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In my weekly blog, “Amateur Equestrian Confessions,” I share the passion and the pain of one of the most endearing pursuits in the world, horseback riding.

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Picture Day
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
JoAnn Shannon
Dec 1


Dressing Up
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
JoAnn Shannon
Nov 19


Joey's Sheet of Many Colors
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...
JoAnn Shannon
Nov 5


Love & Loss
An aspect of these gorgeous autumn days makes me sad. The morning mists, golden light and brilliant red leaves stir memories of loss. ...
JoAnn Shannon
Oct 22


Look Ma, No Spurs!
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...
JoAnn Shannon
Oct 8


Post Show Season
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...
JoAnn Shannon
Sep 24
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