Season's Greetings
Well, between an ice storm with a week long power outage earlier this month (December), and just now fifteen inches of snow on the ground, winter is certainly here in Virginia!
As Christmas and the New Year approach, I’m starting to reflect a little and realize what a productive year it’s been here. Jubal and Niji, the sorrel geldings, both are going really well…which I hope means they’re thinking the same of me, and that I finally got a few things figured out. I’ve been working other horses off of Jubal lately, and using him around cattle, and it has been the most fun ever. Chief got some priority this year, and he and Carol are going great. Little Minnie Filly, the newcomer who was born on Easter, is just fantastic, we’re picking up her feet and leading her around with ease.
When I think of these horses, the other troubles I’m faced with seem less thorny. When I take the time to work with them, the rest of my existence just plain melts away and that moment becomes all there is. Writing about such experiences produces the same focused effect on me, and I hope spreads the joy of it around to others. Horses are a profound blessing in my life.
The coming year is shaping up on some fronts. Several of my articles already are in the pipeline at Eclectic-Horseman, Equus, Western Horseman, The Quarter Horse Journal, America’s Horse, The Trail Rider, Hoofbeats (Australia), and The Paint Horse Journal. There are a few new and varied writing projects on the desk at the moment, which I hope will be newsworthy here in a couple of months—so stay tuned. Also, plans are being kicked around for some book signings, talks, and writing workshops. It’s been awhile since I’ve participated in these kind of public events, and I’ll list those things here if they become concrete.
Mostly for 2010 I hope to chase my tail less, work with horses more, and keep writing. I hope for all of you a blessed, joyous, and prosperous New Year!