Horses & Other Interests
Wishing all of us successful adventures in 2020. Whatever success means to you. Whatever adventure means to you. Clearly, for me, both of these involve a horse trailer.
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
Given my vision for the blog, 2019 was a successful year, i.e. I posted every day. In addition, I tinkered with the content, currently settling on horses Monday through Thursday; photography, writing & art on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, with various levels of horse-relatedness on those days. Without the blog, I probably would have written & taken photos anyway. I definitely would not have done as much art/graphic design without Sunday posts looming at the end of each week.
Overall, I’m content with where blog is. It keeps me amused, there is a group of nice folks who read & comment, and I have so far managed to avoid attracting trolls. Win, win, win. Of course, I dream about being outstanding. I comfort myself with the fact that success is not an unalloyed blessing. I read blogger advice and keep myself open to fun ideas, collaborations, challenges, blogger meet-ups, and what not. Meanwhile, I will be out…standing in my field.
Blog Philosophy Posts
Bottom Line. My blog has a purpose – to keep me from going batshit crazy. [I’m Baaaaaack … With Camera] 2013
So this is me, writing my blog, saying what I have to say, then looking around to see if anyone is interested in reading. [Attitude Check] 2013
If I had to define a stretch goal, I would want my blog to open doors that I don’t even know were there. [What I Want From My Blog] 2015
Not much has changed.
Other related posts
[Sine Die … Or Not] 2014
[Blogging Goals, Or Not] 2015
Instagram Overview
Saddlebreds across the top row: Nationals, Alabama Charity, Parker.
Middle row: Clydes, Milton, cat butt.
Bottom row: more cats & Rodney’s pool noodles.
By Subject. Five horse, one horse-related, three cat.
By Location. Four at Stepping Stone Farm or related (gray cat is Lucy, SSF barn cat), four at home or in truck, one other.
Par for the course. Instagram recaps & links for 2019 [Ribbons].
Courtesy of Top Nine. Taken December 8. Had trouble redoing it yesterday. Doubt the answer would have been substantially different.
Update
Top Nine did send an end of the year version. Subtract one cat pic. Add one Christmas wreath.
Post Overviews
Top 9 for 2019, written in 2019, as of 12/30/19
[My New Author Photo]
[10 Day Challenge]
[Colors Of The Year 2020]
[Milton Does Demo Duty]
[They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, Or At Least I Said It Couldn’t]
[Dressage Is For Every Horse, Two New Horse Blogs For You To Love]
[A Wordless Story, Show Photos, Winter Tournament 2018-19 #3]
[Advice Sought, Kid Wants Horse]
[Ribbon Rant]
Top 9 for 2019, written in all years, as of 12/30/19
[Saddle Seat Versus Dressage, In A Nutshell] 2017
[Fever Rings] 2013
[My New Author Photo]
[10 Day Challenge]
[Colors Of The Year 2020]
[Milton Does Demo Duty]
[They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, Or At Least I Said It Couldn’t]
[Dressage Is For Every Horse, Two New Horse Blogs For You To Love]
[A Wordless Story, Show Photos, Winter Tournament 2018-19 #3]
Top 9 all time, written in all years, as of 12/30/19
[Fever Rings] 2013
[Watching The Tevis] 2013
[USDF Interview: Heidi Degele, Dressage-Horse Sales Agent] 2018
[Fotography Friday: Texture] 2012
[Why I Ride by Rachel Wamble] 2017
[ Saddle Seat Versus Dressage, In A Nutshell] 2017
[Why I Ride by Katie Wood] 2015
[Help Me Name My Horse, Prize Offered] 2012
[The Naked Challenge] 2015
Last Year
[Return to the Sea … of Statistics, State of the Blog 2018]
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
Today is about the things I would have done regardless of the blog.
Outside Of Horses
Yes, Virginia, there is part of my life other than at the barn. Not much, but some. In 2019, we had … adjustments in the pet population. I found I didn’t want to talk about it. So, I took the dogs and cats off the Critters page [Cast] and concentrated on the horses for the rest of the year. I may get back to it. We’ll see. Meanwhile, dogs and cats. The bad and the good. You know the script.
I had a story accepted. Still in squee mode over that. [The Squeequal]
Tried different physical activities hoping one would light a fire under my slothful butt: [walk], [dance], [skate], [swim].
I’m sure there was more. The ribbons are making too much noise.
Outside of the Show Ring
At Stepping Stone Farm, I had lessons on/with Sam, Chappie, Parker, Bingo, Optimus [Youth], Dottie, Whiskey, Joe, & Alex.
At Falcon Hill Farm, I had lessons on Kory [Boost] and Zoom [Round-Up].
The home team went everywhere. Milton had riding lessons with Coach Molly and both riding & driving lessons with Coach Courtney. Rodney played spectator at SSF & FHF, and then got into what I hope is a program with Coach Brian. Although we insist on taking the AOT route, at least we are getting help.
