Anna Blake's Blog (319)

Why I Have No Sense of Humor About Arena Footing.

I have no sense of humor about arena footing. None.

Let me start here: I don’t consider a plowed up area in the pasture necessarily the same as an arena with footing. A plowed area is kind of like chocolate chip cookie…

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Added by Anna Blake on May 18, 2012 at 8:00am — 3 Comments

Compassion for All Life. Not Quite.

This morning a lone Canadian goose flew over my pond, calling loudly- back and forth, and again. I wondered if she had lost her mate, or worse. Heart-felt goose sympathy…

If you have read my blog, I think it is pretty obvious how I feel about animals, and especially horses. To be clear- any horse, any mustang, any donkey, any pony. And then- any age, any breed, any challenge. Of course- any place, any time. Finally- any equine not already mentioned.

If you are…

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Added by Anna Blake on May 11, 2012 at 8:20am — 2 Comments

Do you think it’s time to clean the truck?

My hay guy got a new truck- a pristine dually in a pearlized-platinum color, with near Porsche-like lines. That big diesel engine hums like a finely tuned tank.  If Tony Soprano had a truck, it would look like this. I liked it even more the second time I saw it, muddy and mussed. Should a dually really be this sexy?

I am the other kind of truck owner-…

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Added by Anna Blake on May 4, 2012 at 8:19am — No Comments

A Legacy of Spirit

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West

Spirit's Silver Anniversary.

This month’s posts have celebrated 25 years with my grandfather horse. The first time I saw Spirit he was in a small pen, alone and…

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Added by Anna Blake on April 27, 2012 at 8:27am — 2 Comments

A Retirement Resistant Spirit.

An article of mine was published in a national dressage magazine in 2006. Spirit had been retired two years and he was still pouting (read) and holding a grudge…

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Added by Anna Blake on April 20, 2012 at 8:16am — No Comments

Braids and Breeches: The Perfect Ride.

There were lots of great rides in Spirit’s 25 years, but this was the most perfect ride…

Spirit was something in the day- he and I agreed. He was fun to show, always a crisp and spontaneous ride. His confidence improved year by year, and still, every day was a brand new day.

That day, our first…

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Added by Anna Blake on April 13, 2012 at 8:05am — 8 Comments

Spotless- My introduction to Dressage.

It was the late 1980’s, and a bunch of us from the barn went to see the Lipizzaners when they came to town. It was a chance to dress up, eat an…
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Added by Anna Blake on April 6, 2012 at 8:33am — 3 Comments

Can We Talk About Barn Bathrooms?



It was my first day at a new barn with a perfect indoor arena! Before lessons began, I asked the owner where the bathroom was. She pointed to a roll of tissue on the tack room wall and told me to use any stall. I picked the one with the sleepiest looking gelding. I think he had visitors like me before.

Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm. We got…

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Added by Anna Blake on March 30, 2012 at 7:43am — 5 Comments

Walk Detention



I’ve been remembering my first experience in Walk Detention. It was the dark ages and I was a training level rider on a young horse. I was so excited to ride in my first clinic with an Olympian- my enthusiasm sizzled audibly. I handed over a fat check, my horse was spit polished and I was…

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Added by Anna Blake on March 23, 2012 at 8:24am — 11 Comments

Horse Agility at Infinity Farm.

Think of it as a trip to the amusement park- with your horse.

I didn’t start out doing Natural Horsemanship. I started out before that phrase was invented.  Like a lot of us, I used voice commands while lunging and required good ground manners. I did the rest from my saddle; riding was my thing.

To tell…

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Added by Anna Blake on March 16, 2012 at 8:17am — 2 Comments

Looking for a Sign…

When the autumn time change happens, I always feel like my house gets smaller- by a few acres. The outside is my favorite room and I resent winter for taking it from me.

And is it just me- or is every winter somehow a bit more twisted and confused than the one before?

In the dark months, everything on the prairie seems the very definition of the dead of winter. It’s a monotone landscape, flat-cold, with not many trees to distract my sullen gaze.

And just when…

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Added by Anna Blake on March 9, 2012 at 8:22am — 1 Comment

Edgar Rice Burro, Bon Vivant.

I think we all knew it was only a matter of time.

Edgar wanted me to wait to make this announcement, until after the award show season (Oscars, Golden Globes, etc.) He didn’t want to steal the thunder from his friends. (Best Ass in a Supporting Role- it isn’t one of the on-camera presentations.)

Newsflash: Our own Edgar Rice Burro is will be making his theatrical…

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Added by Anna Blake on March 2, 2012 at 8:00am — No Comments

Nope, it’s Me- I’m Too Sensitive (Part Two.)

“You know what your problem is? You’re too sensitive.” Ouch. Have you heard this? It feels like being accused of throwing like a girl.

It’s dismissive. This definition of sensitive means I’m not dependable, that I’m an emotional liability. When I was younger, hearing this would make me defensive. My mind ran like a rat on a wheel, I choked on my tongue and my heart rate jumped.  I appeared… well… too sensitive.…

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Added by Anna Blake on February 24, 2012 at 8:33am — 3 Comments

My Horse is Too Sensitive (Part One.)

“My horse is really sensitive. He isn’t a just a Quarter Horse, you know. He needs special handling.”

When I hear something like this, I always peer around the barn to see if anyone else looks like their head is about to explode.  Is she saying that any idiot can ride an ordinary horse, but a sensitive horse should be afforded…

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Added by Anna Blake on February 17, 2012 at 8:58am — 4 Comments

The Marlboro Man Isn’t My Type.

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…

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Added by Anna Blake on February 10, 2012 at 8:15am — 2 Comments

Horse News: Good and Bad…

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…

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Added by Anna Blake on February 3, 2012 at 8:33am — 1 Comment

“I Have Such Hope for This Species.”

Some riders are convinced that their horse has a devious plan for world domination- at their expense. Or that their horse is so lazy that any work from him will require a fight. Some riders just think their horses…

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Added by Anna Blake on January 27, 2012 at 8:32am — 1 Comment

January: The Mourning Month.

 

Winter doldrums: I’m dragging my feet all the way in from the arena, the ground is dry, the grass is dead and the wind is cold as a slap in the face. Maybe I have an Auld Lang Syne hangover. Mourning and a desire to hibernate go hand in hand in January. It seems we lose alot of…

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Added by Anna Blake on January 20, 2012 at 8:12am — 1 Comment

I notice that no one is asking me for beauty tips.

I have been blogging along for a couple of years now and I notice that no one is asking me for beauty tips. I wonder why that is?

It couldn’t be that I offended with last week’s rant about non-helmet wearing riders who have more concern about their hair than their brains.

It can’t be a grudge about the blog where I referred to my truck as The Perfect Purse, that was…

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Added by Anna Blake on January 13, 2012 at 8:25am — 2 Comments

Absurd Helmet Excuses.

This week there was a photo of Queen Elizabeth riding at age 85. Bless her heart; she has always been a lover of horses. She was wearing her usual outdoor head wear- a scarf. There was some internet banter about the missing helmet.

I notice her family members wearing helmets for polo; perhaps she falls into that category of riders who think that some equine events require helmets, but not others. It is the ‘Sometimes Dangerous’ argument. I used to use it…

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Added by Anna Blake on January 6, 2012 at 8:14am — 5 Comments

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