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in Geneva to recommend a stable, and they referred her to a traveling with the detail on a trip to Japan and Korea, he family of international show jumpers. jokingly sent her a beginner's book on the basic principles of "They took us out for a beautiful ride cross-country, and riding. the horses were wonderful," said Riggs. "Unfortunately, the The press often praised President Reagan's eternal optitemperature dropped to subzero temperatures during the mism, and Riggs recalled one of his favorite stories on that summit, and the president was never able to go ride." topic: "It was about two boys, one an incurable pessimist President Reagan often extended hospitalities to other and the other an equally incurable optimist, who are taken heads of state, inviting them to ride his own horses when by their parents to a psychologist for treatment. The pesthey visited the United States. King Hassan II of Morocco, simist is placed in a room full of shiny new toys, but when along with Mexico's president, he's visited after an hour, he's cryJose Lopez Portillo, rode with ing, not playing with any of them Reagan at Camp David. He also out of fear that they may break. "He referred to the Secret invited Queen Elizabeth to his The optimistic boy is placed in a Service as his cavalry, so ranch in California to ride. room full of horse manure, and he wore a baseball hat that President Reagan always rode when his parents come in he is with an ornate breastplate with a cheerfully shoveling away, saying, said, 'Rancho Del Cielo stylized "RR" monogram, given 'I know there has to be a pony in Cavalry Commander.' " to him by King Hassan II. That here somewhere.' " —Barbara Riggs breastplate is now on display, Even after Riggs left the along with his saddle and boots, presidential detail in 1986, Presiin the Ronald Reagan Presidendent Reagan occasionally sent her tial Library in Simi Valley, Calif. notes or photos of horses or asked her what she would do with certain horse-related challenges. Down To Earth "It was a unique relationship, very special," said Riggs. Years of riding together created a bond between President "In our business, everything is professional, but you develop Reagan and the Secret Service agents who shared his passpecial bonds with people who are special, and he was. He sion. Riggs recalled that once, while in Washington, Reawas as kind to a waiter as he was to a head of state. He was gan's secretary called her to see if she was on duty because a people person." the president wanted to talk to her. President Reagan's boots rode through Washington on "I thought, 'No, the president doesn't really want to see the riderless horse in the caisson at his funeral parade in me,' but half an hour later, the secretary called back and 2004. At the time, Riggs recalled her 30 years of work with said again that he wanted to see me in the Oval Office," the Secret Service. said Riggs. "I've been all over the world and witnessed a lot of When she arrived in Reagan's office, the president events, but being on duty in Santa Barbara and that time described a problem he'd had with his horse over the weekwith Reagan was the best, to be able to combine my work end, while Riggs was off duty. "His horse had been shakwith riding. He was so unpretentious, so genuinely sincere ing his head badly, and we spent 45 minutes talking about and nice. working out that problem with his horse," she recalled. "He always talked horses, and he really enjoyed that President Reagan also enjoyed joking with his fellow other people enjoyed horses with him," she added. "It was equestrians. When Riggs had a riding accident while hunthow he decompressed from the stress of the presidency. He ing on one of her own horses, which prevented her from was a horseman through and through." C H RO N O F H O R S E .CO M W INTER 2013 75

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