I have saddle bags. And not the kind that carry your lunch. These are the kind a few over-indulgent lunches become. I will turn 30 in the Year of the Horse. I am determined to lose (and not find) ten pounds. I believe it will improve my riding. Studies estimate that horses can carry from […]
2013 has been busy. As a result, I have purchased from several online vendors, and four have excelled in customer service: 2 horse-related, and 2 life-related. I highly recommend my friends, family, and readers give these companies a try. In no particular order: Zulily. This online discount store offers incredible daily deals for women, maternity, […]
Boarding barns are a little like daycare. If one horse gets sick, it’s just a matter of time before the whole barn is exposed. There is a mild viral respiratory bug (thankfully not Strangles and not Herpes) making the rounds in the D.C. Metropolitan area. I keep my mare at a very clean barn with […]
Sharing horses with kids is a magical event. Being at my inlaws’ house, I’m having horse withdrawal. So I made a toy to woo the kids in the family. Nothing says “Cool Aunt” quite like a homemade hobby horse. What you need: Sock Yarn Quilt batting Buttons (two, or googly eyes if you prefer) Felt […]
Now isn’t this a beautiful sight? Three saddles await three marvelously different horses and one lucky rider: me!
Having grown up mostly outside and in the barn, I was shocked to learn that I never knew mud until I moved to Maryland. Apparently what I had experienced was more appropriately titled “wet sand” or “semi-moist soil.” This year, I’ve been baptized by snow’s wicked stepsister: mud. And there are several different varieties that […]
Equine lameness can be discouraging and expensive to treat. I’ve been dealing with a less-than-sound horse for over a year. Several x-rays, ultrasounds, months on stall rest, shockwave treatments, two MRIs and a stay in the vet hospital later, as of Thanksgiving, she was still noticeably lame. Two weeks ago, I started the mare on […]
During the holidays, we wind up baking (and eating) lots more often. On yesterday’s menu: Apple-Spice Cupcakes for humans. Today: WHOA Cakes (With Honey Oats and Apples) for horses. And unlike the Cob Cookies I made earlier this week, Whoa Cakes are tasty enough for people, too! Whoa Cakes feature cinnamon. In addition to providing […]
It’s snowing. Weather like this keeps me out of the office, off the road, and away from the barn. But like many horse lovers, it doesn’t keep me from thinking of my four-legged friend. I created a new recipe for my first-ever batch of homemade horse treats: Carrot-Oat-Banana “COB” Cookies. Horses get the bulk of […]
Do you know about the Equestrian Social Media Awards? Take a look at the acceptance videos from past winners and see the depth and breadth of how the equestrian community (businesses, thought-leaders, pleasure riders, charities, and professionals) is using social media. It’s no surprise really. Horse-people share a unique passion that transcends profession, age, riding style, […]
Horses are built to move. These powerful grazing herbivores are not adapted to a sedentary lifestyle. While most tolerate periods of time spent in a barn, horses (and people!) are healthier and happier with consistent exercise. To remedy this, we have to work both his mind and his body: to harness the feedback loop between […]
Have you heard of CurOST? Until a few years ago, I hadn’t either. In 2010, I had the privilege of watching the World Equestrian Games with friends and family. As we walked the aisles of gift shops and exhibits, I picked up several samples. Over the last few years, Nouvelle Research has emailed articles about […]
With my mare in recovery from two ligament injuries, I’ve gotten creative: dreaming up things we can do in the stall, on the lead, and under saddle in straight lines mostly at the walk. I had a world of trouble finding guidance on the internet. Most exercises were tailored for horses with bony injuries. Soft […]
Capital Cowgirl 