Jamie Jagerman on Horses and Riding...

"Being an "equestrian", which is one who rides horses, means lots of things besides being someone who rides. It means early mornings to drive down to the show grounds and walk your first course, ditching your high school football games to ride your horse, partying in a barn with your best friends, missing homecoming for a show, having more friends at the barn than at school, staying at your trainers house over night and TPing your friends cars while they sleep, "human hunters", the road trips, the tears, the sweat, the dirt, the grime, the push-ups, the sit-ups, the sand everywhere when you fall off, the feeling of defeat, the thrill of winning and the moments you realize what your really made of. Yes, it means a lot, but to me, it means having fun. So we aren't exactly normal. We roll down hills in trash cans, TP each others houses, and have way more fun than any barn I know. We are a family and we always will be. I love everyone down there, my trainers, John and Katie Berney, and all of my best friends who ride there. The list goes on forever, but all I can say is they have all changed me for the better and I know that. I mean, if not for Katie I certainly wouldn't have done half the stuff I can do now. And who else could get away with tickling a child off of their pony but John? And Margret, really, where would any of us be without her intense flat lessons? I know I wouldn't be the rider I am now without her. I love them to death and wouldn't trade my barn for the world. I love you guys."