Category: Uncategorized
Big horse/little human problems
I have a big horse. Heck, he’s not just a big horse, he’s one of the tallest thoroughbreds I have had the pleasure to work with-and that’s saying something. Kennedy is 17.3hh, he is grey, and he is a gentle giant–leading facebook friends and blog readers around the world to fall in love with him and affectionately refer to him as The Elephant. … Read More Big horse/little human problems
The Rat Race
I can remember being 16 years old, and feeling the tears streaming down my face. I can remember walking off of the cross country course with my head hanging down, and my pelvis tipped forward, as waves of tears wracked my body. And as we walked past the fields full of horses that lined the cross country course at Erie Hunt & Saddle Club, … Read More The Rat Race
The Three Ring Circus
Two and a half years ago, I accomplished a goal so few of us get to: I got my horse back. But the horse that I had kissed good-bye at the age of 4 didn’t return to me. Where he was once glistening a steel grey, he was now almost white. Where he had once rippled with athleticism, he came home sore and thin. … Read More The Three Ring Circus
The Good Ones
I had an English writing professor once tell me, “write what you know.” It was in a Creative Nonfiction class, and he was telling us that our personal stories were the greatest. We knew our own memories the best. And because of that, we could explain the scenery and the emotion because we could still feel it. There was no better person to tell … Read More The Good Ones
Winning even when you’re losing
I left the ring with a huge grin on my face, and signaled my student with a thumb’s up as we made eye contact. I knew she was nervous about my reactions – as four of those pesky sticks had come down during our round. And for a horse who rarely has ONE rail, nonetheless FOUR, my friends were on abated breath to see … Read More Winning even when you’re losing
The Shuttle Show
Within the past month, social media has become a frenzy of opinions. From politics to ponies, and everything in between. It wasn’t abnormal by any means– at least not if you consider yourself a horse person. But there was one abnormal topic. A topic that caught fire in the frenzy not once–but twice. Stallion Shuttling. With the announcement of American Pharoah heading to Australia, … Read More The Shuttle Show
Surfing the wave.
I wrote a few months ago about my struggle setting goals, and how for the first time in a long time I was forcing myself too. I was riding the peak of a high – having taken both my seasoned veteran and my hardass youngin’ to a local jumper show. The seasoned veteran proven to me why he has been my go-to man for … Read More Surfing the wave.
A circle complete
I was once told that I was anti-racing. That because I was a part of the second career movement, I obviously didn’t respect the first. That because I believed in not pushing for one more race that I didn’t cheer for the twenty before it. And that it, just simply, wrong. I won’t lie and say that I don’t respect the second career. I do. … Read More A circle complete
Clipping my way through school
“How much will it cost if you do the whole thing?” “About $150. I’m just doing this to pay my way through grad school.” “Uh huh. Sure. We’ll see you back here next weekend….” That is the conversation that I watched be repeated most weekends during the winter. The weathered old men eyeing me up and down as I saunter down the shed row. … Read More Clipping my way through school
Need More Cowbell
“What do we need?” “MORE COWBELL!” These are the words that echo in my mind each time I ride Nixon and he is in one of “his moods.” I own a very forward horse. Some would even say the most forward horse. A horse that by all other means should now be standing in a chandelier draped breeding shed in Lexington, Kentucky and covering … Read More Need More Cowbell
Struggle bus
In most aspects of life, I am an extremely goal oriented person. I am as competitive as they come, and constantly striving to better myself. I want to be the best of the best. But more importantly, I need to be the best me I can be. And yet somehow, I own horses. And horses have the ability to make even the most type-A … Read More Struggle bus
Vicious cycles
One of my students came up to me a few weeks ago and started listing her goals for the season. And being a goal oriented person I was intrigued to hear her own. Claire had gotten a thoroughbred off the track or year ago, and had struggled with him all year. She had reached out to me last summer after I had written of … Read More Vicious cycles
A Yankee in Paris 
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