I was a pre teen in Panama, Canal Zone in the early 70s. Canal Zone is a memory now. But I had my first pony there and had my first real horse owning experience. Jungle, beaches, it was a DREAM. We had a great show series/opportunites with our shared bases/stables . Seriously, it was beyond the dream! Wonderful teachers from German backgrounds introducing dressage to us, and more. (but mostly such fun with our friends from all cultures and our horses.) I love the country of Panama now and forever. Its so different, but I herald all their advancements and my thanks for my time ‘once upon a time’ in Panama.
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I started trail riding in Chile, I was six and all the family went on these trail rides. Wonderful trails, up and down trails in the foothills of the Andes mountains.
Unfortunately my parents did not think that lessons were worth anything for a 6 year old girl.
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In the late 50s we lived in Vancouver, BC, Canada. When I was about 5 we went to the PNE (Pacific Nationa lExposition),similar to a State Fair. My younger sister and I went on a pony ride.
My father said it was “the most expensive 25 cents I ever spent”, as we both started begging for riding lessons (which we got about a year later), and then for horses of out own.
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Yes in Western Australia. I am now in Queensland, Australia
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@SuzieQNutter I should most likely re title the thread! As I meant NO exclusion to any of our members who reside outside the US in ANY way. I think a better title? or at least my intent of focus, was if you found your love of horses in another country than your natural, original one…how that experience was for you. 
I was only in Panama 5 years. But it was huge !!! in impacting my life and horses were such a part of it.
Here is our young mare with my daughter…a friend from Panama began creating ‘mola’ halters (dog stuff, too!) Molas being a specific fabric art form of the region----used our girl for her first prototype! So, I’m still blending the gifts
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Australia is bigger than some countries. Western Australia is divided from the rest of the country by a very treacherous road that kills cars, because of the heat. At least it did back when I was growing up. Now of course there are planes.
The biggest differences between the photos of our horses in Western Australia to Queensland is the ground. WA they are all on sand. Queensland they are on grass.
I started riding in France, both my (older) sister and I begging for rides whenever we were on vacation. At the time there weren’t any pony clubs, really. Then when we finally turned 12, we were allowed to get real lessons with the military since our Dad was military (we also got gymnastics and fencing lessons). We learned to ride on Selle Français or Anglo-Arab horses with very tough instructors, some were Cadre Noir instructors. We both went through all FFE exams so got great basics. We rode all through college as well. I have so many fond memories of those years!
Also rode in Germany when I was a teen, with my Junior High penpal, got to ride Haflingers, Fjords and Icelandics there.
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I love the sharing here…so cool to have had such opportunities to blend with horse crazy years .