[They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, Or At Least I Said It Couldn’t]
Show Ring, ASB Driving
I did not do enough regular season driving to get on the board for year-end awards. Winter Tournament constitutes a separate series. Only the ERA & Alabama Charity shows counted for my ASHAA driving points. I find this bothers me more than I expected. Next year, three classes.
Chappie
Dressed casual, he takes the kids around bareback. Dressed fancy, he takes them into the show ring. Always adorable. This was our only encounter.
One show, one class, one uncontested blue.
[Cuteness On The Hoof, Show Report, Winter Tournament 2018-19 #3, Driving]
Photo [A Wordless Story, Show Photos, Winter Tournament 2018-19 #3]
Whiskey
The only trouble with really nice driving horses is that they make one think one can drive.
Two shows, two classes, two blues
Photo [… and Round & Round, Show Report, Winter Tournament 2018-19 #4, Driving]
[Spontaneous Showing, Show Report, Alabama Fun Show, ERA Stables, 2019]
Joe
New horse to drive. SSF was able to put two entries into the ring. Go driving!
One show, one class, 2nd.
[Taking The Reins, Show Report, Alabama Charity 2019, Driving]
Show Ring, ASB
Parker
A test ride that ended up leading nowhere since I showed very little ASB this year: two fun shows and one big show for the regular season.
One show, one class, 2nd.
[Up & Down …, Show Report, Winter Tournament 2018-19 #4, Riding]
Photo [Lootapalooza, Part the First, Winter Tournament Banquet 2019, Riding]
Optimus
Sweetheart of a horse. Rode in a few lessons. Showed once. His dance card tended to be full.
One show, two classes, 1st & 3rd.
[Going In Cold, Show Report, Alabama Fun Show, Stepping Stone Farm, 2019]
Sam
Captain Fabulous lived up to his nickname. Like an old friend, we may not talk for months, then we pick up right where we left off.
Four shows, ten classes, ten ribbons: one, five, two, one, one
[Riding Vs Showing, Show Report, Winter Tournament 2018-19 #3, Riding]
[Up & Down …, Show Report, Winter Tournament 2018-19 #4, Riding]
[Spontaneous Showing, Show Report, Alabama Fun Show, ERA Stables, 2019]
Photo [Putting The Show In Showmanship, Show Report, Alabama Charity 2019, Riding]
Photo [Lootapalooza]
Show Ring, Home Team
Rodney
I honestly do not know how to report on this year. On one hand, we showed! I did not expect that at all! Yay! Go us! Woo hoo!
On the other hand, meh. An underwhelming response to the show ring from my fancy, mid-life crisis horse who has been carrying my hopes & dreams for nine years. A mediocre performance in walk-trot dressage and lost his marbles in a simple WTC flat class. This year was a lot about being a bear on a bicycle.
Four shows, seven classes, six ribbons: 1st & 3rd in hunter, three 5ths for dressage & in-hand obstacle, participation ribbon in costume, no place for ridden obstacle.
[Words, Show Report, Dressage, Full Circle Horse Park, August 2019]
[Pink Is His Color, Show Report, Alabama Obstacle Challenge Series, King’s Ranch, September 2019]
[In The Pink, Show Report, Alabama Obstacle Challenge Series, L&C Horsemanship Ranch, October 2019, Part 1] & [In The Ring, Show Report, Alabama Obstacle Challenge Series, L&C Horsemanship Ranch, October 2019, Part 2]
[Getting Our Hunter On, Show Report, SSF Home Show 2019] & [Neither Sound Nor Light, Halloween 2019]
Milton
Major Milton. Much activity. Little progress. We took a break from each other for the second half of the year. Apparently I can concentrate on one horse at a time.
Eight shows, 25 classes, 21 ribbons.
Four dressage and poles/crossrails shows at Full Circle Horse Park & Falcon Hill Farm
One ASB show
Three wanna-be hunter poles/crossrails shows at Falcon Hill Farm & El Gezira
1st: 5, at least two uncontested
2nd: 4
3rd: 5
4th: 3
5th: 1
6th: 1
completion ribbon: 2
no place: three times
retire on course: once
[Dynamic Duo Does Dressage, Show Report, Dressage at Full Circle Horse Park, March 2019]
[Winning The Warm-Up, Show Report, SJ Equestrian, Dressage, March 2019]
[Preliminaries Accomplished, Show Report, Full Circle Horse Park, April 2019, Dressage]
[We Cantered! We Won! Guess Which One I Care About! Show Report, Full Circle Horse Park, May 2019, Dressage]
[Hanging With The Saddlebros IIa, Wannabe Saddlebred Coming Through, Show Report, Mid-South Spring Premiere 2019]
[A Huntering We Will Go, Show Report, El Gezira, June 2019]
[Someday This Will Be Amusing To Look Back On, Show Report, Falcon Hill Farm, July 2019]
Photo [Pix Are Always Amusing To Look Back On, Show Photos, Falcon Hill Farm, July 2019]
[Making Progress, Going Nowhere, Show Report El Gezira, Hunters, July 2019]
Final Image
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
Pantone Classic Blue
Behr Back To Nature
Sherwin Williams Naval
Counterpoint, It’s time to retire “color of the year
2018 [Change the Year, Change the Color]
2017 [Letter Art: Changing the Year]
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
I have recently added subheaders. First day [Rodney’s Bit]. What can I say, I like to categorize things.
