I finally got to ride Cider again today.  Since she had turned into a nappy pony the last four times I rode her I sat down and thought about her reactions.  I realized that each time she had turned nappy she had something between her front legs in front of her regular girth, first the anatomic girth and then the running martingle.  So today she got her regular girth, no running martingle, nothing between her front legs,…

Two weeks ago an interesting thing happened when I rode Mia.  I finally had found my old string fly fringe that goes over the browband.  I really like the anti-fly tack that was developed in the days before effective fly spray.  I try to avoid the fly sprays and persticides as I do not think they are good for my compromised nervous system.  I put ear nets on my horses when the gnats appear in the spring, and I also use a fly whisk on the horses who…

Around 2 years ago I discovered Barnmice and started blogging for the first time in my life. 

I was in shock, for I had been on the net for several years and could not believe how much the horse world had changed since the last time I had been involved with horse shows and riding.  I…

Over 40 years ago when I got my first horse I never saw a woman under a horse trimming hooves.  I bought into all the people that said that only farriers knew enough to do a good job on hooves, and as I looked around ALL the farriers were men, strong muscular men.  However once I switched my horse to pasture board he just did not get his feet trimmed regularly.  Luckily I had his shoes taken off or the situation would have been worse!  One day I was in…

First, let me send my sympathies for all of you affected by the wildfires, droughts, floods, tornados, earthquakes and other disasters.

I was not in my best riding form this week since I'm on an antibiotic.  My feet feel sort of like they are not attached to me.  My balance is not at its best either.  In spite of this I had some amazing rides, well amazing rides for me. …