weekend!

It's Friday and not only is it the weekend, but it's writing group weekend, which makes me very happy.

Yesterday afternoon started things off - it was lovely out, and I got caught up in horse chores and horse time, which included watching daughter ride Cody over some of the baby jumps in the back field. He looked fabulous, and it's nice to see her keeping him fit and healthy as we watch the greening begin.

As if that weren't fun enough, she then took the pony and did the same thing! He is quite the cutie over jumps and every time I see him take one happily I remember the time a few years back when he was not happy jumping, and the year we spent sorting all that out.

This morning it is sunny again and Salina has her massage therapist coming shortly. When I went out to feed breakfast Cody was out in the front field and I called his name and he galloped all the way up the hill, down the length of the paddock, and came to a lovely halt right at the gate where I was standing. I love that kind of enthusiasm!

Keil Bay was banging away for his breakfast, and now they're all out munching their hay.

Books and horses, massage therapists and writers, sunshine and spring. It's a great time of year for a really fun and productive weekend.

Enjoy!

blogger (me) has spring fever too

Forgive the wild changes on the blog this week. I'm having a little bit of spring fever and doing the equivalent of rearranging the furniture fifteen different ways - we'll see where I end up. Something not quite so "busy" - but I'm having fun playing with all the options... :)

two donkeys celebrate spring

There isn't much need for words here - except to say that my daughter took the photos and it's pretty clear we have two young donkey boys feeling really happy that they have warm sunshine, dust pits to roll in, and ... each other!

Horses For Life - a wonderful online magazine

I realized this week while visiting blogs that many people aren't aware of the very lovely online equestrian magazine, Horses For Life.

If you care about partnering with your horses instead of dominating them, if you aspire to harmony and happiness when riding and working with your horses, and if you enjoy reading about these things, you'll love Horses For Life.

Nadja King, the woman behind the magazine, has been working hard throughout the FEI/rollkur controversy to bring the truth about the horrors of that practice to light. Many of the back issues have articles which illustrate in no uncertain terms the damage that is done with that kind of riding.

But Horses For Life does what I consider a wonderful job of balancing the issues so there is always something positive and beautiful to read and aspire to - as well as how we might work to end some of the very upsetting practices we see in today's horsemanship.

Two quotes from the newest issue:

What people do not appreciate is that every time a horse submits to pressure, whether subtle or overt, he is diminished.

-from Gallop to Freedom by Magali Delgado and Frederic Pignon


The first duty of a good hand is to follow the mouth wherever it goes.

-Phillipe Karl

If you haven't seen Horses For Life yet, go CHECK IT OUT.

You probably won't ever read Practical Horseman, Dressage Today, or any of the mainstream horse magazines again. And although it takes a little bit to get used to not having the magazine in your hand, think of all the resources that are not used in printing and distributing physical copies. Not to mention, seeing the gorgeous photographs on your big screen desktop is an incredible way to experience the articles.

Sheaffer Donkey reviews Jane's Transformation!

My dear friend Sheaffer has reviewed Jane's Transformation!  What a treat to get his hoof stamp of approval.

You can READ IT HERE.

And of course, if you want to read the book itself, just click on the book cover on the sidebar to your right. Or do a search on Amazon.

Thank you, Sheaffer!!