Must’ve been the blistering heat at the Evergreen Classic that made my brain accidentally slip into monopoly money mode (a mindset I save for traveling so I don’t get too hung up on the cost of things). Except I wasn’t traveling. All I remember is that I passed the $1,500 custom riding boot booth, then [...]

Dodger wants to go places so I’ve been out coveting trailers. Brenderups, to be exact, but they’re too expensive new and too hard to find used. Being in a trailer mind set makes me notice articles about trailer safety. This article was a particularly good one, I thought. Hope it’s of use to you!

I created this digital watercolor from a photo using various Photoshop techniques, and now I’m enrolling in a traditional watercolor course that will be a much tougher challenge. It’s being taught through CreativeLIVE’s online classroom by my friend and fellow graphic designer and artist, Molly Murrah. It’s a FREE, 5-week webinar course if anyone wants [...]

Dodger has been such a fantastic, willing partner under saddle these past several weeks. His mouth is getting super soft to rein cues, he has a really nice, comfortable extended trot (others who watch him and know these things say his is not an average QH trot, that he extends much more and lifts his [...]

When you’ve got a horse that just generally enjoys “messing with” people, how do tell the difference between a little testing disrespect and a power struggle?
As I watched Dodger pull a significant “mess with” play with someone much more horse savvy than I but that he doesn’t do with me, she described it as [...]

July 4th weekend! We’re going to hit the dusty, well, make that somewhat muddy, trail connected to the stables my friends just bought. Can’t wait. They’re coming early to pick up Dodger so I feed him his breakfast a little earlier than usual. He’s happy to oblige with eating while I put all my tack [...]

Our time together lately has been mostly about steady progress…especially for him. Shalimar is helping Dodger not only move well, but once moving, stay moving! She’s helping him do better with his right lead at the canter (not his favorite) and she’s trying to help me ride better. She’s given my seat, back, thighs, calves, [...]

Two days ago after scouring the outdoor arena one last time with my friend, Sally, looking for Dodger’s recently thrown, needle-in-a-haystack shoe, she took her horse in the arena to cavort. Aimsley had been feeling so good the day before and had had so much fun in the outdoor arena that Sally wanted to let [...]

At some point, all riders fall off a horse. Just the way it is. Unconsciously, however, I had decided that was true for everyone but me. I had successfully convinced myself that Dodger would never spook or I would know how to stay on if he did. Two days ago, I was proven wrong.
We [...]

My children have always had four legs and this Mothers’ Day was spent mostly with Dodger. I let him graze in the pasture which is a new treat which he loved. Then we played in the outdoor arena but I was overdressed for riding out there. Too hot. I waffled on whether I wanted to [...]

Thanks to the volcano no one can pronounce, our flights to Ireland were canceled 30 minutes before we were to head to the airport and our trip will have to wait until 2011. There we were, bags packed, passports ready, and no place to be foreigners. But wait! There’s Canada. We’d always wanted to see [...]

I sure hope to keep in touch with Shannon and everyone I met during Dodger’s training in Cle Elum. All really great people. I love that he’s now familiar with so many different people, situations, obstacles, environments and skills, and have come to the realization that from this point on, I’m putting more emphasis on [...]

Dodger’s always had a right front foot issue that causes him to toe out, land on the outside of his hoof and roll to the inside, where he bears all the weight. As a result, the outside hoof wall grows about twice as fast as the inside wall. Now that we’re cantering more regularly, I [...]

It’s been quite a weekend…on Thursday Dodger had several vaccinations–two shots on each side of his neck–and from his reaction to them, I’d have to say he had two shots too many. At least it was two more than he’s had before at any one time. On Friday I came to get him for my [...]

So many times in my life I’ve looked at gorgeous photos of Ireland and people galloping down its beaches and thought…wow…wouldn’t it be loverly…And now I can officially say, “I’m countin’ on it!” because my husband is now officially Irish (all it takes is the right ancestry, lots of documentation and a patient acumen for [...]

Well, here’s my first time riding Dodger without an instructor at a canter…that’s a little bit bigger deal. No surprise I got a wrong lead even though I was cueing him on the outside. He did it right later but the camera was off. If I can just keep my heels down and my arms [...]

My husband judges horses by their ability (and willingness) to “carry the mail.” And sadly, as a result of that narrow standard, Dodger has never received Dan’s Pony Express stamp of approval. I, on the other hand, figured Dodger would show me a canter when he was ready. I was just hoping he’d be ready [...]

Let me just say this about that: When he pays attention; when he tries; then when he looks to me and asks the question of what ideas I have for doing together next?
It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Yesterday I decided to ask a trainer associated with my barn if she’d be interested in helping me transition Dodger to a bitless bridle as well as get him doing better at maintaining a trot and a canter. She owns the horse in the paddock next to him and is taking care of the barn [...]

Not exactly a strength of mine. But today, I consciously decided to explore the idea of it. “What would patience do in this instance?” was the mantra I decided to use today.
Well. I’ll. Tell. You. What. It’s. Like. Watching. Grass. Grow. But. It. Works.
I set out four cones in a line and my plan [...]

Dodger’s pretty sure evil lurks within the trees alongside the outdoor arena. Today I caught what’s becoming a common reaction to absolutely nothing. Disconcerting on the one hand, but pretty convincing evidence he’s feeling no back pain. Whatever he’s feeling, we’re going to have to get over these trees before I saddle up and ride [...]

With a horse like Dodger, it’s difficult to tell if changes in behavior mean he’s feeling a new pain or he’s devised a new game. A work ethic for indoor arena work is still something I’m trying to instill as he’s really only happy and engaged when he’s outside. Since he came home in October, [...]

Pardon me for putting words into his mouth, but does this pose not look like Dodger is thinking, “Does my butt look too wimpy?” I mean, being part Quarter Horse means it’s all about having a beefy butt…no?

This past month, I participated in an online equine photographic challenge that was based on a word-a-day theme. Of course, my muse, Dodger, was often the star of my results. The word that inspired this photo was “Expression.” I thought I would include it in a set of greeting cards I’m making from several of [...]

Dodger’s figured out what it takes to get a carrot around here, and some days he sees those jumps and runs right over to them and over them with very little suggestion from me. Others, well, he’s a little too hungry for that. He’s very clear on the difference between a half-hearted, walk-and-still-manage-to-trip-over-them attempt and [...]