Conversations with Bernard

February 25, 2022.Reading time 3 minutes.

The ground didn’t feel right for a horse today with our recent freeze/thaw temperatures, even with boots, so I skipped hauling out to ride. I wanted to practice going to see Tarma in her field without bringing her up for work. She was puzzled when I walked up, haltered her, treated her, and walked away […]

Progress: Four Legs and Two Legs

February 24, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

Welp, I have officially plopped money down for the John Wayne ride. We’ll be attempting half of it, which per the schedule will mean riding 73 miles in 5 days. It feels incredibly motivating to have a solid, tangible goal to be literally riding towards. I have a to do list a mile long and […]

The question that never goes away

February 1, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

This post, no matter how I try to shine it up, is going to come out a bit raw. It seems like every other day something pops up on social media, poking at this sore spot. After every ride, the question is there. The day after a ride, as I check Tarma, palpitate her back, […]

Chasing The White Scarf

January 25, 2022.Reading time 11 minutes.

For years now, I’ve been tormented by the annual reports from Aarene Storms, as she and her beautiful mare Fiddle tackle the John Wayne Ride. This ride follows the Palouse to Cascades Trail in Eastern Washington, moving to a new camp each night and riding all day. I’ve been fascinated and eager to get back […]

Cadence

January 15, 2022.Reading time 5 minutes.

Cadence is my word of the year, inspired by a song I haven’t listened to in a decade. Harder Better Faster Stronger, by Daft Punk. It has a super long intro, and we did a dance routine at a summer camp I was a counselor at one summer. I was always too quick to the […]

The truck question

January 14, 2022.Reading time 5 minutes.

I’m in a bunch of horse trailer and truck groups, and there are often posts along the lines of “Can a half ton tow a horse trailer?” So here’s my review, officially in blog form for posterior. Also, I’ve barely had the trailer a month and already it’s providing it’s worth to my husband! After […]

How to carry stuff

January 2, 2022.Reading time 8 minutes.

I tend to be either the type of person who is totally prepared, with checklists and training and thoughtfulness galore, or caught totally flat footed. There’s no in between for me really. Case in point: my ride a week or so ago, I hopped on with no saddlebags, only anticipating a quick spin through the […]

First day, first ride

January 1, 2022.Reading time 5 minutes.

As I sat in my truck, waiting for the big diesel engine to warm up enough to haul to the barn, I hmmed and haaad and made a decision. I balanced the training and time I’ve spent with Tarma over the past year, how she’s been on our past few rides, and Benny’s training level […]

Snowy stroll

December 29, 2021.Reading time 4 minutes.

Each time I head out to the pasture with my halter, I keep two ideas in mind; either we do whatever it is I’m planning, or we don’t and we try something else. Tarma tells me even before I put her halter on what she’s capable and willing to handle that day. It’s probably too […]

Don’t rush

December 18, 2021.Reading time 4 minutes.

Quite a few things went just right today, though I still made two big mistakes. I had a limited amount of time today before my parents holiday party, so I saved myself some time by leaving the trailer hooked up and loaded. All I needed to do was grab the mare, hose her legs down […]