Having been born and raised in Roseburg, Oregon, Norma’s Grandpa started her riding at 18 months of age on a pony that her mother rode as a little girl. The pony died at age 32 leaving Norma with nothing to ride. As a 9 year old, horse crazy girl and no horse, she started riding her Grandpa’s milk cow! He insisted that her folks find Norma a horse to save the milk production. She was given an older spotted large pony that put up with all her love and attention. Grandpa’s ranch was on a dirt road and they raced any car that happened by, herded sheep on the steep hills, and wore out all the sleds he made for them to pull. Even though Roseburg was considered home, Norma spent weekends and summers at the ranch until it was sold around 1962. The 380-acre sheep ranch was located on Tyee Road, 18 miles downriver of the Umpqua Store.

Norma’s next horse was a “barn sour devil” that made many a fast trip home with or without her. He was good at Gymkhana events and taught her a whole new phase of riding. Norma wanted nothing to do with boys unless they had a way to haul her horse to the Gaming shows. English riding wasn’t available in Roseburg at that time so all her riding was Western.

Norma’s first introduction to English riding and Jumping was at Oregon State College with Paul Rutland in the PE classes. She was hooked on this new way of riding and never stopped. Norma taught English riding at Camp Tamarack, which is located just outside the city of Sisters in central Oregon, for two summers and has been helping young riders ever since.

Norma’s first Dressage showing was on a MULE in Eventing! She was one of the first riders to show mules in Eventing in the US. She showed in Open Shows and Mule Shows and helped open the Dressage world to mules. Norma had hoped to make her Century ride on her 17 hand mule, “Firecracker”, but old age took him a little too soon at the age of 24. Norma then turned to her 31-year old AQHA mare named “Lady of Fame”, who is most affectionately called “Jonie” by almost everyone.

Norma has currently been a member of the Umpqua Valley Dressage and Combined Training Chapter of the Oregon Dressage Society for 22 years and is their current Treasurer. She has been a 4-H leader for 42 years helping many riders in English, Western, Jumping and Dressage. She helped with the local Pony Club for many years and continues to do so to this day. Norma helped coach, hauled horses, and provided horses for the Challengers Equestrian Team of the Oregon Special Olympics. She’s also a long time member of the Douglas County Mounted Posse, the Umpqua Harness Driving Club, and Oregon Mr. Longears Club. And finally, Norma is a volunteer with the Douglas County Sheriffs Dept. Animal Abuse and Neglect program run by the Animal Control Dept. located in Roseburg, Oregon.

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