Jolene Says It Isn’t Easy Being My Dog

Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New the meme said. Well, sign me up. Who knew it would be so remarkably easy. You should try it. I had a client several years ago who complained about her horse. He was too lazy; she needed a more advanced horse. Her horse told a different story. … Read more

Jolene’s Year of Living Joyously

One year ago, my friends were expecting a litter of Swedish Vallhund puppies. After gaining titles in conformation and performance, doing all the genetic testing, and endless preparation, it was finally time. I’d cheered for my friends all the way and was excited about the little ones, who already had puppy homes waiting. One year … Read more

Jolene’s Nose, My Ears, and the Death of Embarrassment

May I brag? I have celebrated the death of embarrassment. It was a freedom I gained by competing horses. Horses are transparent and spontaneous about how they feel. When something happens, it’s obvious to the rider. And some of us even paid the judge to notice. It’s the fast track to realizing you can’t make … Read more

A Legacy of Homegrown Ingenuity and Bull-Headed Confidence

I am the great-granddaughter of pioneers. They traveled far, mixed their blood with those not like them, and built lives out of thin air and hard work. My farm needed a storage shelter. Not big, and a tarp would do for a roof. I saw small Quonset huts online. They were reasonably priced and just … Read more

The Dynamic Power of Consistency

We would like consistent behavior from our horses. It would be good if they took each cue with light and immediate response. But some days we climb on and don’t feel like doing much. We don’t really have a plan, not that we care. We lollygag around slouching in the saddle and banging our legs … Read more

The Problem with Humility

I’ve gotten sour on a word. Why does it matter? Words are how we understand each other but some words get borrowed as code words for something else. Sometimes they turn into monsters and sometimes they get stuck between your teeth like a raspberry seed. Words impact how we feel, trickle down to how we … Read more