I began Writing of Riding, my Equestrian Blog, in 2006 at the encouragement of my mentor at the time. It originated as a means to sort through my daily riding activities in a thoughtful manner, instead of just going through the motions unconsciously. Since that time Writing of Riding has developed into more than just a diary and now includes my perspective on many areas of horsemanship and some answers to questions I get asked from time to time.
Exactly who am I, as a blogger and equestrian? I have a very diverse background in horses and experience in many other fields as well which I have found causes me to approach problems from a slightly different angle than some. I began riding when I was 9, formally under English instruction which soon turned to Natural Horsemanship which was just barely becoming popular at the time. I cannot tell you how many countless hours I spent asking my horse to give to the bit ala John Lyons or working in the round pen. One lucky part of this early education was that I learned from the beginning that everything I do with my horse is a training session and that I am always more than *just* a rider.
Following the Natural Horsemanship years I became imbued by Dressage. I spent a few years learning under two wonderful trainers who schooled in Germany. Somehow I just could not fully embrace what they were trying to teach me and I always ended with more questions than answers, frustration and confusion was a common occurrence through those years. It was while I was struggling considerably to grasp anything beyond the basics that I happened upon an opportunity to study French-based Classical Dressage in the Upper Northwest.
Let me backtrack just a bit first by adding that some of the influence to begin riding Dressage was stimulated by my breeding program. I was crossing Bashkir Curlies with quality Warmbloods to produce a more family / amateur friendly sport horse. When the chance came for me to go study on the coast for a year I was shouldering the responsibility of having three pregnant mares, my breeding stallion and several riding horses in my care. I continued on with my two trainers as usual and never completely shelved the idea of studying under a Classical Master.
I also continued showing my stallion at open and breed shows both locally and out of state, along with any of his offspring who had not been sold yet. I became familiar showing in English, Western, Jumping, Gymkhana, and any other suitable class we could find. I had a lot of fun because competitions always meant spending time with many friends and acquaintances, but the showing part itself was not satisfying enough for me to continue with once I stopped breeding. In 2004 those three pregnant mares foaled three beautiful stud colts and the last foals that would be born on my farm or sired by my stallion. I gelded my stallion that fall and stopped breeding so I could spend more time riding and enjoying my horses, and in closing that chapter of my life an opportunity would present itself again before long.
I graduated school for Massage Therapy the following spring and only a few weeks after the graduation ceremony I was again offered the chance to spend a year in the Upper Northwest, studying what I really wanted to – French Classical Dressage. No pregnant mares, no stallion, no more classes meant that it was time for me to jump at the chance now if I didn’t want to miss out on it forever. I packed up my truck and horse trailer, loaded my newly gelded horse (who is pictured above, Jobi) onto the trailer and drove 2000 miles westward.
That year was jam-packed with learning and Ah Ha! moments. All of those frustrating and confusing experiences I had been having completely flipped around and were no longer of import. I rode more simply and more effectively than I had ever done in my life and if I hadn’t been there to experience it myself I would not believe it to this day. I began blogging daily, drawing and painting horses, reading every book I could get my hands on regarding horses – and the library available to me was extensive to say the least concerning horsemanship.
The year came to a close all too quickly and before I knew it I had to pack my things up, load Jobi on the trailer and say adieu to all of my wonderful new friends. It was an abrupt change of atmosphere, no longer teaching 25+ students a week was a strange sort of vacation for me but I quickly threw myself into training and riding the horses who had been waiting for my return. In 2007 I sat down long enough to write and publish my book, “Centered Self, Centered Horse” which made it on shelves the beginning of 2008.
The west coast seemed to continue calling to me, I did park myself at a Starbucks through the better part of a week hammering out my book there on one particular visit. Just before that I spent three weeks outside Seattle becoming certified in NeuroMuscular Therapy. I was working for a local day spa as a Massage Therapist in between working with my horses and giving riding lessons. Life was moving at a steady pace!
As 2009 moved along I was still writing posts for Writing of Riding, promoting my book which was now available worldwide, work kept me hopping and I was the steward for 9 amazing horses. My love of art had not diminished after I returned home from that year in the Northwest and I turned some of my time to creating an online horse art magazine. What came from that was a first edition of Haute to Trot Magazine. A second edition in the spring of 2010 was unfortunately delayed, however for those interested I am still working behind the scenes to make that mysterious second edition come to light!
