About Me

Are you an adult woman who is either new to the horse world or returning to it? Then this site is for you!

About four years ago at the age of 49, I decided to fulfill a life-long dream to buy my second horse. However, returning to the horse ownership after a 40 year break (wow that sounds old!), I found many things had changed.

For one, the horse world had changed. I didn’t know where to buy tack or supplies or western show clothes. I also didn’t know where to find a trainer or information on training and horse care.

In addition, I had changed, both physically and mentally. I wasn’t a thirteen year old kid who could ride all day long anymore. My legs and hips were stiffer. If I did a lot of posting or cantering, I would feel tired and winded. Also, mentally, I was different. I didn’t think of hopping on my horse and riding bareback. I was more cautious and worried about getting hurt. As an adult, I could see how dangerous horses could be.

Now four years later, I am physically stronger after doing exercises to help me limber up and improve my stamina. I am also more confident and willing to try new experiences with my horse, Valerie.

My experiences are the reason I created Riding Over the Hill. I wanted to provide a place to help woman like me who are starting fresh in the equine world and are looking for information, advice, or help. I don’t have all the answers and I am not a horse expert or trainer but I have learned and want to share that information with you.

Here you will find a broad range of subjects of interest to the adult Western rider. Some of the topics covered are horse ownership tips, what’s new in horse products and in the western show world, and the unique challenges we face such as how to overcome riding fears. My dream for this blog is that you will not only find information here that will help you but also find it to be a place to meet and voice opinions on what’s going on in the equestrian industry and also have some fun.

Who is Adrienne?

My first experience with horses began at age 12 with a horse named Rusty. My older sister, the first horse-obsessed family member, talked my dad into letting her buy a horse. The horse she bought was a small twenty-something old sorrel gelding we named Rusty. Most days after school, she drove to the pasture where he was kept, caught him, tied him to an old oak tree used as a hitching post, and rode him around miles of tomato and corn fields.

I pestered my sister to teach me how to ride Rusty. Little did I know he had learned this neat trick to dislodge his riders. When he decided he had enough of you, he would clamp down hard on the bit, put his head down, and run towards home. If you managed to stay on him, he would run towards a fence and then slam on the brakes, which usually flung his rider off. Rusty was the first horse I rode. I fell off multiple times but soon learned how to control him.

After Rusty, my dad bought my first horse, an Appaloosa, I named Joe. I rode Joe in 4-H shows and trail rides and in general just had a lot of fun with him.

Adrienne and Joe, my first horse

40 Years Later….

Now 40 years later, I am lucky enough to own a horse again. (I say lucky because owning a horse in California is not cheap. ) She is an Arab mare named Valerie. We make a good team together even though in the beginning the learning curve was high for both of us.

In the past four years since I have owned her, some very knowledgeable horseman and horsewomen have taught me valuable lessons on riding, horse behavior, and training. They have helped make me a better rider and horsewoman and have helped Valerie change from a neurotic “crack horse” into a calm and reliable mount.

Adrienne and Valerie

I now show her in regional Arab horse shows, take her trail riding, and participate in Trail Trials. As far as I am concerned, I hope to never stop riding!