The last thing I want to do is drag myself out from under the warm blanket, in my warm house, to venture out into the cold and the rain. It has been over a week, and four tissue boxes, and I am tired of struggling to breathe. Just standing up can be enough to make … More Horsekeeping while ill
Today I am diverging from the usual subject matter in recognition of a special anniversary. It has everything to do with horses, and yet is not about the horses. Twenty years ago, on this date, escrow closed on a small blue house on two and a half acres. At age sixty, my mother became a … More A Special Anniversary
A recent Facebook conversation about positive reinforcement led to someone asking a question about one of my favorite fallacies – if you comfort a fearful or spooking horse, aren’t you just reinforcing the fear? I first encountered that idea when I started training our dogs, just over twenty years ago. My experience with a variety … More The fearful equine
It was, admittedly, probably not the best choice. Due to weather and the holidays, Noble had been idle for a while. With his paddock now mucky, even the newly emerged grass does not tempt him to go out into the field beyond. So, he sulks in his stall and has temper tantrums – though far … More Bad decision, good outcome
Five years ago, today, we set out on the three hour journey to pick up the colt of my dreams. More than just a dream, he was something out of a long held fantasy – and someone was giving him to me! I am not the person who ever wins the raffle, or finds a … More The long strange trip
My first horse sport was Eventing. It was a growing sport in our state, and its lack of formality appealed to the university crowd I grew up riding with. Wicki came with miles under his girth, and was a great teacher. When I outgrew him, the plan was to get a younger horse that I … More Bendigo, the Event horse who wasn’t
Horse Crazy Once Again 