Some are messages to myself.
This is a reminder when I am whining about bad lessons or unexciting shows. I won’t stop, but perhaps the words will help me whine with a dash of perspective. This one is particularly relevant as there was such a long stretch of time when I wasn’t riding Rodney or Milton at all.
The original saying was, If you are lucky enough to have a horse, you are lucky enough. True. Written out as a permanent subhead, “lucky enough” felt as if I were saying I’d had a sufficient amount of luck in my life and no longer needed any more. Didn’t want to tempt the universe. So I modified it.
Some I added because they sounded good.
The subheader is something I find myself saying often. People doing things that I had never imagined.
Usually Wednesdays, unless show reports run over.
Occasional Saturdays, as today. Although I am trying to make Saturdays more about writing.
Some still need work.
Stumped about what to call photography, either header or subheader. Have been for a while. Les mots justes are out there. I just need to discover them.
Saturdays. I need a phrase that covers writing as well as talking about writing. And then I need to do more of the former and less of the latter. But that’s a different post.
Some needed further explanation.
The original header as header was cute if you knew Combined Driving. If you don’t know that the navigator stands on the back of the carriage, View from the BackSeat was confusing. Cleared that up.
Some did not need further explanation.
Occasional Saturdays, most recently [Inspiration].
Sundays.
Either wildly astray [Brag], or on days other than Saturdays or Sundays. Weekend posts are consistently off topic (writing/art), so I don’t mention it each time.
Walking [Proof of Concept]. Dance [Challenge]. Skating [Photos On Ice]. Swimming [Black Line Therapy]. Anything that helps me do a better job in the saddle. And gives me a way to wedge non-equine subjects into a horse blog.
Some I’m still not sure about.
At the moment, this doesn’t come up often enough for me to decide what I want to call it.
File with driving? With saddle seat? I go back and forth.
Could taken as a reference to traumatic events rather than to a style of equine competition. As with h/j, doesn’t come up often enough to fuss me.
That is the state of the headers and subheads at the moment. [Archives]
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
Posts through December 2019 from my blog Instagram account, @myvirtualbrushbox. Previous [It’s Gramming Cats & Dogs, Instagram Recap October 2019]. Individual Instagrams below 2019 recaps.
Do you Instagram? Please let me know your account in the comments. (From a suggestion by Millennial Life Crisis.)
Remarks
After saying [Oct] that I was not going to do another set of themed Instagram posts, I fell right back down the rabbit hole. I’m pleased with the variety I was able to introduce into the basic subject of horse show ribbons.
All but the first and last are from or related to Stepping Stone Farm. Four are from the same show: cat, boot ribbon, glass trophy, and multi-color costume ribbon.
Posts by Subject
Horses: 4
Cats: 1
Misc: 4
Posts by Location
SSF: 5
Home: 1, trophy
Other: 3, weaving studio, Murfreesboro TN, Chelsea AL
Posts by Likes
The two ASB posts were most liked by a long shot. Saddle seat may not be blog-heavy, but they are big on visuals.
2019 As Told By Instagram
[It’s Gramming Cats & Dogs, Instagram Recap October 2019]
[Synecdoches and Soft Kitties, Instagram Recap August 2019]
[What Does Your Phone Say About You? Instagram Recap, June 2019]
[Looking Back, Milton & Moonlight, Instagram Recap, April 2019]
Rain, Pool Noodles, and a Monty Python Quote, Instagram February 2019
December Recap, Individual Posts
Because I managed to omit the obvious, door decoration at Stepping Stone Farm.
[Neither Sound Nor Light, Halloween 2019]
Clockwise from left, Dottie, Promise, Promise, Whiskey. None mine; all long-distance, vicarious horse showing [Where I Am Not]. Photos by Courtney Huguley.
[Getting Our Hunter On, Show Report, SSF Home Show 2019]
[Taking The Reins, Show Report, Alabama Charity 2019, Driving]
[Putting The Show In Showmanship, Show Report, Alabama Charity 2019, Riding]
Photos by Courtney Huguley
A hunter barn down the street from us, Facebook. Driving by & stopped into check out their Halloween show. The color scheme of these ribbons gave me the idea for the themed posts.
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
by Nikumo
Instagram: nikumo_
Something perky pinky for your post-Christmas &/or mid-week doldrums.
Artist’s Statement
“Thank you for having entrusted me with the realization of this drawing. It’s a first time for me and making these little pigs was very fun !”
What?
“If Rodney sets a hoof in a show ring … I will commission an artwork of flying pigs wearing iceskates while singing.” [A Radiance of Ribbons]
No. Seriously. What?
Explanation [Visions of Flying Pigs Wearing Iceskates While Singing, Help Me Make It Happen]. In the comments for this post, magreenlee introduced me to the artist.
A triumph for horse showing, art, and blog connections.
Update
[Piiiiiigs In Briiiiiiks]
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
Virtual Brush Box 