Moving one hoof at a time

I've been to the auction I've been to the fair I've been to college Over the past few months I've been every where! Good grief it's been a wacky few months.  In July I resigned from Head Start and started teaching full time at a local technical college.  Rewarding?  Yes!  Bigger paycheck? Yes!  Time saver?  No!  Between my schedule, my husband's schedule, and the kid's schedule I've barely had time to think about oils or my horses.  So...you might ask, how do I work it in?   Well, as far as my essential oils business, I do what I can, when I can.  I've cut down teaching classes for now but hope to pick up again in the summer when my schedule will soften a little bit.  I share my daily routines with folks or offer oils when appopriate--otherwise, we're at a standstill and I'm good with that right now.  Riding?  Well, I squeeze in a few minutes during the weekend, but have actually just been spending more time on dail

I love DIY stuff.  Love is probably not the right word...obsess is more correct.  I would guess this obesession is why the essential oil business chose me.  On a side Inote, I'm looking at schools for aromatherapy--anyone out there have a recommendation?   Right now I'm leaning toward the program at AromaHead .  I have a lot of extra commercially made stuff from my subscripition services, but as I run out I add in my DIY products.    For your convience, I've included a list of what I've made and a link to where I found the recipie.  What do you make for your horses?  What do you want to try?  I'd really love to try some of the DIY barn organization ideas, but mine just never quite turn out "right."  They always look thrown together instead of neat-o and the end result should end up on one of those Pinterest Fail memes.    Anyway, list and links below.  If you've tried any of those barn hacks, take a picture and send to me.  I just might have a goodie t

The lack of posting can only be attritubted to one thing...I'm damn busy.  I know, I know, I know--I should write more.  But gosh darn it, summer is here and there's a LOT to do around here during the day.  I don't mean "my-to-do-list-is-a-page-long" sort of alot.  I mean "I-could-write-you-a-novel-about-all-the-shit-I-have-to-do-but-don't-really-have-the -ime-to-do-it" sort of long. But hey, that's what "adulting" is all about, right?  Anyway, between work and business ; things have been a little crazy around here. There's been some pretty spectactular fun mixed in that crazy though.  Carol finally got her first horse, Princess, a mini.    As you can see, she and her brother sure do love Princess.   We're told Princess rides and drives, so I'm excited to be learning something new.  I know NOTHING about driving horses.  I have a good local resource who does lots of driving, but if any of you have some tips, ideas, or sug

Hi everyone! Could you take a quick sec and complete this survey for me (If you haven't already). I'm trying to make some decisions about where I'd like things to go with the essential oil stuff--for instance, should I focus on make and take type classes or do individual equine consultations or both? What do you think? Loading...

In my quest for that USDF judges card , I constantly am pursuing opportunities to learn (on the ground AND in the saddle).  As I mentioned before, one of the ways I'm doing this is by scribing at dressage shows.  A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to learn with a fantastic judge and experienced scribe.  These two ladies offered some great guidance directly but I also learned by watching them together.   One of the most important things I learned yesterday was how critical running on time is.  As a "novice-novice," I was unclear on the rules regarding time and show scheduling.  But it became abundantly clear that (a) I needed to read my rule book more than I thought I might and (b) I needed to carry a watch.  Part of my job, I didn't realize, is to keep the judge on track and help the show run smoothly.  This means I need to pay attention to more than just the judge's words. What I didn't realize is that part of the scribe's role is to ens

I am a life long learner.  I love to learn and love to grow as an educator, horsewoman, and rider.  I have my Wisconsin Horse Council Judge's Card, but I really feel as though I need more experiences to be a fair judge, so I have opted to decline paid requests and focus on Jr. Judging for the time being.  This decision has given me the opportunity to develop me eye and increase my speed in the show pen (no one likes to wait on a slow judge...and that I am right now!).   Another way I'm educating myself is working as a scribe for Dressage and Western Dressage Shows. While I currently don't make any money doing this, I've heard from some that you can earn money this way.  At this point, it's about education and moving toward my long term goal of passing my North American Western Dressage Judge Licensing  .   The actual work of a scribe is relatively easy to learn but does take some practice.  You do have to have the ability to concentrate and sit quie

While most of my posts won't be about this journey of mine into the equine industry, today I feel compelled to post about what I've been working on. I've got a space carved out in Google+, which is separate from my personal space.  If you're so inclined, check it out here .   I've got my space where folks can order oils set up here , however, I do not have a website set up yet specific to the equine side of things.  And, honestly, I'm not sure I'll put something together.  What do you think?  Is it necessary?  I'm still working on consultation forms and really hashing out my business plan.  What I know is that I need to carve a space in the industry which is very different than what is currently available in northern WI; which is why I have chosen the essential oil route.  Part of hashing that out is market research.  So, my dear readers, I invite you to complete this survey to help me with that part of my plan.   Please feel free to share the link wit

