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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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Horse Show, Day Two
A Good Morning It was shortly before eight when I led Captain from his stall to a grassy mound dappled by sunlight. We were basking in...
JoAnn Shannon
Jul 24, 2024
Horse Show, Day One
Grogginess from the eleven-hour car ride on Friday weighed me down on Saturday morning. When I couldn’t find my name listed in Long...
JoAnn Shannon
Jul 17, 2024
Part 2 Destination: Wilmington, Ohio
A continuation of my last blog… While driving to the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio , I e nded up at the Perry Nuclear...
JoAnn Shannon
Jul 10, 2024
Destination: Wilmington, Ohio
Before horse showing at the World Equestrian Center, I first had to attend a convention in Toronto. Google maps indicated the trip from...
JoAnn Shannon
Jul 3, 2024
Just Us Two
Recently, I rediscovered the absolute joy of riding alone. Lessons are great for learning. Riding with a friend is great for...
JoAnn Shannon
Jun 26, 2024
Coming Home
It’s all fun until someone calls an Uber. Our trip to Montreal had been amazing. We explored all the delights of the city and had an...
JoAnn Shannon
Jun 19, 2024
Getting Away
Sometimes you need to get away from it all. Last Thursday, my husband and I journeyed to Montreal. The Air Canada flight was delayed...
JoAnn Shannon
Jun 12, 2024
Having Fun
Recently, I discovered an excellent massage therapist, named Jenn Mills . Her skilled hands have restored the mobility in my neck,...
JoAnn Shannon
Jun 5, 2024
But Mom, It's My Birthday
My kids were born in the eighties, which means I now have plenty of time and energy to spend on important things like, riding my horse,...
JoAnn Shannon
May 29, 2024
Insert Horse's Name Here
When I was in my forties, I ran marathons. For companionship and moral support, I trained with a running group. What made the two-hour...
JoAnn Shannon
May 22, 2024
Retail Therapy
Recently I purchased a nearly new Devoucoux Biarritz Saddle. The entire purchase experience was delightful. The Devoucoux...
JoAnn Shannon
May 15, 2024
Superstitious
The Oxford Dictionary describes the word superstitious as “a widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to...
JoAnn Shannon
May 8, 2024
Gracefully
On a quick Google search, I learned that growing old gracefully is a euphemism for “showing signs of aging but still moving forward with...
JoAnn Shannon
May 1, 2024
Humbled
When it comes to learning it seems I prefer to learn things the hard way. In my first year of high school, I slacked off in math and had...
JoAnn Shannon
Apr 24, 2024
Under Saddle
Winston Churchill said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that’s good for the inside of a man.” I’m certain his sentiment...
JoAnn Shannon
Apr 17, 2024
Old Dog, New Trick
When I remember my first riding lesson, the idiom: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” comes to mind. It was October 2016. I was...
JoAnn Shannon
Apr 10, 2024
Hobby Happiness
Yesterday, I received another rejection for my book. Although it is discouraging, I can now say that my book has been rejected by some...
JoAnn Shannon
Apr 3, 2024
How You Do Everything
It was 2PM on a Wednesday afternoon. I had a whole hour before it was time to leave for my riding lesson. With the house begging for...
JoAnn Shannon
Mar 27, 2024
Within Us
Before my riding lesson last week, I stumbled across this poem by Thomas Zanzig, which was tucked inside a booklet entitled, Learning to...
JoAnn Shannon
Mar 20, 2024
Mantra
Many years ago, I read an autobiographical novel by a young woman who spent several months studying Buddhism in a monastery with other...
JoAnn Shannon
Mar 13, 2024
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