I recently wandered across a quote that made me think for a hot minute: “Don’t fight your demons. They’re here to teach you lessons. Sit down with them, have a … Continue Reading »
Articles
Built, Not Broken
For generations, the goal of horse training was to get a horse “broke.” Broke to ride. Broke to lead. Broke to behave. But what if I told you I disagree … Continue Reading »
Where the Trail Teaches: Notes from Sisters Cow Camp
The sound of hooves crunching across lava rock, ancient, black, and sunbaked, reminds you that this land remembers fire. And at the Back Country Horsemen of Oregon’s Wilderness Skills Clinic, … Continue Reading »
Do Tires Go Bad?
Spoiler alert: Yep. They sure can. I just put a fresh set of tires on the Taj Mah Small, my little LQ horse trailer. That might not sound like breaking … Continue Reading »
More Than Miles: An Education in Packing and Precision
Ed Haefliger called me out of the blue in 2009, shortly after I started writing a monthly column on trail riding and camping with horses. I was still finding my … Continue Reading »
From Hesitant to Happy Camper: A Guide to Your First Horse Camping Trip
Overcoming Your Fears of First-Time Trailhead Horse Camping I vividly remember my first time horse camping. It was a great time—we survived, the horses survived—but looking back, I was as … Continue Reading »
Sawdust and Saddles: Lessons from Lumber and Horses
Few things ground me like the smell of freshly planed wood or a sun-warmed saddle. Both promise hard work and quiet satisfaction. Each time I smooth a piece of raw … Continue Reading »
Chasing the Milky Way: Lessons in Wilderness and Light
Early August – 2:30 am Damn it – What am I doing wrong? I muttered to myself. Camera controls glowed as I struggled to adjust the settings to capture the … Continue Reading »
Looking Back on Fake Perfection – and Water Crossings
After the 2020 election, I did what every sane person should do: clear out negativity. I removed the folks on both the left and the right who were singularly obsessed … Continue Reading »
The Shared Responsibility of Everyone on Board
Flying from clinic to clinic, I spend more time in the air than I’d like to admit. This past weekend, as I settled into my seat and watched the pre-flight … Continue Reading »