Horse lovers come in all ages and sizes

You can begin loving horses at an early age. I started at age 3, when someone handed me up to a horseback rider and I got my first taste of traveling on horseback. From then on, they tell me, I begged nonstop until I got my own horse.

Our love of horses can take many forms. Youngsters who live in the city and have no pasture for a horse often collect pictures, or Breyer horses, or read a lot of books about horses. If they're really fortunate, they can sometimes get riding lessons at a stable and later own a horse and board it there.

Some of us did all those things: reading, collecting, and riding horses. I think I re-read Black Beautyand My Friend Flicka at least a dozen times. But the best part was riding. There's no feeling in the world like seeing the world from the back of a horse.

Girls are often "horse crazy." There's just something about the beauty and majesty of a horse that fascinates many of us. That's why you see so many teen age girls in the horse show ring. Then, for some reason, a lot of girls give up horses when they get a little older and get married or start careers. Many of them are the moms you see helping their kids get their clothes and their show horses ready outside show rings.

Boys seem to be different. You don't see as many riding horses. Yet, when they get a little older they become master showmen, trail riders, guides, rodeo cowboys, and all-around horse enthusiasts. I know one man who moved away from "snow country" to a milder climate so that he could "be horseback" all year. Some men are lucky and get to go on cattle drives - even though they aren't as long as the ones you see in Western Movies.

For "City dudes" who want to give it a try, some working ranches offer vacation packages that allow people to stay for a week or two and spend all day out riding horses with the real cowboys. Now that sounds like fun to me!

Not all women stop riding horses. I know at least two ladies in their 80's who still ride nearly every day. And while I don't get to go every day, I intend to keep riding as long as I can get my foot in a stirrup and climb aboard.

You don't have to be a certain age, or size, or sex to love, care for, and ride horses. You don't have to be super-strong, either. Well trained horses cooperate with you if you're 5 years old or 85.

If you just can't read enough about horses,at visit Horse Lovers Central They have categories ranging from advertising and store sites related to horses, to information about horse racing, breeds and horse history.