Awareness of the outside world. I got misgendered again. Waiting in a line, other person says, This gentleman can go first. Per usual, he got flustered as soon as I spoke. He explained that it was because I was wearing a winter hat. Dude (he was definitely male presenting), you’re just making it worse. Women don’t want to stay warm? I should only wear pink? How about I ask this knitter for a Portland frog hat? That would go over well in rural Alabama. Sigh. Sometimes misgendering bothers me; sometimes it doesn’t. [Hello Sir & Hello Sir, Again]
~~~
Not as much progress as last week. [Breaking Slowly Out Of The Gate, Horse Shopping]
This week is incidents we have encountered along the way.
🐴🐴🐴
Having our online message taken as a front for a kill pen.
Spa for ridiculously over-pampered pasture potatoes? Sure. Kill pen? I think not.
One reason cited was our desire to do “a little of everything” with New Horse. This was thought to be vague.
It’s not vague. It’s accurate. We really do want to do a little of everything.
Things Milton has done. Hunters, dressage, crossrrails, pleasure driving, derby (attempted), clinics both riding and driving, trail rides, Academy.
Things Rodney has done. Hunters, jumpers, two-phase, cross-country schooling, clinics, trail rides, barrels, obstacles, bareback, driving (very briefly, not successfully), western.
Things we hope to do with New Horse. Riding & driving. Hunters, jumpers, eventing, dressage (if I have to), side saddle, pleasure driving, derbies, CDE, breed shows (if applicable), saddleless & bridleless à la Foxfield ( I’ve done it before & would do again, on the right horse, maybe), and so on.
We’re not saying New Horse has to excel in all these areas. Just be willing to give them a try. [The Whatever Horse]
🐴🐴🐴
A horse who is reactive to loud people.
Alas. I am me.
I can be soothing, when required, for short periods. Then we get to the horse show.
Me: Let’s go! Ride ’em cowcat! Let’s do this!
Dottie or Alvin or Rocky or other campaigners: Bring it on!
Milton or Whiskey or horses of a sensitive nature. Eeeeeeek!
🐴🐴🐴
Trotter or Pacer? So far, one vote for each, both from folks who know Standardbreds.
🐴🐴🐴
We were invited to come by a barn open house. Not an ideal time to indulge in long chats about What We Are Looking For In A Horse. Everyone will be busy running about talking to friends.
Plus, it is the one weekend in November when everything is happening. Seriously. Everything that we might like to do in November is happening on that weekend. Count is now up to five events, including the open house. The rest of the month, nada.
Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 
Sorry about the misgendering.
You’ve done a lot with both horses. With Priney and Chief I did hunters, dressage, baby novice events, bareback and trail riding. And lots of lessons. And just hanging out. You left that out of your descriptions.
There is something so soothing about listening to horses chew, isn’t there?
Yes. Very much so.