Here’s a photo of me from 1984—cowboy hat tilted just right, sash across my chest, and a quiet kind of pride in my eyes. I rode only one year, but that moment with Ajax, my white horse, still echoes. He carried me through more than a competition. I found other ways to lead. More ribbons came later—earned with my dog, Shiloh and rabbits with markings as unique as their spirits. Those years taught me how to listen, how to guide, and how to show up with quiet strength. I learn