Something a little different today:

I recently linked up with Charles and while emailing on biz not related to horses, he mentioned a couple of interesting things (because of my profile pic) that made me ask some questions. His story is fun so it's 'in'. Here it is:

When I was a kid I spent summers with my grandparents in Illinois. My grandfather had a pony stable with forty registered Shetland and Hackney ponies we showed throughout the State, including the Illinois State Fair. We exhibited a six pony hitch of matched chestnut dapple Shetlands. The wagon used was a pony scale version of the Budweiser wagon my grandfather built on a cut down frame from an old milk wagon. It had matched handmade Amish harness and patten leather collars, brass buttons and brass knob topped hames. The wagon had a full fifth-wheel, foot brake and was made of solid oak with a brass badge labeled "Heischmidt Coach", which had belonged to my great-grandfather, a coach maker and diary farmer. 

At exhibitions, my grandfather would enter the ring at a full gallop with the hitch, make turns using the fifth-wheel, turns sliding the rear end of the wagon around using the foot break, and then exiting the ring at a full gallop. 

We also had a couple of sleighs and a vintage surrey with the fringe on top. 

When I was in 4th grade (1955), we went to a horse sale in Springfield, IL. Champaign, where we lived, was ninety miles from Springfield. Grandpa purchased my first pony, a 36" high chestnut dapple Shetland pony from Wyoming sporting a roached mane and a brand on his hindquarters.      

Grandpa paid $135.00. The problem was we had no way to get the pony ninety miles back home. Well, the pony could fit it in the back of his brand new 1956 Pontiac Star Chief four-door sedan. Grandpa gave in. The pony, named "Smokey", loaded into the back of the sedan and rode peacefully all the way home without making a mess. Smokey was the first of over 40 more ponies, but he was my favorite because he was my very own neck-reining pony out of Wyoming. 

I just loved his "very own neck-reining pony" line and smile every time I read it. While I REALLY wanted some pictures of the hitch, he didn't have any. I wish I could have put these pic's in larger as the dapples are huge and beautiful. You can sort of see them in the driving pic on Smokey's neck. Who names a chestnut Smokey?

Make sure you don't miss the email in the last segment below!!!  

"Life is cause and effect. In other words, sooner or later, you do sit down to a banquet of consequences."  

Quoted from "What it Takes to be Number One" by Vince Lombardi. 

Becoming a really good rider and horseperson will change your consequences. That being more fun, success and a lot more safety. If you just get on and think you're a rider... you're probably going to get hurt. But, to be fair, even if you don't think that - you're probably going to get hurt. Horses are inherently risky for folks. Horses are a lifetime learning experience. And like snow skiing, the less you know or the more of a beginner you are, the more you're going to get hurt. However, it's impossible to NOT start at the beginner stage. Ah well, life is like that.

One of my favorite ways to help someone 'get' this concept: Being on a plane doesn't make you a pilot.  

Dig the well before you are thirsty.  -- Chinese Proverb

I don't suppose you get this newsletter because you have no interest in becoming a better horseperson. If it's not going as you'd like or if you're not having fun, get better! But, get help. It's just not worth letting the years slide by while you try to re-invent the wheel. I'm not saying this is easy! Like studying a foreign language--you're not going to have much fun or accomplish much if you only know how to say "Where's the bathroom" and "I'll have a beer". 

And while what I'm adding here is too much to elaborate on in this newsletter (it will be in many of the future member lessons), being a person doesn't make you a horse's leader. Frequently, when someone THINKS they're going to show the horse who's boss, that's exactly what they do; only it's not who they think.