No quotes today, folks, just a moment to expound upon the frustration of the elusive left lead pick up.

It's elusive because I'm not nailing the cues Mr. Bear needs to make it happen. He asks me "Is this what you want?" as he throws his head up and moves into a faster trot; "Or is this what you want?" as he slows down to do the little prance thing that he thinks I'm requesting? "No buddy, that's not it!" I respond as patiently as I'm able. I half halt to rebalance and attempt again to…

"To become what we are capable of becoming is the only end of life."

Robert Louis Stevenson

I don't know about you, but I'm still working at "becoming" that of which I am capable -- in my case as a rider, a writer, a singer, an artist ... a human being. Life is about the journey and all its twists and turns and surprises, and how we deal with them as we move toward our destiny. This reminds me of a poem I wrote some time ago:

The…

"Sometimes no thought is the best thought." Dorothy McDonall

This is "Give the Brain a Rest Day."

Ciao

"Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps." David Lloyd George

I like the word "if" in this quote. How many times do we take a big step -- like moving up a level in the show ring or learning new dressage movements, etcs. -- when we really ought to be focusing on mastering what we're doing right now? I get caught up in that sometimes. I think to myself "Oh, I should be riding at this level," or "Bear and I need to do…

Today we grace you with the poetic ramblings of my surprisingly literary equine partner, Shakespeare -- just for fun. It was written between mouthfuls (of hay, of course), November, 2006. Here goes:

What luscious forage through mine

Velvet lips doth pass?

Ah! Tis sweet, tis delicious

This dried and texturous grass.

Said soft and fragrant stems and leaves

Seem far too good to eat.

But neigh! Tis best to sup than

Leave it lying at…

"In partnership with a horse, one is seldom lacking for thought, emotion, and inspiration." Charles de Kunffy

There's no doubt about it, a life with horses is forever stimulating. Whether on the ground, or in the saddle, time spent with a horse is an exercise in self-awareness and being "in the moment." This was something that it took me an awful long time to learn. My first leap to self-awareness was as an intern at CornerStone Farms 13 years ago while I was working toward my…

"... through his mane and tail the high wind sings, fanning the hairs, who wave like feather'd wings." William Shakespeare

I just had to share this as I imagine the wind blowing through my own Shakespeare's mane and tail as he yahoos! at high speed around the arena to get the bugs out before I get on him, especially in this weather. It is such a marvel to watch him exercise himself -- he is so joy-filled and such a show off!!!

"We are responsible forever for the things that we tame."

Antoine de Saint Exupery from "The Little Prince."

My first exposure to this author and his lovely book "The Little Prince" was as a little girl in London, England. It was a book my mother often read to my brother and I before bed. Part of its charm is how it is both wise and whimsical, as well as beautifully illustrated. If you have never read it, I highly recommend that you do ...…

... "Go as far as you can see. When you get there, you will be able to see further." ~ Thomas Carlyle ~

We cannot always see the light at the end of the tunnel; especially on those days when life has dealt us a blow and we are smack dab in the abyss of that dark moment.

I was involved in a freak riding accident once that, unfortunately, claimed the horse's life. Though I was unhurt physically, I was left devastated and emotionally shattered for a while. I recall lying in bed…