FEI Admits Reining Abuse

READ MORE HERE.

Thank you, Epona TV, for keeping us posted.

I've forwarded the link to both Purina and Spalding with the question: does this shift things wrt your companies sponsoring Craig Schmersal? If you wonder the same thing, be sure to call or email them and ASK. Whether or not this wins the war, it does help with the battle.

on hiatus until September

It's that time of year.

We have barn chores galore, many projects on the figurative and literal table, and my list of things that must get done has exceeded my ability to do them!

In August I have writing to do:

I need to finish book two (Fiona and the Water Horse) in the Magical Pony School series. I need to wrap up Partners in Zen and The Writing Life books. And there are two new adult novels that are still vying to be next in line.

I'm also scheduled as guest on two radio shows in August, one to discuss claire-obscure, and one to discuss Jane's Transformation. I'll probably pop back in here to post those details as the time nears.

There is diet change going on here:

I've been introduced to Weston A. Price and the wonderful book by Sally Fallon, Nourishing Traditions. Suddenly raw milk, making yogurt and cheese, and finding alternatives to processed sugar and white flour are in the forefront of my every meal. There is also gardening and we are enjoying tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil, watermelons, and chard from our garden, as well as many more things from local farmers.

I also have riding to do:

Once the heat breaks I'm going to get Keil Bay back into work. Well, for us, it's not really work - it's the discovery of lightness and harmony. I'd like to get back into the habit of riding Cody.

And, in August I have four young beginner riders coming each week to learn about ponies and horses and donkeys and how to sit on them (Rafer and Redford say NOT US - we're for HUGGING!) with balance and kindness, how to listen to what they tell us in each moment, and how to find harmony in the human-equine relationship. When you can't change what's happening in Aachen, you focus on the young ones who still have open minds.

And projects to finish:

Some fencing repairs/upgrades. A gate to the farm. A long list of home/farm maintenance that needs some attention.

I hope everyone has an easy end of summer with a break in heat, rain as needed, and lots of time to do the things you love most.

See you in September!

dressage in Aachen: Ravel and Totilas

Here is Steffan Peters on Ravel:



And Alexander Rath on Totilas:



According to Stacy at Behind The Bit, the audience booed the ride on Totilas - their own rider.

Are audiences now more knowledgeable about classical dressage than the judges are?

The Magical Pony School, Book One: Jane's Transformation - NOW ON SMASHWORDS!

Slowly I'm inching along with the process of getting all my books into all the distribution channels!

As of today, Jane is available on Amazon and now on Smashwords, which allows folks with Nooks, Kobos, Sony Readers, etc. to purchase and download the book.

Anyone with a computer can read the book too - you can go to Amazon and download free Kindle software, or you can go to Smashwords and download the book as a PDF file, plain text file, etc. Many options!

I have one more book to get up at Smashwords, and then I'll begin the POD print process with Amazon's Createspace so that those folks who want print copies can get them.

Each of these formats have slightly different formatting rules, so the original documents have to be tweaked for each one. I wish I were faster, but the only way I could be were if I lived alone, with no human or animal family at all. And what kind of life would that be?

So, be patient. I know there are folks who want the actual book in your hands. I'm working on it!

rain!!

We have a big fat heavy rain storm rolling through - it came out of nowhere and has been going for nearly a half an hour. It's cutting the heat a little and also giving everything a big drink. So grateful for it. I came in with a blinding headache that came on very suddenly while I was out at the barn - it almost seemed like something changed in the air and wham, my left eyeball was gripped in pain. When I came in there was a pink/red storm cell very close by. I wonder if the pressure shifted suddenly and it just hit me weird. ??

But in any case, daughter made me a super sprout sandwich and I am much better. The rain falling seemed to help too!