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...

Amateurs get nervous before a show, but some of the best professional riders also admit to pre-show anxiety. When nerves threatened to...

Sometimes what’s happening is all about perspective. What Caitlin was thinking Captain is moving well. Not sure if he’s ever been in...

The show must go on…mercifully it also must come to an end. Regardless, on Monday morning you’re going to wake up with a horse show...

The question most frequently asked by someone who’s never been to a horse show is… “What time do you ride?” Time for friends Anyone...

There’s a ripple of anticipation as the horses wait to see if they’ll be loaded onto the trailer… At our barn, not all horses go to the...

You can’t go home again, according to Thomas Wolfe. And perhaps returning to a place from the past to recapture some previous state of...

The best thing about horse showing is that it’s like a report card on your progress. In early May, Captain and I participated in our...

Be your own cheerleader It is possible to brain wave your way to improved riding. Neuroscience, which deals with the structure or...

Equestrian sports come with an inherent danger so fear is something most riders must manage. But imagine if you could use science to help...

Sleep is the cornerstone of recovery and performance. And according to Ifa Simmons , certified fitness performance coach for...

Going forward, my blog will be published every other week. With only so many hours in a day, I’ve fallen quite behind on my fictional...