In terms of major milestones, 20 years is a biggie. 20 years since I got my very own My Little Pony.

How do you even put into words the depth of the bond and partnership that forms over that long of a period of time? How many tears cried into that choppy, misshapen mane? How many confessions have those fuzzy ears heard that no other soul on this earth has heard? How much delight, frustration, fear, jubilation, learning, growing, changing have we gone through together?

I absolutely know she is my perfect heart horse and there will never be another one like her. Most people don’t get this lucky with their first horse, and I say a prayer of thanks on a regular basis that I did.

It’s hard to distill down the best of 20 years into a handful of photographs (and I’ve got a ton of photos). So many different experiences and activities, from show ring to endurance trail, and a whole bunch of everything in between. This is just a small handful…

Training ride in our favorite slice of the Sonoran Desert. Sometime in the mid 2000s.

First show together, only 2 weeks after buying her. Oct 1996.

Man Against Horse 50. Our favorite ride. Oct 2009.

Pre-moonlight ride. Summer, mid 2000s.

Silly mare.

Running gymkhana. She never faield to scare me just a little bit with her blazing speed and fast starts.

First mountain trail trip. Summer 2001.

Jumping. Also never failed to unnerve me with the “Will she or won’t she?” when it came to jumping and not spinning out at the fence.

POA Worlds, 2001.

First POA Worlds, 1997

Las Cienagas Ride, Dec 2006.

POA International, 1998

Just a few of what amount to a lifetime of memories and experiences, learning and growing. Heartbreak, disappointment, success, joy. All wrapped up together in my best heart horse and best friend.