After a few weeks of planning, strategizing, and reflecting, I think I'm ready to make a pretty special announcement.  I've decided to take the leap and announce the opening of my business, The Essential Equine, where I'll be supporting horses and riders through the use of essential oils.   As I proceed through each stage of my business plan, more services will be offered.  However, at this time I'll only be offering essential oil services for the horse and rider.  I'll have oils available for sale, can provide your barn with demos, and am available to teach classes. Watch soon for the announcement of my website and newsletter!  I'm at the beginning stages of this endeavor and am really excited about what the future holds.  You can e-mail me here , if you'd like more information and remember to keep moving one hoof at a time!

As an equestrian, (ami at best) I've dabbled in a lot of things.  Trail riding.  Gaming.  Western pleasure.  4-H.  Obstacle courses.  It's been a pretty big variety for someone who (a) doesn't show in any breed shows, (b) isn't anywhere remotely near an equine professional, and (c) has a vast periods of life which didn't include horses.    I've been back in the horse world for nearly 6 years and now that I'm back and trying to carve out my niche, I've found there are a few topics I've become somewhat obsessed with.  I'll spend some time writing about these from time to time but I'll never really devote a ton of time to ALL of them. Today, however, I'd like to share my Dressage (and Western Dressage) aspirations with you.  These two disciplines (linked as they are, they are still separate) have captured my attention for a long enough period of time they are the disciplines I tend to hold affinity with. I've tried to figure out what

In my other life, I'm a bit of a failure.  I ended up quitting my Ph.D. because I couldn't pay for it (you can read about that here .) and I quite writing in a pretty successful blog (You can read it here , if you're so inclined), and before that I retired an even more successful blog, which not only connected me with friends I still have today, but connected me to the gal who ended up taking my fantastic wedding photos.  Sadly, you can't read that one because I DELETED it.  WTF was I thinking?  It is piece of "me" history and *poof* now it's gone! What I've learned along the way is that we all fail from time to time.  What makes some of us different is what happens after the failure.  I tend to spend a bit of time reflecting (hmmm, I shouldn't delete old blogs! or hmmm, Ph.D's are expensive.  Next time I'm going to have a better financial plan before I begin any sort of college course!) and then I figure out what I might try differ

My daughter (future farmer) is quite a spectacle to see in action.  This morning we went out to feed the horses and the first thing she wanted to do was use the hay nets as a hammock.  Then, when I got the bales in, she wanted to climb on them and swing.  All the while shouting, "Mom, this is TOTALLY AMAZING!"  She has a swing set/climber in the yard, but some how this is just way more fun to her.

Impetigo has hit my house and I am feeling both grossed out and bummed for my toddler.  I am now stuck at home for the next two days, which you'd think would be a good thing.  In fact one of my coworkers said, "Wow, now you can get caught up on all that paperwork you're behind on."  She obviously hasn't tried to get something super serious done with my toddler around.  Yes, I can get SOME done; but I won't get anywhere near caught up.  I live with the most energetic, inquisitive, person I have EVER met.  Considering I see energetic, inquisitive, children every day for work; this is saying a lot (I'm a child care teacher mentor/coach in Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships). My husband says to me, "Cool!  You can have some horsey time over the next two days!"  I'm going to try that out.  I figure hanging outside isn't going to hurt her and will help keep her mind off of the wound on her face.  If anything, one of the heard is goin

" Green on green makes black and blue, wouldn't ride that horse if I were you! " (Mary Ann Kennedy) If you haven't heard the song, check it out.  It's certainly is applicable when it comes to selling a horse.  I had a gal come look at the horse who I currently have for sale and she sounded so much more confident and experienced via e-mail than she actually was.  The more I spoke with her in person, the louder this song blared in my head. I was so thankful she brought someone with her because I could tell pretty quickly there was no way that she was going to be too successful with the green gelding I've got up for sale.  I've been pretty fourth right with folks (a.k.a. overly honest) when it comes to the horse in question (who is not, by the way, the one pictured above).  I want him to go to a good home, so I'm pretty clear that he is green and needs someone who is a confident, cool cucumber.  Based on the conversations we had via e-mail, I reall

