It’s me, Dodger! I’m going to be doing the talking now. In an effort to become the celebrity athlete I always dreamed I could be, I’m taking over this website to tell my story. I’m all excited because a lot is happening right now and I’m going to have my own URL soon, but I [Read more...]

It’s been almost five years since Dodger and I started down the same trail in life. I’ve tried to document our ups, downs, and all arounds as they happened in this blog, and enjoy seeing how far we’ve come. Although I see him every day and either ride or play with him at liberty, I’m [Read more...]

If we take on the notion (just for grins, in case you think it’s too weird to swallow) that our horses pick us in life to mirror us…what do I see in my mirror? [punch to solar plexus] Unh-can’t breathe—An easily distracted toe dragger. Seriously? Yes, I will admit I have Shiny Object Syndrome which [Read more...]

Pat Parelli is quoted as saying, “Your horse can only be as brave as you are.” Lots of ramifications there for this trail rider. Plus it reminds me of Harry Whitney asking his student at the clinic I recently attended, “Are you standing there hopin’ your horse is going to do what you just asked [Read more...]

I spent the last 4 days at a Harry Whitney clinic in Cashmere, WA, learning the importance and benefits of recognizing, tracking and knowing how to change a horse’s thoughts so he’ll be receptive and responsive to cues, replacing any worry with calm and any resigned obedience with willingness. Harry refers to his approach as [Read more...]

Every trail ride seems to come with a set of challenges. Last Saturday’s was no exception. My husband accompanied me on his bicycle to wait with me at the trail head until my friend (who lives near the trail) arrived on his horse. After I was finished tacking up, my friend called to say he [Read more...]

Today Dodger and I played with the big squishy green ball in the indoor arena while our summer-averse town at the base of the mountains figures out whether it’s going to dish up another rainy day or just begin fall and be done with it. While wind pelted the arena roof with so many fir [Read more...]

I Love watching these horses and Robin play (perfect music for it)! If you want to see more of the ways she creates amazing partnerships with horses, here’s her website: www.libertyhorsetraining.com. She bases her work on Carolyn Resnick’s and is inspiring to both listen to and watch. I’ve added her to my list of people [Read more...]

Well, I’ve been holding back the news about my part in helping an author in the UK—who I believe will hugely benefit horses and their humans around the world—get his book and message out. We’re still working on his new web site, but I can’t wait any longer to tell people. The book is discounted [Read more...]

The last two weekends in a row were sunny. That never happens. Fortunately, though, Dodger and I were able to make hay while the sun shone, because our friend Chris invited us to join her on the Squawk Mountain trail that connects to her barn at Equinox Stable in Issaquah. The first ride was successful [Read more...]

My aunt has 65 years into horses and just sent me this! The Seven Stages of Aging on Horseback……. Stage I: Fall off pony. Bounce. Laugh. Climb back on. Repeat. Stage 2: Fall off horse. Run after horse, cussing. Climb back on by shimmying up horse’s neck. Ride until sundown. Stage 3: Fall off horse. [Read more...]

Today Dodger and I started out with Stacy Westfall’s clever, 5-cone, clover leaf pattern for learning shoulder control. He was doing great both ways, keeping a consistent distance around the cones. It’s spring so the weather changes every five minutes and thunder rolled in the distance as we concentrated, but Dodger didn’t care. We were [Read more...]

Wonderfully illustrated video that will speak to the little kid in many of us…

Yesterday Dodger turned 7. As I thought back over the last year, I realized somewhere during it he must’ve turned his “bitey” corner. Someone told me when he was 3 that her horse turned the bitey corner between the ages of 4 and 5. I remember thinking about that as he turned 6 and he [Read more...]

I just found this photo of me which could very possibly be my first time on a horse, and the horse’s color pattern is so strikingly similar to Dodger’s that I’m thinking there must’ve been a subliminal need for me to recreate my happy first moments on a horse when I saw Dodger for the [Read more...]

I won’t lie. Not only do I believe animals have opinions, I think they might even have distinct worldviews. So I let Dodger share his. I filled a book with photos of Dodger’s friends and environment, and let him tell the story. Warning: There’s one gross shot because Dodger’s still in 4th grade. Held back.

This is taken directly from a post in a blog I enjoy reading at hiddenhorses.com. It talks about the emotions that can be expected from a prey animal other than fight or flight. It made me ask myself, “While most horse owners shoot for respect, how often do we settle for compliance, rather than trust?” [Read more...]

Happy New Year! It’s clear and beautiful but really cold (for us)! It’s been in the mid 20s at night so Dodger’s wearing his 2-layer jammies. He’s been a good boy under saddle lately. A balking/refusal thing in the corners worked for him for awhile because I was afraid of escalating his new act of [Read more...]

I forgot to post about the Word-a-Day Challenge in the Equine Photographers Network that I took part in in October! All the participants were given a new word each day to translate into an image. The word for the last day of the month was “Blessing.” If my husband had not been at work, I [Read more...]

Dodger’s an LBI when inside the arena, and an LBE when outside. I recently came across some fascinating Horsenality Do’s & Don’ts from Parelli for LBI’s that had me nodding my head in agreement and smiling as I read them. My favorite “Do” was “Give him time to think. He’s not a slow thinker; he’s [Read more...]

In a way, this horse on trainer Farah DeJohnette’s video reminded me of Dodger. The aha I got was in watching how much the horse relied on the human’s energy level. I got to thinking that when Dodger and I are at liberty, I might do better to put my focus on me and keeping my energy consistent than on his and just watch him for my own timing purposes. I’ve noticed that when my focus is more on him than on me, my energy level is all over the place. As he’s mirroring a lull in my energy that I’m not aware of and I react with more energy, asking him to up his, he either gets annoyed or confused. At least this horse stays in the game. But Dodger quickly gets bored and distracted…at which point I have to start over to get his interest [...]

When I started this journey with Dodger, I read lots of books and articles that began by saying, “If you’re green, don’t get a green horse!” but they never went into the details why, so I went blithely along, thinking that whatever made them say that might not apply to me. Wrong. It applies to [Read more...]

I think it was about this same time last year that I had my first memorable trail ride. I thought of it as Dodger’s graduation from boot camp. It was in the open brush environment in the Teanaway area near Cle Elum. It was where Dodger received the endearing nickname of Stoner after his laissez-faire [Read more...]

This evening I had my first lesson on my new bareback pad and was just blown away by what Shalimar was able to get out of me and Dodger…I finally got to feel what it was like to trot, bareback, WITH Dodger. Not just sit through a trot, but trot WITH him. Comfortably. Without posting! [Read more...]

1st time: I was really careful because I wanted Dodger to love his new trailer. Dodger’s always been a curious sort and has loaded onto trailers easily. He’s never been really calm during the ride, but I especially wanted him to like this trailer and feel calm in it. Someone had kindly tipped me off [Read more...]