Lively, swallow your pride and go ask!  I have a friend outside of Killeen but without you being ultra experienced (and her being totally crazy) I doubt the two of you would mesh.

Ask around at the military base and local feed stores.  Speak slowly and don't say too much.  GO FOR IT!

Lol its not pride its pure out chicken. I actually do have a pretty good bit of experience. I just will never say that i have enough. Too bad your friend isn't totally nuts maybe i would have a chance..lol. No seriously all aside I will give you a short listing of what experience i have had:

At 13 went to daycamp for one week (Paid) got lucky and they gave me a chance to work for my keep. I cleaned stalls, groomed, fed, and saddled horses for rides. I had some riding lessons in exchange and started riding western.

At 14 still doing the same thing but also started taking out trailrides and being the dummy up ( lol sorry our slang for first up on a horse in training). Soon was being taught how to sack out a horse , get em ready for saddle and bridle, and basic moveout. ( The hackbarn was owned by a local trainer) Also held horses for him while he treated foot problems and while he trimmed.

At 15 ownership changed and i was used that summer for teaching Daycamp. I was responsible for them learning basicly how to groom,saddle and usually to not be totally scared to death of a horse. Unfortunately a lot of parents use daycamps as a babysitter for older kids. After having them get over the fear a lot of students started with I taught them basic commands for riding.

At 16 the barn lost its lease and closed.( By the way it was called HorseWorld the name had been retained from original ownership)

Then i did some volunteer work at Fulmer International in exchange for riding lessons. (english was a whole new world to me found out i had muscles i never knew about). In the summer I worked from 7am to 12 then came back after lunch at 2pm and worked until 6pm that afternoon. I got a 30 minute riding lesson with Cynthia (Mr. and Mrs.Hall were far above and beyond me) occasionally with Mirriam.  I cleaned stalls. weatherproofed blankets turned the horses out and brought them in for lessons. Groomed and saddled whatever horses were needed when their owners showed up to ride. Occasionally assisted in feeding.

Hmm ...lets see my Mom made me quit because she insisted i was doing far to much work between workin at the barn and McDonalds at the time.

At 18 I got married and started workin for almost heavens stables for $50 a week, Once again teaching at a daycamp. I dealt with the beginners because i didn't feel i was capable of teaching the more advanced students and i just prefer dealing with beginners. Its fun watching them light up when they start to get the hang of things and that fear is abated to respect for the horse. I did this for 2 summers and in the winters i just helped care for the horses. I had to work light because shortly after gettin married i found out i was pregnant.

I didn't have much else to do with horses until i turned 23 when i bought my first one. I made the mistake of buying a horse who had quite a few mental problems due to prior abuse. I ended up giving her to a friend so she could retire she was 15 when i bought her. My husband insisted she go before she hurt me. After that he bought me Dreamer who was a very sweet 2 yr old. I worked on her ground manners and at 3 started her under saddle. She was a dream to work with absolutely loved learning. Then we moved here and i had to sell her so she is now having her training finished with a friend of mine at Broken Arrow Stables who intends to train her for english instead of western which is what she was started with. This last part was 3 yrs in total. I'm 26 now.

Ok far too much info and i guess i do have a touch of pride.LOL I'm lucky i ever saw so much as the backside of  a horse. My mom hates horses and the only reason i got in that first week is my dad snuck the money to pay for it and afterwards he put his foot down about her not letting me around them although she won out at fulmer because he agreed i was workin to much.

Ok so well i am gonna start asking around and keep my fingers crossed but even to my eyes my experience seems very limited.

Hehe thanks for the boot in my hind end i needed it.

Ty rotag. I would love either chance. I have no clue where marble falls is ..lol..I did get lucky and found a place here where i will be paying a guy to teach me a lot of stuff. He gives lessons but not in the normal sense of the word. He basicly teaches you all the nit pick stuff about horse ownership that gets confusing with a horse of your own. I have always wanted to know the exacts of deciding on a feeding regimen and he is teaching me this along with a lot of other stuff about injuries. Hehe its hard to swallow that I am an idiot when i go to his lessons but there is always more to learn. With him you never even get on a horses back until you know every single piece of a saddle,(which i thought i knew .knew most butnot all) and how to measure if its right or not ..how to decide the size of cinch and blanket, know pretty much every bone in the horses body,etc etc.. Its really hard and I am realizing I have forgotten so much over the years. Lol at 13 I could have answered any of his questions....especially about the anotomy of a horse. I remember gettin picked on and razzed becuase i always had my horse anotomy book that went into details about physical build cycles genetics and all in it. I assumed i had it memorized but of course was wrong. Otherwise I would still remember most of it.

When I first met him he started firing questions at me ...I assume to make me realize I didn';t know as much as I thought and to find out what i did know. It was a humbling experience but one I needed. As for the science of feeding After years I have finally found someone to help me understand it better. Beyond just buying the premade bag  and assuming its a good one. After I am done with him I will know why it is good or bad. I would pm you but i have no idea how to do that.

Once again ty. I would love to have someone to ride with. Its just not as much fun going by myself. (My hubby rarely rides)

HAven't found any luck in the work aspect in trade. But hey i do enjoy my 1 lessons..lmao. Once again rotag either option sounds great especially the work in trade. HMm now how the heck do i send a pm.....aside from when i get them.

Lol just checked where marble falls is ...its pretty close to us.

Sorry I have been at the ranch in east texas no electric or internet there. We live pretty close to yall also. We can teach you a little also. It will be good to ride a well broke horse. I have been working more and more and Laura will soon be needeing someone to ride with. My email is s_e_slevin@yahoo.com we are in the liberty Hill phone book and know quiet a few horse people from the area. Peri haines youth ranch is close to you also. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/phr/  If your interstead we could get togather with you and your husband and have dinner or something. Then you can ride at our place and if you feel comfortable you and Laura can take to the trails. Email one way or the other it would be a big help getting black Jack ridden.

I gotthe email lively and forwarded it to Laura She will be out of town for a few day with family.

Gus no I dont know Ronnie.

I am sure we will soon. We have had a ilness in the family combined with Thanks Giving it has been pretty busy. I will ask her whn a good time is to get togather.

Steve

Laura mom is still not doing well but I think life will be better after the first. So keep in touch we havent forgoten about ya.