In place of a second edition of Haute to Trot Magazine came my return to college under general studies. Work had slowed at the day spa to such a considerable extent with the economy that I saw it as an opportunity to pursue a degree in another field which may have more longevity. The average career-span of a Massage Therapist is after all rumored to be only 5 years – I had my time in and my arms were beginning to feel the effects so before they were completely useless I moved from working at the day spa to sitting in classes.
Originally I had an interest in focusing on Nutrition Sciences, once I took a spread of general classes I realized that my true loves were painting and writing, not math and science. I spent a second year in the Northwest after that semester, with my fiancé and a wonderful Thoroughbred mare not long off the race track. Back in the Midwest I continue writing, painting, riding (of course!), going to school and working for this wonderful Ice Sculptor from Seattle. My fiancé and I share a wonderful farmhouse with my parents, three dogs (Lab x Chow Chow, Pit Bull x Lab and a Chinese Crested Powderpuff), Leroy Black & White – the baddest cat in the whole dang town, and two horses – Jobi & Aligarh.
A Few Details
The above is a nice, clean and simplified chronology of how I got from point A to where I am traveling now. Some details got left out though so I thought I should throw them in the mix for those who are curious.
Breeding Horses : In the years that I spent breeding horses (1999-2004) I competed and exhibited my stallion and his foals, managed my own mares and those that came in for breeding. I had attended classes for artificial insemination, indulged a great deal of time in the study of genetics, bloodlines and conformation. Not to mention the time invested researching the best stallions to use outside of my own stallion.
Breed Registries : Becoming involved beyond the level of paying member is a natural result of heavy participation with the breed and running a breeding program. I was subsequently invited to the 2002 International Curly Horse Organization’s Convention and give a training demonstration to the attending members. Following which I was elected to stand as the Sport Horse Liaison for the newly formed Sport Horse Association branch of the ICHO. I continue to support the position of the ICHO in continuing to allow open registration in a breed whose genetic base is still too small to support a closed breed registry.
Competitions : The horses I have competed with and I have done well in all areas of competition that we’ve entered – English, Western, Gymkhana, etc. I have never competed in Dressage outside of Dressage Suitability classes with various young horses. I believe that it becomes fairly evident throughout my blog that I am in strong opposition of Dressage competition and I have continued to support that position by my withdrawal from participating in such.
Publications : From 2000-2004 I was an “Ask the Trainer” panelist for a major gaited horse website at the time. In 2003 I was interviewed to be included in an article on Foal Handling written by Kim & Kari Baker which was subsequently published in Horse Illustrated. I regularly write for my blog and again as mentioned above my book, “Centered Self, Centered Horse,” was published in 2008.
Other Horse Activities : There is nothing like getting out on the trail for me. Perhaps my favorite past-time in the summer on a beautiful day with an afternoon to kill is heading out with two horses – riding one and ponying the other, trading out half-way through the ride and returning on the other horse. It is very entertaining to hand-gallop two horses and sit back in the saddle watching them play race with each other along a stretch of open field. I have ridden in parades, too many clinics to count (some better than others), Christmas caroled on horseback, enjoyed many rides into town for a quick lunch, mounted orienteering, once tried out polo on a horse not well-inclined to handle the situation, jumped in arenas and at shows and over many obstacles on the trail. I’ve trained horses (and foals of all things) to drive, perform tricks such as bowing, laying down, rearing, kicking, Spanish walk and trot, rearing pirouettes, capriole and stand on a pedestal.
Non-Horsey Details : I began modeling some during the first year I spent in the Northwest, thanks to a close friend of mine who was likewise interested in modeling. I was published for the first time in an ad in a small Milwaukee magazine in the fall of 2007. Shortly after I was also cast in a Indie Short Horror Flick shot in Milwaukee which was too much fun to describe! I never took it too seriously and enjoyed the time I spent in the field and even tried my hand at being cast in America’s Next Top Model when they first accepted models under 5’7″.
I have been designing and coding websites since 1999 when I decided that I ought to have a website for my breeding program – and who better to do it than myself! So many trials and tribulations are involved in teaching yourself to code but over time I mastered html, then css and now I work heavily in php and have a decided preference towards WordPress powered sites. I also learned to edit graphics during this time and do both for all of my own sites.
As a Massage Therapist I learned and used such modalities as Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial Release, Sports and Hydro-Therapy, and NeuroMuscular Therapy. I continue using all that I learned to keep my horses physically happy as well as sorting out myself as a rider.