I rode many horses in the years I progressed from adult novice to dressage competitor. Not one of the rest was in the league of May Wine, the horse in all these photos. I was blessed to have twenty-three years working with her. She was an amazing athlete and a fine and loyal friend. We trusted each other. I shudder to think back on some of the pickles I got us in to while we rode Three Day Events.

Finally I got wise enough to concentrate on dressage, at which May Wine excelled. (We stopped hurting ourselves, too.) We worked with excellent teachers: Hilda Gurney and Richard Meade. In 1986 May Wine received a United States Dressage Association Bronze Medal. These Katey Barrett photos are from her later days in the 1980s.

May Wine is gone and I no longer ride, but I teach dressage, and love to do so. To work as eyes on the ground helping a horse and rider find balance and cadence is a lovely, creative pastime.