Virtual Brush Box

State of the Blog: Narrative Arc

… or lack thereof.

I’m back in the headspace where I wonder why blog about a horse going nowhere. If had named my blog General Horsing Around, then I could write with impunity on any horse-hair covered topic. But, no, I had to be specific. A saga implies a narrative arc. Rodney’s story is a narrative flatline.

I won’t quit blogging [Hiatus]. I learned my lesson [I’m Baaaaaack … With Camera].

I need to put narrative to work for me [The Power of Narrative]. Finding a workable story for Dottie made a huge difference in the way I related to her [A Change in Attitude]. I need a new narrative for Rodney. Heartbreaking lawn ornament is accurate, but not helpful.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

[List of previous SotB posts]
#bloglikecrazy

Foto Friday: Sunrise Tree

Taken while I was watching Milton work one morning.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

#bloglikecrazy

Warning, More Whining

Saddle Seat Wednesday

Why? Because I’m sharing the journey. Because one day we will all look back on this and laugh?

Last week, I left the barn without riding.

I went over to Stepping Stone Farm. I watched Miss Courtney work a horse. Afterwards, she proposed two lovely horses for my lesson. The idea of getting on a horse appalled me. There was no looming horse show to push me forward. I went home.

I don’t understand myself. Riding fills me with dread. Yet, I can’t bring myself to walk away.

I had hoped Dottie would be the horse to help me find my mojo. Not so much. Turns out that whole run up to Nationals was an shining detour rather than a path back. As I sit here typing, thinking about riding Dottie makes me reach for the Pepto – and she is awesome.

Back to the ~~whining~~ drawing board. Onwards. (Not feeling it, but saying it anyway. Words have power. I hope.)

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

#bloglikecrazy

Hippity Hoppity

Fortunately this ended well.

During Greg’s most recent driving lesson at Stepping Stone Farm, we over-adjusted some of the straps, apparently. As soon as Milton moved off, he started bucking in harness. Not a sight one wants to see. Coach Courtney gave swift but calmly-voiced instructions. Greg handled it. In retrospect, it was a few bucks over a short distance. Milton recovered immediately. The rest of us took a while longer.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

#bloglikecrazy

Split Personality

I take a book out to the barn. I sit in the sun. I watch the green trees against the blue sky. I listen to the horses chew their breakfast hay. I drink my morning Coke. I pat the dog. I smell the hay, and wood, and grass, and dirt of a barn. My barn. It is enough. I am happy.

My inner jump rider howls in frustration.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

#bloglikecrazy