Summer is upon us, and it's time to spend every possible moment at the barn. I literally have! Which is really amazing, it's been a long time since I was such a barn rat. But I've been there every single day. Amazing. But it's made me realize that I don't have many riding shirts. It's not like I ca[...]
I enjoyed Upperville so much that I went back for round 2: Loudoun Benefit. This show is held on the exact same show grounds the week following Upperville, which means another opportunity for pretty pictures underneath the oaks. But I actually photographed on the other side of the road[...]
They say one way to afford to own horses is to find a rich husband. After all, horses are an expensive and time consuming hobby. If you're working to afford it, you hardly have time to ride. She never married, but she did find many men willing to pay for her love of horses, which some might s[...]
They didn't know how he did it - he did it in secret, with no witnesses. But they had seen the horse acting wild, biting, kicking at people before, and then when he led it out, it was as gentle as a lamb. Some said it was magic potions. Some said he dripped wax down the horse's ear. Others believed[...]
Jackie Kennedy is most famously known as being the stylish First Lady to John F. Kennedy. She became an international icon, and her work as a cultural ambassador made her very popular around the world. But inside that public persona was a horse girl. Just like the horse girls of today, she li[...]
Hunter classes have come under scrutiny. Shows have changed format over time, and with it, the style of riding. There has been criticism of today's riders, claiming they are laying on the neck, perching, too far forward, trying to hard to look "pretty," and this is what it takes to earn a ribbon.[...]
These days, Stu and I have an understanding. We are a serious partnership, building our skills. When I come to his field, he leaves his grass and comes to me. We head into the barn, barn up, and get ready for some work. Okay, so... I'm 90% sure that this understanding came about because of[...]
I still remember the day I bought my first grooming supplies. I was 14 years old, about to go to my first horse show. I was staying at my trainer's house for the show, and my parents were so excited they camped out there, too. It decided I was finally ready for my own tools. Up until that point, I'[...]
The last time I posted an update about Stu, I had fallen off. It was quite an experience; he's a tall horse and we were going fast. Although I'm basically over it, I'm always very aware that he's very big, very strong, and could easily do what he wanted, if he choose to. But let's keep that secret[...]
Let's say you've decided to start riding. Excellent! Good choice. So you have your lesson, and you loved it. After a few lessons, you begin to wonder when you'll trot. Or when you'll canter. When can you start jumping? Are you progressing at a normal rate? When you're new to riding, it's hard[...]