Like everyone's, my story begins with my mom. From birth on I was around horses. I should have turned out to be a horse-crazy kid. But while I didn't mind giving them carrots or patting their whiskery noses, I didn't want to get too close and was frightened of riding. Mom hoped for a lifelong riding partner and wound up with someone who was too scared to cross the fence.

So, how did I wind up on the back of a horse at all, let alone traversing 50 miles at a time? Well, Mom tried all sorts of things: she invited my best friends and my brother and sister outside for lessons, knowing I'd tag along. She gave pony rides at birthday parties while I sighed in the background. She signed me up for vaulting lessons -- which I liked, but then the teacher moved. Poor Mom couldn't find anyone to get me excited, so, eventually, I won, and the lessons stopped.

I thought I was safe. Then along came Benny the Wonder Pony. He charmed us all, even Dad who's not big on horses. He was a lonely 4-year-old, desperate for attention, who followed me all around, licking me from head to toe. I thought he was terrific, and Mom saw her chance. The owner was happy to find a real home for his friend.

Benjamin is a half-Arabian, quarter-Welsh, quarter-Paint bay with a large white blaze and bright blue eyes. His mane sticks straight up like a zebra's. We didn't really imagine that he'd ever be ridden. But one bright sunny day Mom went out to the pasture and decided it was time for him to learn.

Even today, Benny is not really trained, but he has a cheerful, energetic attitude. At first I was pretty scared of him, and we had our struggles. Mom worried that at 50 pounds, I was too light to control him. But one day I'd had it with his love of grass, and I somehow found a way to plant my hands against the saddle. I think he was pretty surprised when his usual jerk brought all his strength against his own mouth. He stood there for a moment, breathed a great breath, then gave a tremendous buck.

Mom thought it was all over in that instant. But then she realized I was laughing. I shouted, "I did it, I did it! I won!" She says I haven't had a bit of real trouble since. Benny and I progressed to trails, learned to cross streams, even tackled the Snohomish River.

Around the time we first found Benny, Mom had become friends with some experienced endurance riders, Joanne Gwin and her mother Lollie Knight. Mom and I traveled down to watch Tevis with them (a camping trip that's become an annual tradition).

The first trip down was fateful. While hanging around Robinson Flat, I went over to ask a graceful looking lady what the huge colorful pile of ribbons next to her were for. She smiled, explained how they were used to mark trail, then said, "I think you'd like this purple one." I was thrilled with the ribbon and turned and announced loudly that "endurance riders really are the nicest people in the world."

Mom and Joanne were giggling like schoolgirls. Joanne said, "Clara, do you know who that was? That was Julie Suhr!" I'd only been around the ride for a day, but I already knew that name. Just meeting her was inspiring -- and when I hear tales of how kind she is, I feel like I know exactly what they mean.

The next year I brought Julie a picture and told her I'd put that ribbon in a safe place so that I could braid it in Benny's mane someday when we ride Tevis. She told me she would put the picture on her refrigerator (and sent a note later saying it was there), and said she hoped she'd be the one giving me my buckle. I wonder if she knows I plan to try to make that story come true next year!

Since that day, I began riding more often and also learned to help crew for my mother who was just starting to ride distance.

Last year she talked me into signing up for the Owyhee Canyonlands ride in Idaho. After I finished two days of LD with Benny, Mom leaned over to Olin Balch, DVM, the vet who'd taken care of me through my first two rides, and asked, "Do you think that pony can do 50 miles?" He said, "That pony can do a hundred miles!"

The next day Olin taught me how to scribe. It was pretty fun to help vet check my own mother as she and Indy came through, though the very best part was collecting obsidian with Makayla, whose mom, Tonya Stroud-Stanger, was taking the day off riding to cook hot dogs for riders at the out-check.

On day 4 Benny and I found ourselves starting our first endurance ride. Everyone, including the 25-milers passed us by, but we finished 50 miles with time to spare. Benny and Indy galloped into camp, right past Merri Melde who was cheering for us like crazy while she took the best pictures we'll ever have. Steph Teeter handed out tons of cool prizes at the awards dinner, including an Argentinian cattle counter and a Pokey figurine.

I let Mom win the Turtle award this time as I'd already won it twice that week! Tonya made them for us -- huge fluffy pillows covered in turtle print fabric.

It was hard to begin again this year. Mom and I had another round of "encouraging discussions" that led to Benny and me completing the Milwaukee Rail Trail Ride 50 in April. We spent the last nine miles of the ride chatting about endurance riding, and I said I was really starting to like it, but still found myself wondering why the heck we were out there sometimes. I said I guessed it just felt good to do something hard, but I had to admit all the awards were pretty nice too.

That night the vets encouraged me to show Benny for BC. I want to thank all three of those vets -- they all took turns making my mom and me feel pretty good even though we haven't very much experience yet. Oh, and I really like the huge canvas tack organizer with the big BC medallion!

I still love reading and writing best of all, but getting through all those miles makes me know I can do just about anything. I guess Mom finally got the lifelong riding partner she always wanted!