Epilogue: A happy ending

A few months after this article was written, I met my new trail partner Tucker, an 8-year-old palomino Quarter Horse gelding whose previous owner rode him sidesaddle as part of an escaramuza drill team that performed at charreada events.

Tucker became available because his young owner decided to pursue other high school interests. Looking back, I can’t say there was a defining moment when I thought, He’s the one.

But something clicked in me when I finally went to load him up and his family tearfully lined up to take a picture with him one last time. I realized then that this horse was loved, and that was a pretty good sign I’d made the right decision.

Tucker’s past training, willing nature and calm disposition have made him the ideal trail horse for me. Most weekends we can be found exploring the trails in my home state of Arizona.