Virtual Brush Box

Photography of the outside world. In the spirit of this week’s debate, CBS News: White House Photographers, 2010. From Kennedy to Obama. Current is Adam Schultz.

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Leaf
Pelham Alabama
August 2024

Technical Details

Leaf, f/5.6, 1/100 sec., 40.0 mm, ISO 640. Manual mode & auto-focus. Post production: resized, border, & watermark. No cropping. High ISO because shade.

Random shot from previous photo outing. [Reflection]

My borders on big camera photos are usually gray for project cohesion. Didn’t look right for this one.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Savor: Iceland Adventures, scroll down for pics & a short paragraph on “my day on an Icelandic horse”. [Riding in Reykjavik, a Guest Post]

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Scout
AAA Performance Horses
Instructor, Aubrey Schreiber

If memory serves, my first time in a western saddle since Wyoming summer camp in 1976.

Things I noticed.

I kept trying to turn the stirrups so that they sat perpendicular to my feet. Wasn’t happening with the big western fenders. Much less movement than with english stirrup leathers.

Seat was more comfy than I expected, mostly I just didn’t notice it.

Dismounting. Lean forward. Swing leg off. But wait, there is a horn in my way. Now what?

Lot of walking. Some trotting jogging. A bit of cantering loping trantoring. Finally got a real lope once the boss ran alongside.

Scout is the variety of lesson horse who can do it but won’t if he doesn’t believe the rider. Usually I can jolly a school horse. Scout was not convinced that I wanted to do much other than stroll around enjoying the sunshine. He was not wrong.

Riding a quiet and reliable horse made me realize how much mine are not.

Say what I want about TBs, they have lovely canters.

Proof that the seat is comfy. This was the saddle I used. Want the most comfortable seat in the house? Move the cat.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. “The Artists Registry of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is an online database and digital gallery of artistic work created in response to the events of September 11.” 9/11 Memorial & Museum: Artist Registry.

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Caption. Girth & girth accessories on railing. Horse head & metal chicken for atmosphere. Oak Grove Feed & Tack. [Felines of the Feed Store]

Borrowed a saddle to test. Yay! Bought new girth system to replace aged leather straps.

Rodney has worn the saddle on a few morning walks and has lunged with it. Get acquainted and test of concept. Not a miracle cure. Didn’t go hoppity hop.

Milton does not want to be anywhere near the saddle. Not in the barn with it. Not near Rodney wearing it. Flashbacks to pony horses on the track?

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Links for latest horrid news report. How to Help. Resources & Support. Good that we have resources; terrible that we need them.

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(space to take a breath or two)

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(shift gears)

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Morning walk.

Leave barn. This is where Rodney stops to have our daily discussion about the wisdom of this venture. [The Conversation]

Got out to ring area. Walk the long side of pasture. Turn around at corner. Walk back to starting point. Repeat x4. One mile. Approx 25 minutes.

This is the routine. Woe betide if we alter it.

1st lap. Milton leads. Rodney on lead rope. Otherwise he stops to contemplate being & nothingness or possibly the cows next door. At turnaround, the leadrope can come off. He will continue to follow Milton. I’ll walk next to or in front.

2nd lap. Cookie break at turnaround.

3rd lap. Turnaround. Cookie break. Swap to Rodney back on leadrope, in front. Milton off lead & following.

Repeat for lap 4.

At the turnaround for lap 5, halters off. They have the option of staying out to graze or wandering back to the barn.

You don’t need to track the exact specifics as much as realize that there ARE specifics and the horses expect us to follow them.

Examples of wrong. One person leading both horses. Swapping personnel. Rodney in the lead for the first lap – actually this doesn’t happen. He will stop and wait for Milton to take the lead.

Things to watch out for. Milton is okay with Rodney in front. He is okay with Rodney behind. He does! not! like! Rodney passing him. He will become expressive in this situation. All three of us – two people & Rodney – are on watch when we make the turn to be sure we respect Milton’s personal space.

Most of the time, the people get it right and the horses chug along.

Onwards!
Katherine

We signed up to have bulk horse supplements arrive by mail. A little bit cheaper. Maybe easier?

Yes to the first. No to the second.

We have double the amount we need of supplement X and ran out of supplement Y.

Horse owners, have any of you gotten the supplement-by-mail services to work?

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Last day of Para Games. Horse Nation: The Inclusion & Accessibility Legacy of the 2020 Tokyo Equestrian Park, Sloan, September 1, 2021.

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Result of random design sketching. I was attempting art for art’s sake. It ended up as a blog post. This should not surprise me at this point.

Update. [Nine Patch Redux, Art]

Onwards!
Katherine

Cats of the outside world. Colonial Williamsburg: A Suit of Clothes For Puss, December 10, 2019. Hat tip to A.

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Oak Grove Feed & Tack
Sylacauga AL
August 2024

Went there as our first foray into the western world. Sales person was super helpful with advice and people to call. Did not get her name. Waves hi & thank you.

Cat people are weird. I have mumble-mumble cats at home. See cat? Must stop to pet! See kitten?! Must! Play! With! Kitten! Completely walked away from the western conversation to play with resident attack tribble. Didn’t get their names either.

[Cat Pauses]

Onwards!
Katherine