Mandy and Me: The Lesson Horse

Mandy and Me, the Lesson Horse is a story about me and my best friend forever, Mandy, who was by my side until I was twenty-three. I was in love with horses, and my greatest goal in life was to have one of my very own to love. I am 76 this year and wanted to leave our story behind for my great-grandchildren and their children to read. If anyone in the family ever wonders what I was like, they can read this book.

Writing this story came easily because the words flowed straight from my heart onto the page. There are moments in the book that brought fresh tears, and others that made me wonder if I shared too much. Some details may differ slightly from reality-it's hard to recall conversations from over sixty years ago-but it's close. Our friendship was real. My mare and I shared many adventures together.

I will be forever thankful to Elaine for convincing my father to buy Mandy and grateful that he enrolled me in Pony Club lessons before purchasing her. Bunnie's lessons made it all come together beautifully. I hope other girls will have parents who give them the gift of a best friend forever. My horse kept me grounded, focused, and kind. As I grew older, I worked to buy her feed and pay for her board. My ankles strengthened enough that I could finally wear saddle shoes with corrective lifts instead of big, heavy boots.

Mandy and Me, the Lesson Horse offers more than just riding lessons-it's a story about love, friendship, and the lessons that last a lifetime. I'll never forget the day my three-year-old brother, who had Trisomy 21, wrapped his little arms around Mandy's hind leg. She looked at him and stood perfectly still while I gently peeled him away.

Come along on our journey and share in the moments that shaped a lifetime.