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HEN PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN left his California ranch in 1981 to take up residence in the White House, he refused to leave behind one important thing—his love of horses. Instead, from the moment America's 40th president arrived in the capital, he insisted on remaining connected with the animals he'd enjoyed his entire life. 68 W INTER 2013 U N TAC K E D "This was his time to unwind," recalled Barbara Riggs, a Secret Service agent and lifelong horsewoman who was assigned to his riding detail as part of the Presidential Protection Division. Three times per week for more than five years, Riggs was at Reagan's side as he rode quietly out of the spotlight. Before becoming president, Reagan had been a member of the West Hills Hunt (Calif.), and his resignation letter to the club now rests in the Museum of Hounds and Hunting in Leesburg, Va. And despite his cinematic reputation in Westerns, Reagan always rode English, in breeches and boots. Riggs said she understood that he'd done all his own riding scenes during his film career, and the president also bred horses on a ranch in Malibu, Calif. After his move to Washington, the president carved out Wednesday mornings for his favorite hobby. Like clockwork, he would board a helicopter for a quick skip across the Potomac River to the Quantico Marine Corps Base southwest of the city to ride the horses there. And on weekends, Reagan often rode U.S. Park Police horses in the Catoctin Mountains at Camp David (Md.), northwest of the city. He even also oc- PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY; OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO PROFILE

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