Unicorn Day

Today, April 9th, just so happens to be Unicorn Day! Is this a weird made up thing? Yes, yes it is. However, it makes me think about my unicorn. In real horse terms, a unicorn is usually that special and often magical horse who checks all of your boxes. Can’t you just picture a unicorn…



In the Middle are the Horsemen by Tik Maynard – book review

Tik Maynard’s memoir, In the Middle are the Horsemen, is a humble, endearing book, just like the man himself. He tells the story of his multi-year quest to define his place in the world of professional riding and training. I have seen Tik teach and witnessed him transform nervous, high-headed horses into relaxed puppy dogs…



Happy 1st Birthday To Us!

It’s hard to believe that Monica and I started this blog and website an entire year ago. Where did the time go? It was just over a year ago on one of our first trail rides of spring when we started talking about the complete lack of information about trail locations, trail maps, information about…



The Horse in Native America

The name Edward Curtis might not mean much to you, but you probably have seen the iconic photographs of Native Americans that he took in the early 20th century, such as this one of Red Hawk, an Oglala chief. Curtis was a photographer in Seattle and in 1896 he met and photographed the daughter of…



Choosing your next trail partner

There comes a time in most trail riders’ lives when they think about either making the jump to horse ownership or purchasing their next trail partner. This process can be both exciting and nerve racking, especially if you don’t know what you are looking for in a horse. A good trail horse has to be…



First Aid for the Trail

Are you confident that you can handle a trail emergency? Do you have the knowledge and supplies you need? To be perfectly honest, for me the answer, sadly, is “no.” Even though I am a professional worrier, for some reason I don’t think much about what could go wrong once I am mounted. Trail riding…



Why? A Shetland Tale

A friend of mine, Anna, has always loved horses, but recently she made the switch from riding to … “Shetlanding”. That is, she purchased a 10 hand tall Shetland (maybe Shetland – Mini cross?). You may be thinking “Why?”. Honestly, I know I was! Well, first, she bought him as a pet for her retired…



Horse vs. Bicycle

“A bicycle is a better form of transportation than a horse,” my brother, Eric, declared over a lobster dinner one night.  It was the 1970s and I was about 11 or 12 years old, my brother 16 or 17. We and our siblings were living with our father on Cape Cod for the summer. “No,…



Horsie Valentine

Like some of you, I have a human Valentine. However, let’s be honest… our horses are seriously better Valentines than our humans could ever be! Why? Well, here are just a few reasons: Talk about cheap date! No need to take your horse to a hip new restaurant with overpriced food – those 99 cent…



One Woman’s Quest to Get You Out on the Trail More

Imagine a native Vermonter who moves to Alaska and is so dedicated to trail riding that she ties a blanket around her waist with baling twine to fend off the winter cold. Then, picture her at a sewing machine stitching belt loops onto that blanket so she can put it on like a skirt. Now…