very grateful that she's always been one of the biggest supporters of my equestrian endeavors! Happy birthday, Mom- you don't look a day over 30. ;)