Yep–this is me at 3 years old, riding Sugar, my first horse, a Pinto of unknown origins. To those who know me, it’s no secret that I like horses. I mean, I love horses and always have. I love to ride. But I also love to simply brush or be with a horse, to feel that fuzzy winter coat, or the sleek summer sheen. I love the smell of horse. Seriously, someone should bottle that scent and sell it as perfume. And I love to write about horses.
Right now I’m working on writing a prequel series to Winnie the Horse Gentler. Writing about this younger character, who understands (and feels understood by) horses, keeps bringing up my own early horse memories. So, for the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some of those and introducing you to the horses I’ve loved. Sugar was the nearly perfect first, a bomb-proof horse, just above 14.2 hands, not a pony. My big sister, Maureen, rode her first, until I took over. I remember being confined to ride in our little pen by the house and how awesome it was when I got the freedom to ride Sugar up and down our road, then around the block, then all over Hamilton, Missouri. I got stepped on, and I fell off–always my fault. Once, near Main Street, she slipped on the ice, and I fell directly under her. Sugar stopped and stood still, with me huddled between all four hooves. Then we waited until somebody gave me a lift back up. You never forget your first.
Tags: authors, books, Hamilton, horse, horse series, horseback riding, horsemanship, horses, memories, Missouri, remembering, Winnie the Horse Gentler
April 4, 2018 at 2:57 pm |
YAY! Whoohoo!!!!! I am jumping up and down!! A Winnie prequel!!! Yay! (Can you tell I’m excited? Lol) I LOVE Winnie, so it will be so fun to read more of her! I am assuming it will be before her mom dies and they have the big horse farm? Now all we need is a Winnie sequal (which was partially done in one book, but made you want to read more!) and I think every Winnie fan will be happy! You know what would be really fun(and I always love it when they do this in movies, and you sorta did it once in one of your books), is that somehow, somewhere, Winnie meets Catman, Barker, or any of her other friends from Ohio (but obviously does not remember them, nor remember that she has met them previously when she officially meets them). That would be so fun! Can’t wait to read it!! I will be smiling and laughing all through the book!!
April 4, 2018 at 4:25 pm |
Great to hear from you, Jennifer! Glad you’re excited about more Winnie. Plus, this fall, they’re coming out with a barn containing the set of books–really cool. Are you on my e-newsletter list? A few times a year, I alert my best readers of things like this–and sometimes ask for help (ideas, names, etc.). I’d love you to be part of it. Email me if you want to: dandi@dandibooks.com
April 8, 2018 at 3:41 pm |
Yippy!! more Winnie!Love the books! I have read all of them!!
April 8, 2018 at 8:13 pm |
That’s great! If you want to get my e-newsletter about new books and horse news, email me: dandi@dandibooks.com. I’d love to have you on the “team.” I only write about 4 times a year, but sometimes I do holler out for help with horse names and ideas.
April 9, 2018 at 3:01 pm
Not to be rude but, you already asked me that. 😉
April 10, 2018 at 8:48 am |
Sorry, Mary–Hard to keep up. Did you respond to my email? If yes, then you’re in! Most of the day I write, so details can slip my mind.