Sometimes Bingo Uses ANY Excuse to Ignore Me

Since Debbie was putting on a horse show on July 4 I had my lesson on Tuesday. Debbie decided that she needed to give her problem child, the Arab gelding Tercel, a ride, and my lesson was the only chance she would have this week. Years ago when she got Tercel I told her I did not mind her riding him during my lessons since Debbie is quite capable of…

Continue

It Takes a Great Amount of Time

Instead of another boring tale of another boring ride on Bingo, this week I will describe WHY Bingo's rehabilitation takes so much time. When I started riding Bingo on April 6, 2016, my first impression of Bingo's conformation was that he was a total disaster as far as suitability for a fine riding horse. Bingo had a VERY high croup, his back definitely sloped…

Continue

Another Set of Eyes

When I got to the barn on Wednesday, Debbie’s daughter, Sam, told me Debbie was sick, but that she would be glad to give me a lesson.  Since a fresh set of eyes can often see things that become “normal” to my usual teacher I was happy to take her up on her offer (after checking to see that giving me a lesson would not put her behind for her other work at the stable.)  As we groomed Bingo, I was able to tell her some problems I had noticed when the little girls…

Continue

Are you still searching for that perfect New Year’s resolution? We’re here to help. These New Year’s resolutions can work for many riders – hopefully you’ll find an idea in this list that inspires you as we kick off 2015!

Become Physically Fitter

While losing weight is a popular New Year’s resolution, resolve…

Continue

 

I can hear you now – you’re groaning… the path?? How can “the path” be fulfilling?

You might ask: Doesn’t “the path” translate to tedious repetitions, lack of acknowledgement or recognition, stumbling blocks, frustrations, steps backward more than forward, and all the other associated negativities that occur when something is practiced day-to-day, week-to-week?

What about the glory of the goal, the clear, final call of reaching the destination, the accolades…

Continue

I am now 53 years old and I have realized I am not going to the Olympics - at least not as a rider! If fact, I am not sure I will even go watch - I did that in 1984, and while it was exciting and I learned a lot, I am not sure I want to invest the money it would take to go again.



And that is part of why I have surrendered the dream of competing at the international level. Money. It takes a Lot of it, and I do not have that kind of money, nor the access to the backing that it would… Continue

Continue

"The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step." Lao Tzu Continue

I appoligize for not posting for awhile, been crazy busy. First of all, yes I got the job. I get all my chores done from 8 - 11 am. That means I get up at 7am and so I'm constantly tired, but I do get Friday to Sunday off which is good, I don't think I could handle 7 days a week. Im really fortunate though, to have an amazing coach, she has been great to work and ride with. I have been leasing a couple different horses in the past 2 months, its really interesting to ride different horses once… Continue

Just looking back over my 2009 season and all I can say is "Wow, what a year it has been!"



First off I would like to thank the Graber Family in Indiana who purchased my matched pair of Hackney Horse fillies last October thus giving me the funds to make 2009 possible. Also to Leigh Gowdy-King for letting me pair up with Bask N Coins+ (aka Loosi). Many more thanks to my pit crew Vivianne Macdonald and Art King and all the others who have helped along the way.



I started off… Continue