“As a nurse, I see this all the time with families caring for elderly or chronically ill relatives. They start out full of love and hope, but over time, the daily demands wear them down. The burnout builds.”
“…growth isn’t always flashy. That real growth rarely looks like a grand finale. It’s not always shiny or Instagram-worthy. Sometimes, it doesn’t come with applause or dramatic breakthroughs.”
“That’s what desensitization is: it’s not pretending you’re not scared, it’s choosing to stand your ground anyway. Choosing to face it, again and again, until your instincts rewire and your fear becomes focus. You still mutter curse words, but the breakdowns become breathers. The sobs become sighs.”
“And maybe that’s the real magic here. Maybe it’s not in the wounds that missed the tendon or the graft that took, but in the horse who chooses to keep going. Who chooses to stay soft. Who still relaxes when he sees me…We’re not out of the woods yet. But we’re still walking.”
When Payco decided he’d had enough of his confinement, chaos erupted. From knocking over Kamille to charging at my puppy and taking off down the road, the morning quickly turned into an all-out chase. Read on to find how this wild escape finally earned Payco a daily dose of sedation. (more…)
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who trusted Kamille with their horses this year. Each horse taught her something unique and played a role in her growth as a rider. Your generosity and kindness have meant the world to us.”
“My focus this year isn’t going to be on major events but rather exploring my horses and getting together with them on a deeper level. Sometimes stepping away from a highly competitive atmosphere is the exact thing that is needed to excel further in the sport.”
We all know horses always are trying their hardest to injure, maim, and permanently disable themselves. But Payco has outdone himself this time. He has a long road to recovery, and the journey is just getting started. (more…)
The catch phrase of the week was, “Well that one wasn’t on my bingo card…” But then we literally had enough to make one. Enjoy this article where you get the inside view of a true $h!t show of a week!
For those in the mounted shooting world, it’s time for one of the most anticipated events of the year — the Eastern Championships and CMSA Futurity and Derby. Marcella and her crew are headed down and gearing up.
Moving up through the levels in a sport comes with a lot of moments of joy — but it also comes with a lot of hard work, dedication, and set backs. Marcella Gruchalak takes a look back as she achieves her penultimate move-up in Cowboy Mounted Shooting.
“How you treat your horse, if you smile and say hello, and how you react to a bad showing are all being observed by a child who idolizes you. Be the change you want to see in the sport because you’re teaching and influencing the youth riders more than you may know.”
“Do I know the work it takes to bring along a young horse to be my new partner? Yes. Am I ready to put in that work? Yes. Do I feel I have all the tools I need to be a successful partner for Hot Sauce? Yes. Will there be less crying than with Payco? Probably not.”
“While being injured has been a real mood killer, I will continue to find the bright side of things. I have people helping me that care, I’m assured my ankle is fixable, my seat is getting quite centered with all the stirrup-less riding and my right shoes all look brand new.”
No matter what happens in 2024, I don’t think I could be disappointed in the horses I ride or my journey with them — unless of course I break another bone.
“I’m not sure how much more motivation I need than my nine-year-old niece beating me on my own horse — and making sure I know it. Do I want to whoop on a nine-year-old? Yes. Am I anywhere close to being able to do it? No, I don’t think so. But, it’s fun trying…”
“No matter which horse I’ll be riding, I’m counting down the days until this cowgirl can get back on her horse. It just doesn’t feel right that the main ride is a knee scooter.”
“A good horse trainer develops a quality horse. One that has all the bells and whistles.” A great horse trainer creates that horse and develops the rider… They put as much passion and hard work into the owner as they do the horse.
“I’ve taken a lot of pressure off myself this year by focusing more on just enjoying my horses, the rides they give me and my time in the saddle. . . I’m excited to see what this year brings for me and my three troublemakers.”
Santa’s helpers come in all shapes and sizes. At Marcella’s barn, Santa’s biggest helper is Funny Bunny B, a patient off-track Thoroughbred who keeps the littles busy while everyone else prepares for the holidays. (more…)
On behalf of my three goons, Happy Thanksgiving from our farm to yours. We hope you all enjoy your nagging family members, really great food and plenty of room for holiday activities — I know we will be!
“I mean, how many people can say, ‘My foot is broken, I’m relearning to walk, but I trust my four-year-old horse to safely maneuver me through shooting patterns?'” (more…)
