Intra-Family violence can be one of the most challenging issues to treat in therapy. Much of the complexity results not only from the family’s likely mistrust of the system and the professionals that are a part of it -- particularly in cases where Child Protective Services may have already intervened -- but also, the prevalence of co-occurring disorders, such as addictions.

Often, these family’s will minimize the extent of the violence, possibly target one family member…

I posted this on Quarter Horse News Facebook page:

Allan Buck

Photo Courtesy of Kelsey on Flickr

When I'm trying to describe to someone why I enjoy my horses so much, I usually find myself describing the joy in the routine or simple tasks of feeding, grooming, or taking walks in the field. I think it's because these are usually quiet…

My boyfriend was away this weekend, so we had his horse to take care of.  I asked my horse-loving niece.  We haven’t had her out in a couple of months because we haven’t been trail riding regularly.   She was thrilled.  I battled a snow storm to pick her up and then get her to the stables.  By the time we got there, my sister had the stalls cleaned.  She just had to dump a wheelbarrow.  We sent my niece out in the snow storm to push it way, way back to the manure pile.  She had to earn her…

Enter Our Valentine's Day Contest and be included in a draw to win

a fantastic prize package from …

I got to ride today, last night Shannon suggested that we see what the weather was like at 10:00 AM, and when I woke up it was 19 F.  By 10:00 AM  the ground was still frozen so I asked if I could come out and make sure all my new tack I got for Merlin fit and Shannon said fine.  Well the 44" girth was just small enough (the Wintec Wides take a dressage girth) but I better get myself a shorter one for when he sheds his winter coat, the Warm-blood sized running martingle was big…

The Marlboro Man isn’t for me.  He’s the strong and silent type- it might be a romantic image on film, but it doesn’t look like much fun in real life. He probably eats an unhealthy amount of meat, that’s a given. A legendary smoker- no way would I let him in my barn. I doubt we would share the same taste in horses, (or anything else.) A hug from the Marlboro Man would feel like carrying an arm load of sticks and cans- way too boney for my taste.

And wouldn’t the Marlboro Man be…

At the heart of passion for horses can often be found a Thoroughbred Racehorse.  Vivid recollection of  horse races viewed myopically on a television screen weave their way through equine pursuits as we claim equine partners and pursue dreams of athletic achievement.  The majesty, beauty and determination of every single horse straining his entire being to claim the finish line is a blueprint for the dream of a rider.  Ask any horse lover if they have a favourite race horse and immediately a…

We shall see:

UPDATE:

AQHA Annual Convention March 9-12, 2012 in Las Vegas should reveal the major changes the association plans to take on behalf of protecting the horses from abuse.

We shall see, however, let it be known that AQHA is fully aware of the national scrutiny by American horse people of all venues.

AQHA is aware they have the chance to bring about change and if they do not they will face the consequences.

Just haven’t felt much like blogging lately, but of course I’m still riding.  The weekend was great.  With the river down and mild weather, we got all the horses in the park for the first time in over a month.  We kept them quiet, though.  Cole got a very valuable reminder that he is supposed to walk when I want him to walk.  He tried to trot whenever we got to a spot where we usually trot or canter.  I call them “trigger points.”  When he would walk, I would click and treat to reinforce the…

Just haven’t felt much like blogging lately, but of course I’m still riding.  The weekend was great.  With the river down and mild weather, we got all the horses in the park for the first time in over a month.  We kept them quiet, though.  Cole got a very valuable reminder that he is supposed to walk when I want him to walk.  He tried to trot whenever we got to a spot where we usually trot or canter.  I call them “trigger points.”  When he would walk, I would click and treat to reinforce the…

http://rideeverystride.blogspot.com/2012/02/trail-ride-bucket-list.html

Here are five places on my trail ride bucket list.  Click the above link to find out why.  

1.  Ring of Kerry, Ireland.  2.  Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina.  3.  Foxhunting in Virginia.  4.  Acadia National Park, Maine.  5.  Wyoming.

What trails are on your bucket…

http://rideeverystride.blogspot.com/2012/02/trail-ride-bucket-list.html

Here are five trail rides that are on my bucket list - click the link above for the reasons why!

1.  Ring of Kerry, Ireland.

2.  Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina.

3.  Foxhunting in Virginia

4.  Acadia National Park, Maine

5.  Wyoming

What is on…

Friday Feb 3 we had a great ground session. I turned him loose in the arena when no one was in there. This was the second time doing that and he is starting to go in the scary back corners by himself. He even followed me back there with no lead on.

We then worked a little with the 12' rope and rope halter, doing some circles, change of directions, squeeze game, sideways, figure 8's. I worked with him a lot in January and forgot to post some of it, and it is starting to pay off…

I was going to have an adventure today but it rained all night and the ring is too soggy so I am hoping I'll get to do it next Sunday.  The adventure was for me to ride Merlin again at Shannon's place.  Merlin is an 18.2 hand grey gelding, half Dutch Draft Horse and half Irish Sport Horse, a BIG GUY.  He came to Shannon's with issues after being used as a lease horse for a few years.  I used to ride him years ago, and the last time I got up on his back was April…

Horses have been domesticated for many years, and from the very beginning, it was us teaching them. We attached our ropes, harnesses, saddles, and ideas unto them, We taught them what to be, think, and do.

And amazingly, they went along. Horses obliged us. When we asked them to carry us just where we wanted to go -- and sometimes in the most dangerous circumstances -- they did. After all, horses were the very first war vehicle.

And when…

I woke up this morning to the news that Altantic City will feature a new act this summer featuring horses high-diving off the steel pier.

http://www.barnmice.com/group/barnmicenews/forum/topics/horses-to-high-dive-off-steel-pier-in-atlantic-city-in-new-entert?xg_source=activity

You couldn't…

It was big news when Moorlands Totalis sold last year. Zenyatta is due to foal soon and the press is waiting. I see Ravel had a big win in Florida recently. Well, I have some really big news for the horse…

Last night, I was riding Cole in the indoor arena, and I spontaneously decided to try to teach him leg yield at the trot, again.  I was working on it about a month ago, and he seemed to be a little confused.  He used to do leg yield at the walk, but that morphed into a really nice side pass.  Well, when I would ask for leg yield at the trot, he would try stop and try to side pass at the walk.  He was getting frustrated that he wasn’t getting it right (no clicks) so he started going sideways…