I wanted a horse from the time I was a pre-teen.  It took me 25 years to own a horse so I really love and appreciate them. We have three. so I share them with friends.  The seniors:  AQHA Chip A Tailwind age 26 and Mustang Black Beauty-well over 30, are practically bombproof.  I was part of the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Mounted Volunteer Patrol for several years with both of them.  I also compete in Trail Trials.  That’s my only competition.  Even my AQHA 1999 gelding, Harvard, has won several Trail Trials.  We’ve already been bumped to the Open division. I enjoy being on the trail in a natural setting.  It’s so relaxing.  I prefer cliffs and hills and water to an arena. 

My daughter, Specialist Courtney Dwight, joined the Army right before her 19^th birthday, in 2003.  She wanted to get in the Veterinary Technician program.  After two years she’s considering going Green to Gold i.e. earning her degree and reenlisting as an officer.   She just earned a special “wheel” medal.  She’s the only girl in Balad, Iraq who can drive all the vehicles.  We’re very proud of her.  Courtney has recently received orders to go to her birthplace of Korea, in March of 2006. 

My husband, John fixes everything.  I joke that I have a four-legged Mustang and he prefers his four-wheeled Mustang, a classic red fastback 1965 that he just restored.  Now he’s restoring a 65 notchback for Courtney.  Occasionally he gets to ride his dirt bike. 

Courtney was five, in kindergarten when we got our first horse, Chip, a chestnut Quarter Horse.  I would pick her up from kindergarten on him.  I don’t think she remembers life without him.  We joined ETI Corral 12 in Sylmar.  We boarded at Jane Geyer’s and wanted to get involved with ETI right away. Courtney showed Chip lead line in horse shows and “we” even did gymkhana lead line.   I’ve met the nicest people and try to promote ETI and protecting trails everywhere. 

Then Courtney joined 4H and was active for many years. I was co leader with Jane for the Canyon Coyotes 4H horse project for a few years.  Their 4h Horse Bowl Quiz team was selected to go to San Jose for the State finals in 1996. After her Junior team won, the judge said they were more knowledgeable than the Senior team! In addition, these girls were only12  years old.
    
Jane had won many Trail Trials and got me involved.  I enjoy that much more than going around in an arena.  Plus you can ride any style or combination.  You’re judged strictly on your ability to maneuver safely through an obstacle.  A nice calm horse helps.  The rules can be found on the ETI National website. 

Courtney won many Trail Trials on Chip & Black Beauty.  I don’t think she realized how wonderful our horses are.  For many years, I’ve been a volunteer on the Trail Trial Committee and help with the ETI National Invitational and Convention Trail Trials.  I’m the Editor of the ETI magazine. It’s a wonderful opportunity and I really love it.  I was an English major and had done newsletters for our church, adoption group and local Corral previously.  

We have five acres of prime dirt in Palmdale Hills.  There isn’t much flat on our property.  We had to grade for the corrals, trail course, round pen and small arena.  My husband turns out our horses every day so they can romp in the rolling hills.  Water is scarce in all of the Antelope Valley.  We never even got water when we drilled a well.  The water is delivered by a truck every couple of weeks.  We brush the horses instead of bathing them.  I tried to grow apple, peach and cherry trees along with Poplars for shade.  We do have many juniper trees.  We don’t produce any crops.  I don’t breed or train horses I just enjoy them.   So Dwight’s Dirt Ranch is an appropriate name for us.  

Developers haven’t discovered our area in Palmdale Hills yet so we can ride forever in any direction.  There are great trails surrounding us. It’s easy access to the 14 freeway off Pearblossom Hwy.  The hills aren’t too steep that you can’t go cross-country off trail.  I’ve been to meetings in Shadow Hills and Chatsworth regarding trails being lost to developers.  One of the few times I didn’t mind riding on asphalt was on the protest ride down Topanga a few years ago.  I attended a ride recently in Quartz Hill where the developer ignored the General plan and eliminated the horse trails.  No one seems to notice until it’s too late.  

At my last high school reunion, I put my occupation as a professional volunteer!  Sometimes just a letter or attendance at a meeting is enough to let the encroaching party know that they need to be attentive to the equestrian wishes.  I like to be involved and know what’s going on and who’s who.   

Kimberly Dwight
661 478-2770