Below are a few horses that I owned in the past. Most lived out their entire life on my family ranch when I was a child, and a few (Stardust and Zeek), I even took with me when I went off to college. All these horses and ponies were loved, whether they were used in the show ring are just good old ranch horses.



Scroll down to see my "Beloved Horses of the Past"

Stardust was the first horse that I ever owned. She was a dark liver chestnut appaloosa with a flaxen mane and tail. My parents bought stardust when I was thirteen years old; we had many adventures together, rode in our first show, and enjoyed many pleasant trail rides in the Florida wilderness. I think about her often even though she has been gone for many years now. A one of a kind horse and a child's best friend, Stardust will live in my memories forever.

This is Stardust at about 8 years old with her first foal, Bandit (Bandit was about 1 week old)

Bad horse, bad, bad!

The grand old dame at about 20 years old in her last horse show. Sadly, Stardust passed away just two years after this photo was taken.

Little Bandit was the first foal that we had the pleasure of raising. He is half Appaloosa and half Quarter horse, out of our Appaloosa mare, Stardust. Bandit was born just three weeks after purchasing Stardust, our first horse. What a surprise to suddenly be first time owners of a horse and three weeks later see a little spindly-legged foal running around in the pasture. We immediately did our research on how to raise foals, consulted vets, horse experts, and trainers. We did the rest just by “flying by the seat of our pants.” Bandit turned out to have one of the sweetest dispositions of all our horses, so I guess we did something right.

Little Bandit exploring his new surroundings

Bandit, at about 18 months, enjoying a snack with mama

Bandit in one of his first lessons as a 2-yr old with one of the youngest trainers,my cousin, little Holly Zimmerman at age 4 (holly is now grown and in College)

This is Bandit in his first horse show in a hunter under saddle class after only being broke to saddle for 4 months. He placed 4th against seasoned hunters, we were so proud of him. Tragically, the next year as a three-year-old, Bandit was killed by a rattle snake while grazing in his pasture.

Galizeek is a registered gray Arabian. We nicknamed Zeek “Mr. Personality” because he was the type of horse that preferred the company of people to that of his equine mates. One of my fondest memories of Zeek is when he would come up to my mother’s kitchen door with the dogs and beg for biscuits with the rest of the hounds (he usually received his share too). Zeek was my dressage horse, but when it came to jumping he’d rather trample the judge (that really happened once), or jump out from underneath you than jump over a little 2-foot pole.

Taking some time-out from the show ring to say “hello” to the ladies.

Galizeek as a frisky yearling

A dressage show in Ocala, Florida. Zeek doing a nice medium trot, at level 2.

A handsome 10-yr old Zeek posing pretty for the camera

Joey is a cross between a Belgian stallion and a half Quarter horse, half Percheron mare. Joey was born at Circus World in Orlando, Florida. His mother was used to pull a stage coach in the Wild West show at Circus World. I purchased Joey when I worked at Circus World and he was just a weanling. Joey was never a show horse, nor was he very comfortable to ride, but he absolutely had a heart of gold. We later sold Joey to a family with small children who would allow a half-dozen little ones to sit on his back without a saddle or bridle in the pasture while he would walk around and graze........a true four-legged baby-sitter.

Joey and Mama at Circus World. Joey was about 1-month old.	Poor Joey was so ugly when he started to shed out that chestnut coat and start turning gray.
Completely gray at about 8-months old.	Yearling photo of Joey in his scruffy winter coat.

Babe was a dun quarter horse/Welsh cross. She was a horse that anyone could ride and was often chosen to tote around small children and beginning riders. Babe was very laid back but her favorite trick was to lay down in the water when crossing the creek whether she had a rider on her back or not.

Pam and Babe riding in a working hunter class in Lakeland, Florida.

Pam showing her best end while Mom and Dad hold Babe still for braiding.