I did mention it was hot and humid. Monday was day 4 of being hot and humid all day.  Plus for test day, we were in the arena..where it is even more hot and humid than it is outside. We had a break for lunch. We were all sitting in the air conditioned lounge. Suddenly, I started crying.  I tried to figure out what was happening to me as I was not sad about anything. I decided I must be having heat exhaustion.  I mentioned that to the crowd and all of…

Sage and I have been in a clinic for 3 days with David Lichman. It's been horrid hot.  We've been at it every day from 9:00am to around 4:00 pm.  It's horrid hot and humid. We are surviving. Dave is going to stay over on Monday and is available to assess the level 1.  Here's what I thought.  Hey!  I'll just take the level 1 test.  Maybe I can pass 4 tasks. That would make me happy! Monday comes First is the ground things. Then we get to the saddle…

I'm riding Sage pretty good now.  We are taking a weekly riding lesson with Karen Moulis. It's a very big deal coming up as David Lichman, Parelli Natural Horsemanship advanced instructor is coming to Pine Dell to give a three day level 1 clinic.  It's terribly hot. Day three near the end of the clinic, Dave decides to do the turn and face your fear exercise.  He sets a fire in the big outdoor arena.  We horses and riders group around the fire.  Burning things fly up and we duck. That's…

About two months after I was able to ride Sage without much fear, I was talked into going to Eminence.  Eminence is a place where you camp with your horse and ride out on trails. There are wild horses out in the farther reaches of the riding area which is the giant Mark Twain National Forest.  Sage, husband and I went on the week long Eminence Trail ride--in the Ozarks Mountains with only 4000+ other horses. My husband is a social person, not a rider and I intended to ride…

 I’m always on missions. The mission for this column is FEAR! I’m talking to new:  Women Adult Riders Inspired by the Option of Retirement or WARRIOR!  This is for the WARRIORS who have discovered the unforgiving hardness of the ground and developed fear. The WARRIOR buys a horse and it bolts, bucks or shys and the WARRIOR hits the ground. The ground whispers to you...death, broken bones, pain. Your continuing mortality becomes a great concern. Your self confidence goes underground! You are not alone. You are in the great majority.…