Running Water Never Goes Stale

So you gotta just keep on flowing

  • A Wild Ride

    Griffy and I were having an absolutely stellar mounted archery practice. I was so proud of him – he let me get on right away without a moment’s hesitation. Didn’t seem to mind the other horses in the arena. He strolled down the lane without a care in the world. A couple of times I Read more

  • Treats, Anxiety, and a Stiffy

    Before we get started I’m going to tell you right now that I’m going to talk a lot about my horse’s penis. There won’t actually be any pics, though. You’re welcome. It was an offhand comment made by Anna Blake during a class, I don’t even remember what we were talking about. “Griffy is an Read more

  • Severity vs. Levity

    I’m standing behind C. watching her take notes on the scoring sheet on her clipboard. She looks completely calm and emotionless, but I’m not fooled – I know she’s seething. “Don’t look down!!” The other instructor yells. “Keep your head up, and push him forward!” She’s judging a trail show, which is an obstacle course, Read more

  • Oh my god, I finally get it

    If I had a dollar for every minute I’ve spent immediately after a show or a clinic holding back tears, I’d be picking up poop with a solid 18k gold pitchfork. Today, we had a halloween show at the barn, and post show was no different – but for once, they weren’t tears of frustration Read more

  • Demo, Did.

    I’m having an irritating day, so I guess it’s a good enough time to write about the demo this past Saturday. I practiced every single day last week on Callida, who is absolutely the most saintly, wonderful lesson horse in history. She’s patient, she’s kind, she’s calm, she’s forgiving of mistakes but won’t put up Read more

  • To Be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved

    This was a writing prompt from Anna Blake and I jumped on it because I’ve had this exact thought knocking around in my brain after an incident a few months ago. It was one of our first rides at the new place, and our first time in the big arena. I had the idea that Read more

  • I’m Just Gonna Say it – I did a good job

    Today’s ride was a bit more adventurous than we planned. I moved my lessons from 6am to 7am. If I get ready quickly, I get to sleep in until 5! It started off with a shuffle away from the mounting block. I’ve written about how that can make me spiral, but instead I just said Read more

  • FOMO

    One thing Griffy and I share is a strong sense of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out.) Griffy used to live on a small family farm; I would occasionally farm-sit when the owners were out of town. One day when I was running the show, all the horses were happily grazing in the pasture when a Read more

  • Color Correction

    Funny thought – I’m the only horse person I know who says that the first thing they look at when looking for a horse is color…and yet twice now I’ve managed to buy a horse that is not the color I really want. Someday I’ll get my dream black horse…. Read more

  • Keep It Simple, Stupid

    In my last entry, I talked about how Griffy was telling me he didn’t want to be ridden. Today was mounted archery practice and I was telling myself that I wouldn’t try to ride him. I wasn’t going to ride him when I pulled him out of the pasture and curried what looked like a Read more