by Heather Wallace

My first time independently on a horse was…interesting.

I was what you would call a horse-obsessed child. Shocking, I know. Instead of imaginary friends I had an imaginary barn full of horses in my backyard. I dreamed of owning a barn one day and breeding Arabians, because they were the most beautiful horses I could dream of at the time. I had stuffed horses, Breyer horses, and read as many fiction and non-fiction horse books as I could get my hands on. Obsessed? Perhaps. I prefer extremely passionate.

There is something inherently noble and graceful about horses. The fact that they trust humans, and allow us to share their lives, is a never ending blessing for me. We all have something we feel connected to- and for me it has always been horses.

I begged to do pony rides at every local circus, party, or event I attended as a child. My parents would shake their heads and laugh, but it was so exciting!

My first independent experience on horseback didn’t go the way I’d dreamed and planned. In fact, it didn’t really go at all.

Family vacations should be filled with wonderful memories. And they usually are quite memorable. The petty family squabbles or sisterly bickering takes a back seat to the new and amazing experiences. You mostly remember the good times. A trick of our brains that make us do it again and again.

So goes our family trip to Arizona when I was about 9 years old. I can still see the dust kicking up as our rental car pulled into the stable yard. My young brain did not take into account the details of the landscape, or the wooden sign marked “Trail Rides”. Oh no, the anticipation of riding a horse in the desert like a cowgirl was all that I could imagine. Finally, my daydreams and backyard imaginings were coming true. I was a cowgirl!

Well, the day dream and the reality could not have been farther apart.

Read more: The Grey Pony Incident - An Excerpt from The Timid Rider

In a vast cavern of a building like an aircraft-hanger just a tad more than a stone’s throw from Newport Beach is a sparkling chrome vista that would set any motorhead’s heart a flutter. This waltz through recent history takes you from a sturdy-looking 1931 Ford Model A to a plushly upholstered 1948 Hudson Commodore to a 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible the color of a brightly polished London bus, and onwards.

The oldest, most venerable member of the gang is an open-topped 1911 Hudson Speedster—a throw-back to a bygone era of over-sized motor-goggles and Ahooga horns and white scarves fluttering in the wind. Among the rarest is a ’42 Hudson Super Six Wagon—one of only a few surviving “Woodies.”

Read more: Donnie Crevier: Vintage Cars and Fast Horses

When Tammy Pate was first dreaming about Art of the Cowgirl, bringing together experienced western artists with aspiring makers and providing mentorship was the ultimate goal. Now in its third year, the Art of the Cowgirl event attracts thousands of guests and generates the funds and support necessary to bring Pate’s dream to life.

“I thought it was very important that we honor women in the industry and let them be mentors,” Pate says. “Our Fellowship Program encourages arts and trades among western women, both continuing tradition and inspiring innovation.”

Art of the Cowgirl’s Fellowship Program provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for western artists to learn or refine their passion with some of the most talented makers in the business. Whether it’s fine art, functional trade or horsemanship, Art of the Cowgirl Fellowships seek to enrich, empower and educate, while honoring western heritage.

Read more: Art of the Cowgirl’s Fellowship Program Inspires Western Artists to New Heights

By Hope Ellis-Ashburn

Portraits by Shawna Simmons

Actress Melinda Van Dyck is a lifelong equestrian with Hollywood roots. The daughter of thespian Joan Bennett and screenwriter and producer Gene Markey, she was born in the 1930s and raised in the bright lights of Hollywood, California. While her childhood was unusual for most, it wasn’t uncommon for her social group.

Growing up on South Mapleton Drive in nearby Homby Hills, Melinda was surrounded by neighbors who composed a who’s who list of old-world Hollywood including Art Linkletter, Liza Minelli, Ronald Reagan, Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart and Bing Crosby. Her father, also a United States Navy rear admiral, counted John Wayne among his best friends.

Later in life, Melinda reconnected with Ronald Reagan. Since she and the future president had once been neighbors, she attended a rally during his candidacy. She was delighted to be given the opportunity to speak with him and to learn that he not only remembered her but fondly recalled her mother as well.

Read more: Melinda Van Dyck: Life on Stage and on Horseback

By Louise Dando for Equine Info Exchange

Equestrians around the world may have different opinions on many topics, but all agree on one universal experience: falling or being thrown from a horse is the worst part of riding. Whether seasoned or novice, all agree that this common experience can be frightening, embarrassing and annoying—sometimes, all in the same moment. Despite this, I find consolation in the knowledge that it happens to everyone. These celebrities all have taken tumbles off of their horses. Read on and decide: who do you think suffered the worst fall?

Johnny Depp - During the filming of The Lone Ranger, Johnny Depp was thrown from his horse and narrowly missed being trampled. As the horses picked up speed, Depp's steed started bucking, causing the actor to lose his grip and fall to the side. The horse continued to gallop as Depp clung to its mane, before eventually falling onto the ground. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Depp said “There was one moment in particular where it got unpleasant… My horse decided to jump a couple of obstacles in the desert but the horse was unaware that the saddle was fake - to give the effect that I was riding bareback. So when we came down the saddle slipped and I went to the left, and grabbed the mane of the horse. And then the next thing I saw were these very muscular horse legs, this death machine, and one word popped into my head: "Hooves". I figured fear would kick in but it didn't, I was very calm.”

Audrey Hepburn had a bad riding accident while filming the western The Unforgiven in 1959. Her horse was spooked by one of the crew members and the pregnant actress was thrown, breaking her back in four places. Also, one of her feet suffered a bad sprain. Hepburn recovered in six weeks from the back and ankle injuries and was able to finish filming — but sadly, the fall caused her to miscarry her baby. Fortunately, she did give birth to her first child, Sean, less than a year later.

Read more: Tossed, Kicked and Broken: 10 Celebrities Get Back on That Horse—or Not