Well. It’s 2019. We are 1.5 months in and wow. It’s been a doozy. I think I can safely say I have spent less time with horses in the last eight weeks than at any point since I purchased Steen. The only other time that even comes close to comparing was my honeymoon, when Brian… Read more »
winter
The State of Piper
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Piper came into our lives. Having her this long wasn’t totally the plan. My plan was to get her started in the spring, ride her a ton in the summer, and most likely sell her in the fall. If I kept her this long, I imagined… Read more »
A New Student
Last week, we had a cold snap. Like, highs-in-the-single-digits style cold. While I’m way hardier than I used to be, I find temps that low hard to be comfortable in. Nevada says, “There’s ice in my forelock? Really?” Still, I had to go to the barn on Friday because I had a lesson to give.… Read more »
Hello Winter
Well, winter has set it in earnest now. We got hit with some truly crazy cold earlier this month. Between that and coming to the end of our most active year with the horses ever, both Brian and I are finding ourselves a little less motivated to get out and ride many times a week.… Read more »
A Few Cold Rides
Cold came early this year, and I am still far enough away from hitting my goal of 200 hours in the saddle that I can’t let weather derail me. Nevertheless, the weekends of spending hours at the barn and riding multiple horses is behind us for the season. I can deal with one bitterly cold… Read more »
Thanksgiving Ride
For the first time ever, Brian and I stayed in Iowa City for Thanksgiving. The reasons we stayed home were numerous and not worth going into, but the upshot was we had nothing to do other than whatever we wanted. No family of the non-equine variety to hang out with, no obligatory traditions. So, of… Read more »
Muffled
Winter has arrived in earnest, and a good deal earlier than usual, too. The good news is I don’t find cold nearly as off-putting as I used to. My windproof insulated breeches plus my leather chinks provide a pretty impenetrable suit of armor for my lower body, and I have insulated boots and insulated gloves… Read more »
The Never-Ending Winter
This afternoon found me racing a storm to the barn. Tempts were plummeting, and the clouds were gathering and darkening in my rearview mirror. By the time I parked my car, sleet was starting to spit and the wind carried an edge. I hauled three blankets and two halters to the airlock. I left the… Read more »
Three Blankets
Today was the epitome of miserable spring weather. We had a cold rain all day, and it was chilly, damp, and breezy. We headed for the barn as soon as Brian got home from work, knowing we’d find some pretty unhappy horses. They were all lined up against the wind block, heads down, butts to… Read more »
Steen Weekend
We may have gone over to a friend’s house for dinner last night and accidentally consumed a little too much wine. As a result, we weren’t up and out of the house at the crack of dawn today. And of course, daylight saving’s time stole an hour of our night on top of everything else.… Read more »