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I tell myself every day that I am the luckiest person on the planet. There are two things I have always loved deep
in my soul; nature and horses. I believe I have felt this
way from my first conscious moment. I am so happy
that I have both in my life daily. My husband, Todd
Miller, and I live in what I consider to be one of the
most beautiful valleys in California; Carmel Valley.
We have 40 acres and several horses, including
two rare breeds from Brazil and Iceland.
The two horses I ride are both gaited and both rare. Netuno, a Mangalarga Marchador, was imported from Brazil. He is my older go-to horse. Tryggur is an Icelandic who came to the U.S. from Iceland in utero. Tryggur is my younger, coming along horse. Both have competed in ACTHA rides.
I grew up riding hunter/jumpers on the east coast. I transitioned to dressage in my “younger adult” years, but now, at 55, I combine my love of nature with my love of horses and go down the trail. The smooth way! Those are the lucky moments I mentioned earlier, moments I consider my Zen, my soul, and frankly, what I hope continues in the hearafter as I cannot imagine anything more enchanting.
I did compete my whole life and there continues a spark inside me that gets excited at the prospect of preparing for an event with my horse and aiming for a goal. That is where Competitive Trail riding comes in to play. ACTHA rides are always fun to prepare for and to ride in. The last one Netuno and I did was at Pebble Beach, (yes, THE Pebble Beach) and it was a blast. We
On the Cover
by Laura Hinson of California
My Horses My Zen