Margaret S Ward

The Search for Gypsy Gold Margaret S Ward

From the time of her birth until her college years, Amanda Rives lived with her father in Lafayette, Louisiana. Her mother had died before Amanda was a year old, and Rico (her father) became her sole and supportive parent. He worked hard to assure her needs were met; but she also developed a sense of responsibility that drew others into her support circle. At 14 she was offered a chance to train for horseback competition on the Gypsy Vanner belonging to a neighbor. She quickly bonded with the horse and won ribbons and medals in every competition she entered. Ultimately she decided to attend college to obtain a degree in animal science. She was offered a job as lead trainer on the breeding ranch of a friend of her father's and worked that job through her undergraduate years and her first year of graduate school. Her fascination with breeding logistics and vivid imagination, capped off by a bit of whimsy, led her to request a directed study for completing her degree. The study would involve eight months of studying in Norway searching for the perfect mate for her Gypsy; and as it evolved, she had opportunities not only to see and photograph the beauty that is Norway but also to make friendships she would cherish forever. She found her dedication to horse whispering a major asset and also an impacting characteristic which made her receptive to other non-physical interactions not commonly experienced by others. The cover designs provide visual descriptions of some of the prime locations in the story, and the title aptly states her quest. The story itself is an "easy read" with surprises throughout for the reader.