What a beautiful daaaaayyyyy.....for Horses in the Morning!!!!  Well, if you didn't catch it my post about Road to the Horse and colt starting competitions, I'm totally, completely in love with the Horse Radio Network and the Horses in the Morning show.  Glen and the crew are so much fun! While I've never met them in "real life," I feel as though I they are a group of folks I have come to know. The Horses in the Morning show is my guilty pleasure and my day just doesn't seem complete if I haven't listened.  Now, I don't get to have the opportunity to listen live because of the nature of my "real job" (a.k.a, the thing that gets in the way of all the time I could be riding), but I do listen to an archived pod cast either when I'm feeding the herd in the morning or on my drive to work.  Sometimes, I'll listen to two episodes a day! Today, I'm listening while I grade papers and my toddler is enjoying what, I hope, will be our la

So, I keep seeing someone from Alaska showing up on my little map that shows where folks are accessing this blog from.  I'd love to hear from you, Alaska.  It is my Hubby's dream to get their one day and I'd love to make that happen...so if you've got some Alaska tips for me....I'd be much obliged!   From one cold weather horse lover to another---thanks for dropping by!!!

Ah, colt starting competitions!  Do you love them?  Hate them?  Or never seen one?   I'm not sure how I feel about them.  On one hand, I really, really, really want to go to KY and see Road to the Hors e.  On the other hand, I feel like starting quality horses takes time and shouldn't be done in such a high stress scenario like a colt starting competition.  This particular competition is really meant to show case the versatile and quality horses which have come from the 6666 Ranch   and is pretty different from competitions like the Extreme Mustang Makeover  in that the trainers pick their horses the first day of the competition and have only a couple hours each day to make progress with his or her horse during the competition.  The competition takes place over 2 day; versus the Mustang Makeover where folks have a much longer period of time to work their horses.  You can hear what's happening at the 2016 Road to the Horse competition by listening to the Horses in the Mo

Such a contrast in weather from a week ago!  Just last week I was mucking out my barn in a tank top and this week I'm back to a hat, mittens, and my coat.  Such is life in Wisconsin!  I received both my Giddy Up Goodies Box and my A Horse Box between the last time I wrote and now.   I was really excited to receive NO THRUSH   in my A Horse Box.  I have been really wanting to try this stuff because we tend to be wet where I live and the horses are prone to thrush.  They can get out the wet but I have one horse who seems to perpetually get it, no matter how dry I get him.   I'll take pictures or do a video so you can see the results.  I'm hoping it will be worth all the hype!

Ever Google yourself?  Come on, I bet you have.  I won't judge! Well, after the chores were done and the toddler was down for a rest, I decided to Google myself via maiden name and married name.  I was particularly curious as to what came in my prior to marriage life.  What I like to refer to as my "old life." Sadly, a big part of my old life involved a relationship with someone who was an expert manipulator.  While I can never say he laid a hand on me in a harsh way, he had a way about himself where he'd manipulate me to bend to his will.  Now that I'm older and (I hope) wiser, I can see that was not a good relationship to be in.  At the time, I thought I needed to just compromise more and not think so much about myself.  A big part of that manipulation was moving me away from my "redneck" lifestyle.  While he never, ever, ever said, "Don't see your family or don't ride horses or change your major," what he did say was, "I'

I belong to two subscription services and LOVE both of them because they give me a chance to try some products that I may never think twice about buying.  I keep the labels of the products I really like so I can purchase them in the future.  I'll make a point to photograph what's in my boxes in the future so you, dear reader, can take a gander.   You might think you'd only get trail sized products in these services, but that hasn't been my experience.  I have received full sized products in each and even received a small, slow feeding hay net in one of my Giddy-Up Goodies boxes!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             One of my favorite products so far has been Hay, Where's that Blue Stuff  , which came in one of my A Horse Box subscriptions.  I should had taken photo

I'm seriously not cut out to sell horses.  It's a good thing I'm not trying to do this to earn a living or I'd be piss poor broke.  Unfortunately, I need to reduce our herd size; so I have one of our horses up for sale.  Now, since I'm basically amateur in all things horse related, my advertisement is very simple.  However, it covers the basics: breed, age, training, height, color, and a few pictures.  What I have found most frustrating is the ridiculous amount of questions I get, which the prospective buyer would all have at their finger tips if they read my damn ad.  Most of the questions I've received are specific to information clearly included in the ad.  My gut response is that I want to shoot back, "Read the DAMN ad," however, I check myself and politely answer the questions asked.  The second thought that goes running through my head is, "If you can't pay attention to small details like this, how are YOU going to manage taking care