Horse of Iron
I read Lawrence Scanlan’s Little Horse of Iron: A quest for the Canadian Horse after we’d been thinking of getting an elderly Canadian gelding. Knowing little about the breed, other…
Polo
Why isn’t polo in the Olympics? Word that Prince Harry is doing a Netfix series about the sport, combined with horse show season and the Paris Olympics made me wonder…
28 Days
Close to 5 pm, for 28 days, the back doors of the barn, looking to the east. Every day I empty the wheelbarrow, then turn to close the barn doors.…
West Country Trilogy
I’d heard of the Battle of Jutland, but that’s it. No idea of who, when or where. Now I know, thanks to The Redeemed, third in Tim Pear’s West Country…
In Times of Trouble
This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for our neighbours. This summer and fall have been times of trouble for all of us in this farming area. Way too much rain to…
Saint John Harness Races
After 151 years, Saturday October 15th will see the last harness races at Exhibition Park in Saint John NB. The race track has to close. The barns have to empty…
The Ride of Her Life
In the fall of 1954, a woman decided to leave her home in Maine and, with her little dog, go to California. Annie Wilkins was 63, had been ill, had…
Horse Keeping
For Christmas, I got a manure fork. Yippee! It’s a good one for winter barnyard cleanup. Such a necessary tool is way too hard to find. This one came from…
Prince Philip’s Horses
"If it doesn't fart or eat hay, she isn't interested." That, it is said, is how Prince Philip described his daughter Princess Anne. But if the amount of time he…
General Jack and Warrior
Warrior was called "the horse the Germans couldn't kill." He was a war horse. The 15.2 hand Thoroughbred gelding was General Jack Seely's charger. Gen. Seely was a British career…
Jerry and Oscar
Two new horses, two new horse pedigrees to explore. Jerry was easy. He is registered with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) as Mea Classico Duster. His full pedigree, therefore,…
Horse Fun Show
Riding students on school horses, visiting horses and riders. A barn open house and bbq. Warm, sunny weather. A good thing because the yard and barn were full of horses,…
School Horse
To call yourself a rider, one horse can give you your best final test: a school horse. Horses ridden in lessons build up knowledge of what makes a good, and…
John Perkins
On Saturday, July 22nd, John Perkins, of Butternut Stables in Hampton NB, died. He was my riding teacher. For many others, he was that and more. First, he was a…
Salisbury Horses
"Outside this lovely home, drive down the circular driveway covered by mature trees and be greeted by an old barn and about 3 acres cleared ideal for horses." Thus reads…
Princess Louise Park
Sussex has the best all-in-one park I’ve ever seen: Princess Louise Park on Leonard Ave, just off Main Street. There are other recreation areas in town, but PLP puts a…
Christmas Stable
Their stalls are decorated, the horses snugged in. Wintertime at the stable, and Christmas approaching. Stockings soon will be hung on stall doors. The riding students who decorated the stalls…
Burdock Dog
This is Leo after he walked for just a second into a patch of burdock. The burs didn’t just stick to his hair, they burrowed right in his face, chest…
Horse Show
A horse show is a great way to spend a day. Sleek horses, adorable ponies and their riders showing their skill. It's watching beauty in motion. Today, at Spring Brook…
I’ll Have Another
This was first posted on my St. Thomas Dog Blog, May 10, 2012. This Saturday, May 7th 2016, it's Derby Day again. It feels different this year - it's the…
Teddy in PLP barn
Musical Ride II
The RCMP Musical Ride was in Sussex this week at the Princess Louise Show Centre. Tonight they are giving a very special ride in Moncton, to honour the three Mounties…
Musical Ride
The RCMP Musical Ride was in Hampton NB last week. The horses stayed at Butternut Stables where I ride. I was there when they arrived and, next day, I ran…
Track Royalty
This coming Saturday, May 2nd, is the Run for the Roses, the first leg of the Triple Crown. The 141st running of the Kentucky Derby. The young royals of mainly…
The Tao of Horses
“If you knew a horse, you could depend on him and if he was going to do something bad, you could depend on him to do that too. I always…
Cigar 1990-2014
The news from the Kentucky Horse Park that Cigar died Tuesday Oct. 7 made me look through photos I have of him. After retiring in 1999, he lived in the…
The Princesses Louise
Is Princess Louise Park in Sussex NB named for a British Royal or a horse? I’ve heard both answers. The person was daughter of Queen Victoria and patron of the…
Dressage Top Hat
A requirement for safety helmets to be worn by riders in all equestrian shows is a good idea and, by and large, the helmets look ok. But dressage needs something…
Olympic Eventing
Trying to watch the Olympics Equestrian Eventing of the past three days, I’ve performed in my own olympic eventing. It includes the Stair Dash, Pet Hurdles and Speed Remote Handling.…
Hickstead
Canadian athletics and the world of show jumping lost a superstar last Sunday. The great Hickstead died during competition in Verona, Italy November 6th at age 15. His big heart…
Show Jumper
Coming up fast to the fence, feeling the muscles gather beneath you, crouching low over the horse’s neck, then springboarding into the air. Sailing over the rail, touching down on…
Horse: Free to a good home
A few years ago, I got involved in finding a home for two Standardbred ex-racehorses whose owner had died. Neither were broke for saddle, they were getting up in years…
Animals
Animals Post Excerpts Checkers (June 2/25) When Qatar gave Donald Trump a jet, I started thinking about past gifts to politicians. Checkers came to mind. A Cocker Spaniel pup and…