I recently visited a local foxhunt to say hello, and get some photos. Foxhunting is pretty big in my area. To be fair, I don't have a lot of experience in other areas, so I can't say for certain. But there's like five local hunts, so I think that's a pretty good amount. Middleburg is basically kn[...]
I haven't been able to ride much over the past few years. It's been sporadic at best. This is the life of a parent though, kids take a lot of attention that may otherwise be used for riding. Now that my kids are old enough to function and do their own taxes, I decided I'm going to make riding w[...]
Among all the riding schools in the world, there are a few that are exceptionally great. They have centuries of history and learning behind their methods, based on principles from the greatest names in classical riding. The skills these schools teach are so important, they have been listed as a UNE[...]
Docs Keepin Time, barn name Justin, is one of the most well known horse actors of all time, most famous for staring in the 1994 movie, Black Beauty. But even after, he had a lengthy career working in show business. Despite his talent on screen, he originally wasn't meant for Hollywood. Like many of[...]
Having the perfect bit can feel like a dream. As if you had put magic in your horse's mouth, suddenly they are responding with eagerness, turning your ride into a complete dream. But having the wrong bit can feel like a nightmare - your horse can refuse to listen, throw its head, and act out. Choos[...]
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[...]
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[...]
Zebras are horse's fancy striped cousins. They are exotic animals that are native to Africa, and known for their distinctive black and white stripes. (It's said their stripes are meant to confuse flies!) So they are neat, fancy looking animals, and they are horse shaped. The real question is, can[...]
It was inevitable: I fell off Stu. It was my first fall off of him, and my first fall in about 5 or so years, since I fell off of Berry at a show. It's been a few days now, and I keep coming back to it. It could have been prevented, it was my fault for letting the situation escalate, but he's als[...]
I moved to a new barn at the beginning of January. Stu was at the previous barn about three months, and it was three months of mostly frustration. I didn't even want to go see him because I wasn't having fun. There were definitely a few rides that felt wonderful, but the majority felt like I was ma[...]