When In Doubt, Ask A Friend

October 11, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

Remember when I was moaning about The Great Truck Hunt? When I was wracking my brain, hunting CarGurus and Craigslist and trying to figure out what aspect of my equestrian hobby I needed to compromise on, in order to afford a new truck or stick with my current one? Well that’s old news now. A […]

On The Other Hand…

October 7, 2021.Reading time 8 minutes.

It’s been a bit of a mixed week in the Morse household. I came back from my “No Responsibilities Mom Trip” to the hot springs in Eastern Oregon feeling…human. I was happy in my skin, calmer and relaxed and dare I say it, myself again. I, of course, immediately ruined the mood by opening my […]

Over the mountains, once again

September 26, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

At long last, I was able to join the wonderful group of folks my trainer gathers around for the last horse camping trip of the season, for me at least, probably. I was the last rig out of Sheep Springs today! There were highlights and campfires and lessons learned, things I need to tweak, though […]

Relief in the rain

September 19, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

I chickened out of riding Friday and Saturday due to the first soaking rain of the season rolling in. The big, welcome storm showing itself with big winds, thunder and a bit of lightening. A huge relief for the smoke and the fires, but not conducive to a calm ride. The storm blew itself out […]

Me: Now and Then

September 16, 2021.Reading time 8 minutes.

The Jame I was driving the team of draft horses below is not the Jame on the spicy chocolate mare next to her. No one ever stays who they were, of course, but I feel utterly different from everyone I graduated college with, all 40 odd of them. I had a visit with a mental […]

Up the hill we go

September 12, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

Today was off to a questionable start, though it ended wonderfully enough. There was a loose horse outside Tarma’s fence when I hiked out to find her, and of course the Thoroughbred had to take off running right when I reached her. She of course had to show off as well, which meant I got […]

When’s the next one?

September 6, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

First off, my mantra for the weekend was “Thank you Sarah”, as this trip wouldn’t have been possible without her along. She was also totally game for hopping on a horse she’d never met before for a five mile trail ride, just so I wouldn’t have to ride out alone in a brand new spot. […]

All settled in

September 3, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

I’m writing this particular dispatch from my new reclining camp chair (snapped up from Costco), three quarters of the way through a can of 14 Hands wine. Tarma slurps her dinner in her corral next to me, and my belly is full of my friend’s excellent Shepard’s pie. The puppy is sleeping in the kennel […]

Mistakes and fixes

August 29, 2021.Reading time 4 minutes.

I was hoping to write a different post, but I promised myself I’d be honest and real here. Last night I pushed Tarma too hard, trying to work through her fear of fly spray, and today was the fallout. I used every trick and method I’ve learned, I was striving to reach a solid stopping […]

Adventure alert

August 27, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

Thank you everyone who commented with empathy and understanding after my last post. Cliché as it may be, it really does help to not be the only one stuck in between this particular wretched rock and a hard place. Unfortunately nothing is going to change that situation but time. Thankfully there’s always horses. I had […]