What better indulgence in life than to have the opportunity to spend precious time with those we treasure — in places that we love?
Seven generations of Nancy Whitaker’s family have lived on her Floyds Knobs homestead, beginning in 1849, when anyone coming and going would have done so by horse and buggy. Nancy’s family members have homes in any direction you look along the landscape — her parents, living siblings, daughter, and nephew.
The entire property is steeped with love and tradition. Woven into it is the love of horses. “I could show you the photo of the first time my dad held me on a horse,” Nancy says. “I was 6 months old. When I was 12, I got the first one of my own. They have always brought such joy to my life.”
Nancy has lived on this farm her whole life, first with her parents in the home where her great-grandpa lived. As she points to the beautiful home she and her husband Jimmy built in 1988, she explains that they first lived in a mobile home on the property. During this busy time, while Nancy was also working and raising a family, she had taken a break from riding. “I didn’t really expect to get into horses again, but our daughter Paige got us all back into it,” she says. “A friend moved in across the street, and she had a horse. One day Paige went to ride with her new friend. I told my husband that Paige would come home and say first thing, ‘Daddy, I want a horse.” I was right.”
Indeed, Paige got a horse, but she couldn’t ride alone, and Nancy wanted to join her. Soon, the whole family had caught the bug. They got a pony and cart, another horse, and they gradually added nice fencing and more pastures.
“It became a real family affair,” Nancy says with a smile. “Paige gets credit though for getting the whole thing started again.”
Getting the right horse isn’t always easy. Nancy had one that bucked her off three times (she wasn’t hurt) before she decided that horse wasn’t meant for riding. “It also seemed like every time I got a new one, another person in the family wanted it,” Nancy says. “That was fine though because it meant more people in the family wanted to ride.”
Nancy got better at picking out horses, and these days has two beauties from which to choose: Freddy, a Gypsy Vanner, and Paisley, a Quarterhorse who was born on the farm.
Nancy had friends in the area who enjoyed riding, and she met them regularly at Pekin Saddle Club or Deam Lake. “You would be surprised how huge riding is in this area, particularly for women,” she says. Nancy and Jimmy also began to join other riding couples in the area. They would camp and ride, sharing wonderful times together and meeting new people with common interests. “Horse people are so kind, and we can always find things to talk about,” Nancy says. “Plus, Jimmy is a great musician. Picture a cowboy by the campfire. People love that and are drawn to it. We can always meet new people when he plays.”
It wasn’t long before Nancy and Jimmy bought their first horse trailer and set out for a camping/riding adventure. They loved that experience so much that it has become a true way of life for them. These days they have an even bigger camper with a horse trailer, and they are gone for a few months each year exploring the country. They roam the countryside with Freddy, Paisley, and friends old and new.
Nancy also loves her regular local rides at Deam Lake or Harrison Crawford State Forest. “The trails are always in pristine condition, and we have a great ride,” she says. “Wherever we are, this has become our social community, and it has been a true gift in our lives. We’ve been to more than 10 states and have met people from all over.”
One of their favorite spots is in South Fork, Tennessee. When they went last year, they met up with some friends they’d met in Florida the year before.
“Horses are like people: They need friends,” Nancy says. “The community means a lot to all of us. Building and maintaining those connections is everything.”
Nancy’s Favorite Thing:
“I love my ‘office’ — the barn. Going to work every day, mucking the stalls, bathing the horses, and getting in a good ride. It’s hard work, but it keeps me in shape and healthy. I get the chance to ride and take care of my horses every day, and it all starts in the barn.”
By Megan S. Willman | Photos by Randy Daniels
P.S. You may also be interested in this article about investing in feeling great now and in the future: Fire Up Your Wellness.
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