Sleepless nights Long days Restless hours between 4PM and 6PM Manic behavior between 6PM and 8PM On demand feeding Relentless chewing It’s not a midlife crisis. It’s a new puppy named Teddy. Oh, but the joy. The puppy breath, and puppy paws, the silky ears and the black eyes. I took Teddy to meet Captain. After a lick from the puppy, Captain eyed him with recognition. He has been smelling puppy smells on me for a while and finally got to meet the little guy.

Last winter I rode in thick breeches sometimes adding a liner underneath if it was windy. The bathroom scales and the fact that I could add an extra layer gave me a false sense of what and where my body fat was. Saturday was warm so I pulled out a pair of my favorite summer riding pants and paired them with a silky green hoodie. The riding pants are green with grey trim, have a problematic zipper and a tight fit - but they look adorable! As Captain and I transitioned fro

The trip to the barn takes less than twenty minutes. It’s always a pleasant drive because I’m anticipating seeing Captain, excited about lessons and looking forward to seeing the other riders. So, I was thrown off last weekend over an incident that happened on the way. I was driving slowly (because of the Michigan potholes) and had to move over to the right for oncoming traffic. It was a truck towing a horse trailer which is a common occurrence on these roads. A dark SU

Recently, I caught a snippet of advice on NPR about how to deal with situations in which you feel overwhelmed or weak. For instance, you might feel particularly vulnerable when you are negotiating a new car purchase or performing in front of an audience. The clinical phycologist suggested that when we are feeling weak our spirit may continue to deteriorate unless we take a pause and step away. The thing we need to do next is give ourselves a pep talk. I thought this was gr

May 1st celebrations are deeply rooted in ancient pagan fertility festivals marking the beginning of summer (also called Beltane). Traditions include bonfires, maypoles, and flower garlands which originate from Celtic, Roman and Germanic rituals. Maypole Sixteenth century Church of England banned May Day festivities because of their pagan roots and when riots broke out it was King Henry VIII who pardoned the 14 rioters and 400 participants who were sentenced to death. Today

Mothers and teachers know about children’s spring fever symptoms. My boys also caught it. Temperatures barely above freezing but they wanted to go coatless Can’t sit still long enough to eat dinner Staring at puddles of ice and willing them to melt Counting the remaining days in the school calendar Even at the barn, Captain and his pals appear to be anxiously waiting to graze on green grasses and sleep under starlit skies. Spring Fever is an illness associated with poets an

I wish my house was as clean as my tack. And it would be if washing the kitchen floor brought me as much joy as cleaning my saddle, bridle and riding boots. For inspiration, I dove into "The Origins of Spring Cleaning." More than just a yearly ritual, tidying up, has deep historical roots and influences: Religious and Cultural Influences Jewish Passover: Preparation for Passover Christian Traditions: Before Easter to signify renewal and rebirth Practical Reasons Linked to

Daylight savings time began four days ago, but many animals are still adjusting. Some dairy cows produce less milk because their routine of feeding and milking has shifted. Your dog may not be ready for his 4PM walk at three o’clock in the afternoon. Too early for milking Horses, also creatures of habit, may find the sudden one-hour shift in their strict daily routines stressful, resulting in pacing or hunger-related anxiety. If your horse is asking any of these questions, y

I’m settling down for “long winter naps” these days and was curious if horses sleep more in winter than other seasons. Mostly, I discovered that they may be less active in the cold, but they don’t typically sleep more. Horse sleep habits are quite interesting: Horses typically sleep 3 – 7 hours total per day Often dozing lightly while standing up They must lie down for about 30 – 60 minutes to get essential deep REM sleep The deep sleep occurs in the dark hours after midnigh

The Lunar New Year officially begins on February 17th, 2026, heralding in the Year of the Horse. Why is 2026 the Year of the Horse ? The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by a different animal. In 2026, the cycle brings us to the Horse, the seventh animal in the zodiac order. The Horse embodies enthusiasm, speed and fieriness. So, this is a year focused on bold moves and exploration. Fun Facts about the Chinese Celebration: It is also known

To get through these dark, cold months, I’ve turned to the light – the red light that is. Red light treatment is the newest in high-tech therapy options offering a non-invasive, comfortable experience. It’s a safe and effective method proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I bought the Numiere Mask . Numiere Mask The red light is emitted through LED’s (light emitting diodes) which produce light energy and very little heat. Think of it as a human version of the way plants

I was feeling a little guilty because I didn’t set any 2026 goals for myself. Then I read about the difficulty of keeping New Year’s resolutions. Stephanie Mindful Writer’s blog quotes a 2024 InsideOut Mastery article with these stats: Only 9% of people successfully keep their New Year’s resolutions. 43% of people expect to give up on their goals by February. In Very Well Mind , Clinical Psychologist, Terri Bli claims: “The pain of not changing has to be greater than the pa

Everyone has seen riders slap their horses on the neck enthusiastically at the end of a showjumping round or dressage test. It’s intended to let your horse know they performed well – but what if it delivers the opposite message? This article from Horse Nation explores whether horses like to be patted. The U.K. group Equine Behaviourist shared a study on the subject and found that scratching around the wither area consistently lowers a horse’s heart rate. Further, the tech

Wool is the most versatile and reliable choice for all-season comfort, protection, and performance. The American Wool Organization site also informs us that, “wool is a breathable, durable, flexible, and an anti-microbial; no synthetic product.” Who wouldn’t want their horses wrapped in such kindness? Integrity Linens has a host of beautiful, functional signature wools with old-world detail, piping and trim. Their skilled “craftswomen” create to exact specifications one

My husband, Geoff, is the type that usually ducks the camera lens. However, Frances Albers is no shrinking violet, and she’s no stranger to photo shoots. Once her professional eye saw the shot she wanted, her subjects, be they two footed or four promptly stepped into focus. Winston was more than eager to strike a pose although his silk scarf refused to stay tied. Captain acted like a celebrity who did photo ops every Saturday. Geoff forgot his earlier shyness and managed

Hang around horses long enough and you will learn that they love to play. Pinky enjoyed the blast of color Not only do horses have a penchant for fun, but they are wonderfully tolerant when the humans around them are having a good time. Echo mooed into jersey lane Interestingly, horses can tell the difference between a leaf blowing (a terrifying experience) and a fluffy bit of boa blowing (all part of the fun). Champ went for the gold Kingsly won for best looking pony Rit

There’s a green Rambo horse sheet in my garage draped over a sawhorse that my grandfather made years ago. It’s the first thing I see when...

An aspect of these gorgeous autumn days makes me sad. The morning mists, golden light and brilliant red leaves stir memories of loss. ...

The crop is longer than my tack box! It’s easy to keep buying bigger spurs. What’s harder is riding without them and building a stronger...

With my 2025 show season wrapped up, I took a moment to look around me. What I saw…. The garden was neglected My bank account was...