THE FLYING CHANGES BOOK CLUB I've just read National Velvet for the first time, and I confess to being slightly wigged out. It's dark, and I wasn't expecting that. I was flummoxed by it from the start, felt the claustrophobia of the Brown's dour house, the sharpness of their discourse— the impenetrable quality of their …
Water of Life
I haven't mentioned Uisce, have I. Fiona was walking a horse into the barn, oh, weeks ago. I had thought she'd sold the horse she was bringing on, a chestnut mare, 14hh. She had. This was a different creature altogether. Another horse she was working, another horse that was for sale. Her name is Uisce, …
Promises, Promises
THE FLYING CHANGES BOOK CLUB The ill-fated book club, it looks like. Once I started thinking about writing about all the books I'd read, the air went out of the balloon, in a manner of speaking. If only I'd written something out as I'd gone along! Seemed like homework, all of a sudden. Remember book …
Suits You, Miss
ANY FANS OF THE FAST SHOW? In this post, Jules from Otterkat asked: Also, pls advise: Half chaps, benefits, uses of? Underwear choices whilst riding? [or, is a G-String REALLY a good idea? also, ah jaysis I need a heavy duty armour plated sports bra .... ] Preferred riding gear in general? Where do you …
Thoroughly Domesticated
I was legging it through Charles de Gaulle Airport today, having flown up from Toulouse, with one hour and change to make my connecting flight home. It was three o'clock Parisian time, so it was two o'clock Dublin time, and it was horse time, and I wasn't at the yard, I was piling my bags …
I am a Big Dork
BUT I'M OKAY WITH THAT I joined the British Horse Society, Gold Membership, as Gold membership holders get free insurance. 'Free' being £58 a year, but that sounded like good value to me. Personal injury and liability, woo hoo. No, I'm pleased with myself for doing the sensible thing, and when I received a packet …
Gone to Kildare
It's a Saturday, a few weeks ago, and I've been collected from the bus stop in Cabinteely. As we do, of a Saturday, on the way to the yard, we discuss the horses and ponies, and Lainie wonders who she'll get today. Jenny is a current favourite, and all the kids are always talking about …
Working the Transition
The frequency of my lessons has also affected my blogging. They seem less like discrete hours, and more of a gestalt. I have less time— oh, okay, I take less time— to think about them in the interim. But given what I've written below, I think I'll get back into the swing in cyberspace. It's …
Things to Do
ANOTHER PRIVATE LESSON TOMORROW 1. Sit back 2. Chin down 3. Look up 4. Heels down 5. Relax the shoulders 6. Carry the hands 7. Bring back the inside shoulder 8. Shorten the reins 9. Leg on 10. Leg on 11. Leg on 12. Leg on...
Back in the Saddle
ALMOST Tomorrow is the first lesson of 2008, and I can't wait to try out all the things I feel I've improved upon. Watch out, Rebel! I may just be equal to your bolshiness! Hey, Tango! Something tells me it may be harder for you to buck me off from now on! But there's still …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 