These following photos are some of the horses I rode at Brookwood Equestrian Center. I rode there for about six years. I owe a lot to the staff and trainers there. I learned so much and was given the opportunity to ride many different horses. Even after I was lucky enough to own my own horse I was still able to ride some schooling horses as well as privately owned horses pretty regularly. This included new horses being worked into the schooling string, horses needing regular exercise, horses coming back slow after an injury and others that "just needed a ride." I had a lot of fun at Brookwood, made some good friends and gained valuable experience. I had the opportunity to work some weekends and assist with summer camps. There are many things I miss about the facility and all it had to offer.

Gidget, an Appaloosa, was one of the first horses I rode at Brookwood. I learned a lot while riding her. I rode Gidget for quite a while. She is also the first horse I ever rode in a show! The schooling shows at Brookwood were a wonderful place to learn and progress in the show ring. They were always fun, even when competing in the more advanced classes. Gidget took me through crossbar courses and on into short stirrup classes. She was a kind and patient horse.

After Gidget I moved on to Charlie! Charlie is still at Brookwood and remains one of the most popular school horses there. He hadn't been in the school string all that long before I started riding him. He was still a bit of a handful at the time! He was quick and athletic...even if not always the most reliable at the fences! Believe me, I learned a lot while riding him!

Charlie is a large, athletic, Welsh-cross pony with a lot of "spring in his step!" He earned me many blues and more than one division high point at the schooling shows! I could count on him to be competitive at the larger, away shows as well. I was sorry to have outgrown him!

I also rode Jingles (left), a solid color Paint mare and Bobby, an Appaloosa gelding, quite a bit They each had lessons to teach me as well! Jingles taught me "leg"...and Bobby taught me to sit up!

The horse I was schooling on just before I got my own was "Bronwin." She was an extremely opinionated bay-roan Appaloosa! She was so athletic...but she made you work for everything! Believe me...when you were done with a lesson on her you knew you'd had a ride. She could soar over the jumps. The thing that made her such a challenge was that she was always testing your intelligence! She knew she was clever...but she was always checking to see if you were with the program! You didn't want to be caught daydreaming in the arena...but...she was the best trail horse! She was steady and happy out on the trails. My mom even rode her out there and was comfortable with her. I am unable to find any pictures of her. You can be sure that I'll post one if I do.