Back on my shizz. I noticed I was looking down again, as I went about my day. The difference between the two views is striking, and it reminded me of this excerpt from Many Brave Fools... *** Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley, a horsewoman, writes in her memoir A Year at the Races about how …
The Crop Chronicles: I Give Up
We may be nearing the end of this series.. *** OH, DON'T BE SILLY—NOT HORSEBACK RIDING! I tried. I did, I really did. But the dressage whip is the only thing Rebel respects, and it now seems pointless for me to ride without it. Which means I gotta figure out how to get it from …
Victories of All Kinds
An experienced horse person might read about my first successful crack at a course and scoff. If I was bothered by that, it might serve to minimise the sheer joy I can still tap into when I think about it. Luckily: not bothered. In the same way, there's a lot of chat on socials about …
There’s Always a First Time
Ah, Saturday. I have missed many a lesson, by choice and due to injury, and now, due to global pandemic. #StayHome and read about my very first horseback riding lesson. It's the very first thing I ever wrote about my experience, well before Many Brave Fools was even a glimmer in my eye. It's also …
‘The Power To Change Our Own Lives’
How in the world did I survive One Day At A Time In Al-Anon? Insert craughing emoji here. The page for today talks about acceptance, insofar it does not mean accepting a 'degrading situation' but rather accepting what the facts of the situation are, and making decisions according to the facts. Hahahahaha, facts: facts could …
Seriously, Though: ODAT
As we call it in the rooms. Oof. Not gonna lie, this little blue book still gives me the shudders. I bought it, resisting, and read it, unwilling. But after buying it and becoming willing, that's when the changes — the courage to change — started taking effect. Copyright prevents me from publishing a photo …
One Day At A Time
All the folks who need meetings and can't get them have really been on my mind, due to social distancing and the current health climate. I've always been a fan of the twelve-step slogans and found them to be my way in to grasping the principles of the programme. Here's an excerpt from Many Brave …
Many Brave Fools at the Dublin Horse Show 2019
Just... can barely cope. I tried to write about my first Dublin Horse Show in 2007. I didn't even know there was one until someone asked was I going, and I was like whaaaat are you even talking about. I remember having to go sit myself down after only half an hour in the Main …
Continue reading "Many Brave Fools at the Dublin Horse Show 2019"
ICYMI: How Horse Riding Helps Addiction Treatment & Recovery via addictionblog.org
I was honoured to contribute to the great work that Addiction Blog are doing in providing touchstones and resources to everyone contending with all manner of addictive behaviours. Here's a link to the article, which has had many eyeballs rest upon it! *** Many Brave Fools: A Story of Addiction, Dysfunction, Codependency… and Horses is …
Klaxon! Book Signing in NYC in May
w00t! I'll just pin this *here* 🙂 Register your interest on Manhattan Saddlery's Facebook page! *** Many Brave Fools: A Story of Addiction, Dysfunction, Codependency… and Horses is AVAILABLE NOW. Preorder your copy today: > In the US, click on over to Trafalgar Square Books’ site. > In the UK and Europe, visit Quiller Publishing’s page.
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 