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The afternoon sun was glowing warmly in a blue sky, shining flecks of gold over the large green field. Enclosed by stone walls, the field had several brightly painted show jumps and cross-country fences scattered all around. It was here that the students gathered for their first riding lesson of the week with Mrs. Gracie Ryan.
A chorus of giggles rang out across the field as Mrs. Ryan strode towards them. She was wearing a cute t-shirt, featuring a cartoon pony wearing sunglasses with the caption 'Too Cool To Canter.” It made Roisin smile.
Tara leaned over and whispered to her.
‘Mrs. Ryan seems to have a never-ending supply of funny horse shirts. They’re really cool.”
Mrs. Ryan, with her long red hair tumbling down her back and bright blue eyes, flashed them a bright smile, her laughter joining theirs.
“Good morning girls,” Mrs. Ryan said with a slight American lilt to her accent.
Mrs. Ryan was American!
It turned out that Mrs. Ryan had grown up in Kentucky USA. She fell in love with horses before she could walk, and when she was young she spent every spare moment at her local riding stables.
She had studied equine science in college, and after college she got a job in Ireland to learn more about riding and training horses. So she packed her bags and left the USA.
In Ireland, Mrs. Ryan started working for a showjumping yard in Mayo. She fell in love with the green fields, the stone walls, the Irish horses and the friendly Irish people.
One day, she met Eamon Ryan. Eamon was a handsome veterinarian from the coastal city of Galway. He had twinkling eyes and a bright smile. But most of all, he loved horses just as much as Mrs. Ryan did.
Mr. Ryan, with his kind heart and love for animals, convinced her to make Ireland her home forever.
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan got married in a lovely ceremony, surrounded by their friends and family. They even rode to their wedding on their horses!
Now both Mr. and Mrs. Ryan work at Saddlestone Saddlestone.
Mrs. Ryan teaches the students how to listen to their ponies and become great horse riders, and Mr. Ryan is a fantastic vet, ready to help any horse or pony who was feeling sick.