We've had some new members ask why married people are on a singles website. As we enter into our 13th year we've seen thousands of marriages and many members made strong friendships on this site. That is the reason they still come back to chat with old friends. This is why we added the married status as a profile choice.

Rue, I not only "like to believe it", I feel pretty sure they do.

Rancher ...I don't see anything wrong with married folks being on site...especially when they met on here. Too sad that people would actually take the time to send you nasty emails...boy, they need to get a life of their own ! But I must say it's a little hard to try and keep up with the dating couples on here that don't state that on their profile....it gets sticky when you send someone an email and you get an email back from their girlfriend ! lol Just have to keep a sense of humor about it. I can't say for sure how long it's been since I joined, many years back at the start of this site. I haven't really met too many folks from here...seems like most of the activities are in the Texas Oklahoma areas and the east coast. It's just not practical to haul horses more than a thousand mile each way for a just a weekend. So it's been my lose . At any rate I always enjoyed the 'mock fights' we use to have on the message board and sometimes the chat room. I do miss the old days when Dakota and Tim, Ben, and so many others were with us. Maybe they check in on us sometimes....I'd like to believe that. Rue

I joined ES I think abt 3yrs ago... or soon to be.. I am not looking for a mate as I have found mine.. I have many friends as a result of ES... Friends that I want to keep in touch with and ES is our place.. I have been to a few of the get togethers and been blessed to meet several ppl... I think that ES is a welcome place for those single or married... If married or in a relationship most are honest enough to say so on their profiles and not to be misleading.. Everyone comes here with some kind of baggage, but somehow together we have all learned ways to carry it or put it on a shelf... I pity the person that is so full in their life that they have no room for new friends... or to learn new things... When I am in need of prayers it is in ES that I go first.. and ask my friends for their help... I know that they are their with immediate love and compassion... this means a lot... Thank you so much to ALL my ES friends... I love Y'all... Judy

This is a community site and becoming more so all the time. First time I joined I think it was just started because I saw a little blurb in a horse publication and I was in Austin at the time. After getting on line seemed there were only a handful of members, mostly female in the Austin area. I remember the co owner whose pic is part of the logo of the horse in the water and I fell in love or something akin to love. I think that was her profile picture at the time. Since there were not many if any from north Texas I didn’t stay in long but came back from time to time and watched it grow. Like many I met a lot of people as I went through those stages of being divorced. Most were good experiences with a few disappointments but I figure I disappointed a few myself so that’s not a complaint. I read comments now and then from the females about not finding any good guys and trust me ladies there are some good men on here. I realize you gals have your bumps and bruses but a lot of these guys have been through some as well and the guard is often up. There are some though that deserve watching. There are some that are shopping and I never saw anything wrong with that as long as both sides were honest about it. After meeting and marrying Evelyn we thought about dropping out but we have made so many good friends and continue to meet more, we decided to stay on. I realize one day it will come to an end for us to be here but I hope it’s not anytime soon. Occasionally we get mail asking why we stay here since we are married and often it is not friendly. I have had a few write and ask if I was cheating on my wife. Some fail to read what is plainly stated about being married and get angry when I point that out. Our feelings about this site are all positive and I often recommend committed or married couples join. Tammy and Jake just did and I think those that meet them will agree they are a good addition. We have been told our involvement in various horse activities are good for ES and if that’s so the value is returned to us many times over. I enjoy the banter on the message board but find the chat room is not my bag. I guess I am too old and slow to stay with the flow. My humor is often misunderstood but those that know me get over it quickly. ES is a venue for all of us to stay in touch and share the good and the bad. The people here have helped me through many rough times and I am grateful. I don't know of one other place or way to stay in touch with so many for so little. It is all about communication and sharing and on occasion meet that one person that completes your life. Even if that never happens here you will each be ahead because of the friends you make and the exchange of informaton about our common interest, the horse.

I just found this thread and thought I would contribute my thoughts. I have been an ES "Community" member since January 2003 and it has been a Godsend to me. Back in those days I was recently divorced and it was the loneliest time of my life. I found an ES ad in a Western Horseman magazine. I STILL remain good friends with the very first man I ever talked to in ES, even though he has married and his wife and I are friends, too. WOW! My life sure changed! I have met close to 500 ES members in person and many of them have become lifelong friends! My life has truly been blessed because of ES! Now on this marriage thing....since I am the ES old maid and angel, I hope that doesn't mean I HAVE to get married to stay on the site. I have gone through those years of being a hopeful romantic and not sure finding the person just right for me is in the cards, but I sure do love my ES friends and the times we spend chatting and getting together. ES is more than a singles site! It is a place for friends to meet and be here, day and night, to laugh and cry with and in some cases to meet someone special. Thank you ES! Vickie aka Jane

Gosh!! I almost hate to say, but I've been here long enough to see many go and then come back *smile...I've known, if only by name and chat, many of those who have passed on.. and they are all greatly missed... I've made some great friends from this site!! Many of whom I am still in touch with today, either in person or by email. The good ole days, while I was in college were the best!! The late night laughs, so fondly the group called themselves "the night owls" Many of those originals are no longer here and at times I sure do miss them and the laughs we had. But alas time marches on and people's lives change and we go different directions and this site has also evolved. Thank you ES for a great site, chat and laughs when I needed them most. Back in those days of long hours studying and living a distance from my friends and family, ES chatters were my family, both men and women. The stories we made up and how I laughed until I cried... ES got me through those long lonely years of no outside social life. As my life was books and exams... Thanks to you all!! Custom (one of the originals)

We appreciate you letting us married folks join. George (rancher2) and Evelyn (jeannie2) invited my husband and I to join to make some good horse friends, learn new things, and just be a part of it all. We're new here, but so far having a blast. Thanks for being inclusive:-)

I've been a member of ES for, I think 4 years and I've made some absolutely WONDERFUL friends, both male & female...some of them I've met in person, some I've only met in chat. I hold each & everyone of you dear to my heart. I've laughed so hard my side hurt; cried with triumphs and tragedies. I've celebrated successes...prayed for needs to be met. When I talk to non-ES people about my "friends" from ES, they think we've been friends forever & are surprised that we've never met. But this is what ES is all about... a big family, brought together by a common thread, which allows us all to connect with an understanding that some will never get. Thank you Admin for such a wonderful place. To all my ES friends... love ya :-) ~Spots~

Nickie thank you so much for the kind words. George and I have been so blessed to have the pleasure of meeting you and Mark, and all the great ES members that have supported us in the Mustang Makeovers and come out to our place for the Xtreme Trail Races & Memorial Weekend. We have made friends that we hold close to our hearts and they are from all over the United States. Equestrian Singles have given us all a highway to friendship, that would never have happened. If your on ES to meet your soulmate (which I did!) or to find someone to ride with. You will not be disapointed. I never got to meet Tim, but the stories I have heard are so wonderful. He continues to live in the hearts of his friends from ES. We are a family and ready to stand by each other. Rancher and I will always be thankful for this site and all our friends.