| Here is my husband, the dirt bike racer. Every available day off, Ben likes to go to the dirt bike track and compete in their AMA races. Cody loves to come and be his Dad's pit crew. Above you can guess it is time for a race and Cody is graciously ponying his Dad to the starting gates where Cody will pack the dirt and prep the bike so Dad can get the hole-shot. Lucky for me we have a dirt bike track outside my back door. This means I don't always have to go to the race track to get some good shots of Ben and Cody riding and catching big air. |
| Don't mistake Ben for one type of guy, however. Sure he loves his fast cars, big trucks, and dirt bikes, but he also loves our horses, and is quite a good rider! Maybe it's all the dirt bike riding and racing, but he really has great balance in the saddle and the horses know they can trust him - well, China Blue is still learning. |
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| When Suzie-Q got too old and sick to ride, we had to purchase another horse for Ben. As luck would have it, Penny was introduced to our lives. Isn't she a looker? She's a former race horse, and let me tell you she can get up and motate when you ask her. Ben and I haven't asked her any further than a trot because we aren't sure we could stay in the saddle. Ben has even been riding China Blue for me since I can't seem to find my confidence yet. Ben has embraced our horses. Look, he even bought the boots! |
| Suzie-Q was truly Ben's horse. I jokingly called her his second wife. She adored Ben, always wanted all of his attention, and would do anything he asked of her. We made the decision to humanly euthanize Suzie-Q when her melonoma became painful for her. We couldn't stand to see her in pain, but the pain of not having Suzie around was almost too much to bear. We comfort ourselves knowing the outcome could have been far worse. Suzie is the reason Ben loves horses. She taught Ben how to ride and trust sitting atop a real animal and not just a machine. Suzie-Q showed Ben how to be a cowboy and love it. |
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