Sore but solid

Yesterday I joined several other OET (Oregon Equestrian Trails) members in some vigerous leaf raking, followed by an excellent but too quick solo trail ride. We rake big leaf maple and other leaves off the trails so they don’t turn into a slick, muddy, boggy mess in the winter. Tarma stayed tied to the trailer […]

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Short sleeves in November

At one point during today’s mostly successful trail ride, I had to take off my jacket as I was so hot. In November! I say mostly successful due to the fact that my Nemesis Hill stuck again. There’s this one hill at Battle Ground Lake State Park that is perfect for a good long canter […]

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On The Other Hand…

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 […]

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Over the mountains, once again

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 […]

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Up the hill we go

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 […]

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When’s the next one?

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. […]

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All settled in

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 […]

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Adventure alert

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 […]

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The weekend that happened anyway

Sometimes the universe tosses signs your way that say clearly “Do not do the thing.” Sometimes you gotta give the universe the middle finger, do some slightly sketchy electrical work, and do the thing anyway. Despite several Gremlins and a momentary defeat, a friend and I managed to load up my trailer and her husband’s […]

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Down by the river

My friends and I rode together again this weekend, twice, after the ponies received their monthly pedicure. We also mock camped in my friends yard, as it’s been over a year since we camped together and it’s always nice to just in up to the house when you forget something. On the way to our […]

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