December 2010

It’s almost over, 2010, the year we had all been waiting for, aiming for, and the year we made it through! Almost everyone we know is going through the end of the year work, fulfilling obligations, creating new ones for 2011, and celebrating (when we have time) the holidays. I for one am grateful for the snowstorm which slowed things down and in some cases brought plans to a grinding halt. Except for some Christmas presents ordered late which did not make it in time, our decision to stick close to our Kentucky home this year proved a good one. Our three Florida grandkids came to visit, and prayed for snow during Christmas Eve services. We walked out of church and drove home in a blizzard which lasted two days.

We caught up with Liz Austin yesterday as we were putting the finishing touches on her Who's Who updates for 2011. She was at the overnight layover heading from Vermont to Florida with 9 horses, five of which were youngsters from her breeding program. "We just turned them all out in the paddocks and everyone is being very good!" Arriving in Florida today Austin's team is filling two barns in Loxahatchee, as she is ready to take on a new year inspired by her students, clients, and her "main man" Olivier (Fizzy). MPH

Nancy and Smukluster

If you’re like me, over the years, you’ve watched friends and strangers advance through their USDF rider medals or worked diligently on your walk-canter-walk transitions while friends played with three- and four-tempi changes and canter pirouettes. Although I continue to struggle to improve my skills as a horsewoman, I always knew that somehow with my talent for achieving a rapport with my horses, I could perform these movements with my equine partner, if only, if only! Instead, my mounts have been older horses whom others couldn’t care for or didn’t have time for anymore, or young horses with bad habits whom I was retraining in the basics.