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Category: Riding

Horse Shopping Update

Horse Shopping Update

I don’t really know how to write about horse shopping. What’s a less than ideal match for me might be the perfect horse for someone else. I’m not about to post all the pictures and videos and internet-stalking I find on the prospects here on the blog. That’s not fair to the seller, and ultimately the horse. If I write or share something careless, it could hurt their chances of ending up in a good situation. So how do you…

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The Next One

The Next One

You knew there had to be a next one! I’m in the very early stages of horse shopping, something we all know to be both an exciting and frustrating process. And unlike the last couple of times I’ve shopped, my trainer will be the one driving the shopping process. Don’t get me wrong–I’ve always had trainer input on my horses. Usually I go through 100 videos online, share 50 of those videos with friends, and 10 with trainer. If there’s…

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Therapist Talks: Horse People

Therapist Talks: Horse People

“I wasn’t hurt, but I had a lot of feelings and when they all mix I turn into a mush. I wanted to go have a meltdown, but it was time to get back on the horse.” “Oh yeah, get back on the horse.” she said. “Like the saying!” Because I am me, horses come up a lot. I try not to get too technical, because therapist isn’t exactly a horse person. But here, she found some common ground and…

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The Past Week in Haikus

The Past Week in Haikus

Texans need the sunAnd it’s been raining for daysand days and days and… Rainy days make fora fresh gray baby hunterwith lots of feelings. Not to exclude him,I too have many feelings. Equestrian spazz. Watched taxidermy,didn’t get my coyotebut that’s for the best. Because now I neednew helmet, margarita– adult ammy life.

Do I Still Want to Ride?

Do I Still Want to Ride?

Earlier this week when I recapped one of my recent lesson meltdowns, a commenter kindly asked if I wanted to keep riding. I thought about this very large question for about three seconds. Well, yes. Of course. I love riding. Almost everything about it. How tough it is. How there is always something to learn. The people I meet at the barn. The emotional bond I build with the horse. Being Simon’s person was one of the most defining relationships…

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Cashing in my Amateur Meltdown for May

Cashing in my Amateur Meltdown for May

I really do try to keep the crazy amateur meltdowns to a minimum. Key word here being try. It’s not like I stomp around with a routine of high maintenance fits (at least I hope not, dear god, that’s not a good look). But a few things trigger me into meltdown territory: when I worry about my horse, and when I feel like I’m letting everyone down. Last week, it was the second. Since moving to the new barn and…

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A Completely Meaningless Dilemma

A Completely Meaningless Dilemma

I have some more complex, kind of dark, and meaningful thoughts spinning in my head right now. But they’re not ready for public consumption. So let’s talk about something else–tucking your shirt in. And if your first question is, “Um… why?” know that this isn’t really about shirts. It’s about bellies. For years, I would never ride without my shirt tucked in and a belt. It was part of my “If I don’t look the part I am not enough”…

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If You’re Not Here to Support the Horse Bloggers, Go Home

If You’re Not Here to Support the Horse Bloggers, Go Home

Last week, I went to check my blogroll of equestrian bloggers like I’ve started to do again in the past month. This was my routine daily for many, many years. At the peak of horse blogdom, I had 200+ blogs on my feed. Most days there were between 30-50 updates of new posts, and I did my best to try and read/skim all of them. If I had something to say, I’d leave a comment. Sometimes a quick “good job!”…

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