Prancing Pearl -- by Vicki S. Davey

In our story, “Adventures with Little Eloise: When Bullies Come Knocking”, Pearl arrives at Somerset Farms and all of the animals stop in their tracks to watch her glide past them. She is stunning. High stepping gaited horses like her seem to float when they're moving in their mode of "walking out". It’s said that the rider of one of these horses could hold a glass of champagne and not spill a drop – that’s just how smoothly they move. When the young horses at Somerset Farms saw her come in, they nick-named her Prancing Pearl.

Concho was that horse in real life, the one I drew a sketch of in high school (a caricature of him). Forty years later, as I was writing these stories, I came across a very old sketchbook of mine with that sketch inside. Perfect! But, as I worked, the sketch of Concho became Pearl, and I actually had to cut him out and paste him onto a fresh new page of paper and work around that... the old-fashioned cut and paste, literally! Concho was real, Pearl is my invented character.

When Prancing Pearl arrives, moms and babes grazing to watch her pass by because she is so beautiful.... (they do not yet know that she is a bully -- her insides don't quite match with her beautiful outside).

Concho was my mom's horse, and together they were a sight to see. People would stop whatever they were doing—walking, driving, biking, picnicking—to watch my mom and Concho glide past, often with mouths agape (them, not her—lol). I know this is true because I was never far behind her -- but far enough behind to avoid her spotlight. It was all her. Our beautiful mother.

Concho was a very high-spirited horse, and it took a strong person to “control” him. Mom was a very high-spirited person, so together they made a gorgeous combination. Him with his high-stepping gait, his thick bowed neck, his mane flowing, and his tail carriage always high; mom with her long blond hair flowing behind her against the contrast of her tan body. They fought with each other as they rode -- sometimes to the extent that he was all sweaty and foamy, but what a beautiful spectacle they were to see! I'm not the only one who thought they were breathtaking.

Mom on Concho with my brother's dog Sunshine

Growing up, we rode our horses often for our fun, their exercise, and to see our friends. The horses in our stories "Adventures with Little Eloise" are the real-life horses that we had in our lifetimes and they are teaching our readers important things like social skills, problem solving, critical thinking, and understanding friendship, sportsmanship, kindness, and forgiveness. We also touch on the subject of bullying and conflict resolution, which is becoming more important for children in this world.

Many meaningful friendships and memories were created through our years of horsemanship, and the friends we made during those times. We're happy to see some of these fun times shared through our fun stories.