Shirley Curtis was born and raised on a farm in southcentral Iowa. Love for horses made her childhood a joy because horses were always around and other members of the family also loved horses. Horses had to be a matter of wishful thinking when she grew up. Watching for horses in fields and pastures was as close as she could get for many years. But then horses stepped into her life again.

Her oldest daughter had been infected with horse fever, too, and when she got old enough, she was given a gorgeous black Tennessee Walker gelding. That horse, and then his red mother, began a whole new pattern of life for the whole family. Like Deanna, Shirley always checked the newspaper for horse listings.

One Sunday a horse demonstration was advertised. Shirley, her husband, and father drove three hours to see a Peruvian Paso demonstration in Colo, Iowa. This lady was a college professor with several Peruvian Paso’s. Some of the horses had actually ridden on the back of a straight truck for many miles to get to where they could be flown to Iowa.

Lush manes and tails made them beautiful, but their personality and termino, which is a very unusual way to walk that is very comfortable to ride, made them wonderful horses to ride and be with. All three fell in love with Peruvian Paso’s. It was then that Shirley had to write “The Horse of Her Own.” Several years later the first Peruvian Paso arrived came home. And he looked just like Deanna’s Dreamer.

Surprisingly, Shirley and her family had the opportunity to move to Peru. The surfing town of Pacasmayo became their home for more than two years. It was absolutely wonderful to see the origins of Peruvians, watch events, ride, and get to know the generous people who worked so hard to get the Peruvian horse just right. Shirley and the family are back in Iowa enjoying the grandchildren and Iowa friends and missing Peruvian human friends.