It’s been awhile…

I’ve been busy and just haven’t had the time to sit and fire anything out.  Evenings are either spent making dinner, cleaning it up, tidying the house, grocery shopping, running errands or riding at the barn.  Fridays, I don’t do anything except spend time with Bob if I can help it.   We usually go out.
Riding [...]

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Speaking of students

Go check out Codi, a former student of mine who rode with me for about five years.  She’s all grown up with her own barn, Mane Top Stables.  A phenomenal piece was done recently in their local paper in Lynchburg.  I happened to be nosing around her website and found it.  Wonderful photography and just [...]

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Flashback – I’ve come a long way, baby

Well, let’s just say I’ve been on the earth for what seems to me like an eternity, and bumping into this picture the other day sort of made me realize that.
That’s me, far left.  Not sure of my exact age but I’m thinking about between 18 and 20.  This was so long ago, I don’t [...]

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Go buy my shadbelly

Well, if you’re a size 4, go buy it.  Check it out at ebay here.  I list all the measurements of it there, of course.
It’s the last of the shadbellies I used to rent and I actually never rented this one.  I kept two for myself.  This one and a navy one.  I actually need to [...]

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OK, I’m done

So, just vetted a horse in Staunton.  Didn’t pass.  Had some DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease) in his left hock (he was a 2/5) and was a little positive on his front feet.  Knew that the horse had only been worked once a week, which, if you are arthritic, isn’t the best recipe for getting a spring [...]

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Ahhh, horse hunting

Some people get really excited about horse hunting.  I actually don’t.  I think I only do when it is someone else spending the money.  Since I lost $4300 and some change on my last purchase, horse shopping now gives me major anxiety.  I think I would equate it to looking for a new mate.  But [...]

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Grandmother was on to something

I just got this month’s issue of Equus, a useful magazine that I subscribe to, read religiously and if you don’t, you should, whether you own a horse or just ride them.  It never ceases to alarm me to learn of horse people who don’t subscribe.  I do have friends that don’t subscribe but they [...]

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How to get a free ride Part VI: Just Ask

Just Ask
Yeah.  It is really pretty much that simple.  Well, you have to have built a reputation for yourself as being dependable, sensible, safety-minded, organized, a good student of the sport, in fact – a humble student of the sport.  You have to have by now taken the time to have earned the trust of [...]

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How to get a free ride Part V: Shut up and ride!

You can always tell a noob.  That’s short for newbie.  And if they aren’t newbies to having instruction, you can always tell one that hasn’t had proper instruction.  What’s the dead giveaway?  They talk too much. 
I can bust on the noobs and sound like I’m above it all because quite frankly, I’m not.  Above it [...]

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How to Get a Free Ride: Part IV – Rules of the Road

In the last few installments, I went over some basic horsemanship tips on how to turn yourself and your horse out to project a more polished, serious, credible image.  This is something you should take seriously, as not many people are willing to let just anyone ride their horses.  The sooner you develop good basic [...]

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