Virtual Brush Box

Life Choices

Spotted in the sleet. Note ice-encased leaf in the bottom right corner.

Last Saturday, we went to Stepping Stone Farm to feed breakfast after the ice storm. We live close by and the Fiat [Stocking] is a reliable, front-wheel-drive star in bad conditions [On Account of Snow, Snow Day Montage]. Laugh at the South for freaking out at a snowflake, but ice-coated roads are a nightmare anywhere.

As I have said before [Motivating], my stint as a working student was not the most fun I’ve ever had with my clothes on. However, one positive thing came from the experience. I realized that I had no interest in being a professional. I have never had cause to regret that decision.

Feed and care for my own horses? Fine. Feed and care for other people’s horses once in a blue moon (every 32 months (derivation, blue moon calculator)) as an adventure? Sure thing. Feed and care for other people’s horses twice a day, every day? No, thank you. Be responsible for ensuring that someone else feeds and cares for other people’s horses twice a day, every day? Not that either.

I did enjoy the sound of a barn full of horses contentedly chewing their hay. Peaceful.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

An Inconsiderate Guest

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I was rude. Gina McKnight did something nice and I dropped the ball. I shall attempting to explain and remedy that.

I fell into the holiday vortex. The bad what-is-the-point one rather than the happy festive one. There was no obvious reason. I just wound down as the year did. I couldn’t get organized to drag my ass to the saddle seat barn for a lesson. I was screamingly late with a writing assignment. Reliability is usually one of the things I’m good for. I forgot to call the blacksmith to confirm. He came anyway, but thought the lack of contact was very unlike me. In short, December was a bit of a mess. Happy to leave it behind. I know it’s an arbitrary number, but I’m feeling very New Year, New Start at the moment.

One of thing I overlooked, wimped out on, was my guest post on Gina’s blog, Riding & Writing: Rodney’s Ready for Christmas.

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In my defense, I was out of town when it appeared. I got home, saw it briefly, then stuck my head back in the sand. I didn’t comment. I didn’t say thank you. Of course, the later it got, the more socially paralyzed I became. The post was also mentioned on her website, Gina McKnight Riding & Writing: Rodney’s Saga with Katherine Walcott

Therefore, I offer this post as public penance. Thank you, Gina!

Living in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains promotes inspiration and passion for creative writing; children’s literature, poetry, freelance, and more. Gina is a graduate of Franklin University/Leadership Scholar/BA, Columbus, Ohio. Writing at an early age, an avid reader and lover of words, Gina continues to be encouraged by her horses, neighbors, family and friends.
Gina McKnight, Riding & Writing

Her Amazon page lists Gina as the author of three books:
The Blackberry Patch
To the Heart: A poetry collection
Poetry from the Field

& a contributor ( I assume) to a fourth:
The Significant Anthology

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Letter Art, AlphaBooks: A is for Anderson

2017-a-2

cov-shot-anderson

Horse Show
C.W. Anderson
Harper 1951

In honor of his body of work rather than this particular book, which has more catastrophic falls that I wish to contemplate at the moment. C. W. Anderson’s Favorite Horse Stories & C. W. Anderson’s Complete Book of Horses and Horsemanship were fixtures on my childhood bookshelf. I remember staring at the covers more than I recall reading the books. I guess I was imagining a day when I would need to know about horses & horsemanship. The weirdly talismanic behavior of a horse-crazy kid in the middle of Manhattan.

Cover images from Good Reads & Amazon.

Since Anderson does not have an author website, two About pages: Author Factsheet & Pony Mad Booklovers.

Bought from Robin Bledsoe, antiquarian horse books and art books.

~~~
A Authors on Rodney’s Saga
Abernethy, The Essential Fergus [Book Arrivals ]
Aaronovitch, Rivers of London [Energy Shortage]

[2016 Alphabet]
[2015 Alphabet]

Project explanation [AlphaBooks 2017]. Open to recommendations for the remaining letters. Which books would you choose?

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

USDF Interview: Bo Lofvander, Back on Track (USA)

“Behind The Scenes: Bo Lofvander, Back on Track (USA)”
USDF Connection
December 2016/January 2017
United States Dressage Federation

A short interview with the owner of a therapeutic products company.

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[Previous Behind The Scenes]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Foto Friday: Instagram December 2016

December Instagram pictures on @rodneyssaga.

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Top nine of 2016, based on likes.

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Recap courtesy of 2016 Best Nine.

Despite a last minute resurgence of the camera [Snapshots], my old phone lost too much battery and was replaced. New phone has a nice camera and a long battery. Amazing how much better each iteration is.

Previous Instagram Post
Instagram Hiatus

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Looking Forward, Driving 2017

Driving Thursday

ASB Driving
As last year [2016], Greg and I will drive in lessons and Academy classes as time, Coach Courtney, and the horses permit. Me more than him. He doesn’t see that being taken around the ring by an obliging Saddlebred teaches him much about negotiating a marathon obstacle. I think that any time in any cart would be of benefit. The truth undoubtedly lies somewhere between.

Combined Driving
This one will be hard for me.

Since this is Greg’s project, I must let him proceed at his own pace, whether that means buying a horse & cart to spend the winter in Florida or taking a handful of lessons over the next six months. I can’t be motivated for him. Therefore, I am trying NOT to bounce about like a wind-up toy saying, Let’s go have a lesson, Let’s drive in this show, Let’s go up to Tennessee.

Sit and wait. Not my forte.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Looking Forward, SSF 2017

Saddle Seat Wednesday

New adventure.

At the barn, Robert, an older performance horse, is being asked if he would prefer the working retirement of an Academy horse. I am one of several beta testers.

This comes at the perfect time for me. I adore Sam. The part of me that is a quivering mess on the mounting block could sit on Sam forever. Quietly walking around on him soothes my soul. However. The part of me that can turn an Academy Driving class into a chariot race is finding the upper end of Sam’s range. Sam is starting to notice. He will do a few fancy steps for display purposes. If you press him for constant high performance, he will object. Loudly.

In non-horse terms, Sam is a station wagon. Reliable. Good for new drivers. Not to be used for sports-car activities. There are horses with sports-car talent and station-wagon attitudes. They are rare and do not come up for sale.

Sam is right. In the normal course of things, I am well past time for moving up to suit. However, I don’t wish to take on a third horse in addition to the two at home. This includes leasing as well as buying. If this limits my options, so be it. Choices have consequences.

Now I can ride a suit horse at Academy prices? Such a deal.

The downside risk is that Robert may decide he does not wish to be an Academy horse. He may decide he does not wish to be an Academy horse the middle of an Academy class. Hero or zero. Ah well, I ride (used to ride? will ride again? ride in theory?) Thoroughbreds. I understand the concept.

Yeah boy!

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott