Terri's Story

The year was 1955… born with a hoof-pick in her hand, Terri's first horse was supported by springs. It was love at first bounce. Each passing birthday from that day on held a candle wish for a horse. She settled for her stick horses, practicing her canter pirouettes diligently.

1968-72… finally old enough to earn babysitting money, Terri regularly visited the local stable in San Juan Capistrano to spend her earnings on trail rides. Although slightly barn sour, at least these horses had real hooves.

1986-89… married to her high school sweetheart, Rob, and settled in Vista with two little ones, Ryan, age 4, and Jenny, Just a one year old, Terri once again pursued her horse dream and enrolled in a 6 week riding class through Mira Costa College, taught by me at Continental Farms in San Marcos. The six lesson course was just a tease, so Tern signed up for the once a week lesson package that quickly evolved into twice weekly lessons. During that time she met Comanche, a young Appaloosa with a gentle nature and and eager to please attitude. The two were inseparable and soon Comanche was an addition to the Reschan Family. When they weren't winning ribbons at the local horse shows, you could find Terri sharing her love of horses with Ryan or Jenny as they rode in the irons aboard the gentle gelding.

Just when the barn was becoming like a second home for Terri and campany, Continental Farms was sold and the opportunity was presented for me to start up the training program on my recently acquired 5 acres across the valley. Starting from scratch and on a shoestring, Terri's faith in Pathfinder's success was absolute. She wrote a check for $2000 in the form of a personal loan to help with Pathfinder startup expenses. Completely immersed in her horse dream, Terri became an official founder of Pathfinder Farm. She was there when the first post hole for the arena was dug and the first lesson was taught, it was the fall of 1989…

1990's -- New Beginnings. Terri's first horse. Comanche, semi- retires to the hills of Temecula where he enjoys a leisurely life of trail rides. Meanwhile, Terri is ready for a new challenge and purchases a handsome, three year old hunter prospect named Possibly So. "Possey" promised to be a fun training project. Jenny, now old enough to enter into the lesson program, gets her start on the Pathfinder Ponies. In the daytime, while her kids were in school, Terri started working for me in exchange for lessons. During this time Pathfinder was brimming with youngsters, we had a group of five foals that were born here over a course of just a few years. A natural for handling young or difficult horses, Terri helped bring up this group of foals from the initial imprinting to their first jump. Terri's job title became that of assistant trainer and her job description expanded to reflect the growth of the business. Terri started to teach lessons while I was away at horse shows or on vacation. She has a keen eye for equitation and honed her teaching skills at instructors' workshops and clinics. Together, we formed a partnership and invested in a young thoroughbred, Bryan, who was later re-sold in the barn.

Late 90's. Jenny and Possey, all grown up start a new partnership and enjoy some horse shows together. A hard fact of the horse business is that you never know for certain how long a horse's performance career will last. It can be surprisingly long or sadly, as with Possey, too short. He was just 12 when he fractured a bone as a result of advanced arthritis and had to be put down. Horses have an uncanny way of finding the path that leads them into our lives. As our hearts were barely starting to mend, I received a call from an old friend who was in need of a home for her 17 hand, 4 year old, Hanoverian. Terri was up for the challenge. Prunkster was a handful from the start (his nickname became "The Dumpster"), but with time, determination, and Terri's persistence, he earned his way to the show ring and won ribbons for Jenny and Dana Andersen in both the jumper and hunter rings.

2000 - 2007. The nest is empty, the kids are off to college and Terri vows to be horse free for a time. She still arrives at the barn 8am sharp Tuesday through Friday, ready with snausages for the dogs (their favorite) and a lunch packed with Cooper in mind (PB & J sandwich mmmm), ready to orchestrate the morning supplement production. With some free time Terri begins a yoga class that she enjoys after work on Wednesdays and weekends. She immediately starts incorporating her yoga practice into her riding and teaching. We discuss yoga poses as we hack the horses around the park. I reflect on the two decades of devoted care she has given, we have all flourished because of it. Terri's contribution to this farm can't be measured. She is my rock. She stood the test of time with unwavering loyalty. Terri retires from her regular duties at the barn this month; however, she will be back in the saddle between travels and home remodeling projects. Horses still rule in her heart, and Terri is and always will be in the heart of all who are a part of this Pathfinder Farm.