Daily inspiration for horse lovers of all ages.
Excerps from "Daily Nickers":
This book may be purchased by request via email.
September 1st
Long Term Goals
There are two things that I dream about and wonder if it will unfold in this life of mine:
#1 - Riding through the New England countryside on old log roads that I have mapped out myself.
#2 - Cantering along the beautiful East Coast Seashore
Both are dreams that I hold dear; before my life is over I will make myself available for these good things to happen.
Thought for the Day
All realities start with a thought that develop into a dream; we bring about our own reality through our innermost positive thoughts.
September 2nd
Incurable Addiction
It’s an addiction...loving horses. You can never cure it. You may have it in remission when there isn’t a four-legged friend there to call your own but it will never leave you completely. It will forever be there waiting to ride again.
The sunrise over a lush green field will remind you of horses grazing. The excitement of a parade; where the best part is hearing the shod hooves rhythmically prancing on the pavement, the puffy shapes in white clouds that resemble horses rearing, the beautiful dirt road in the fall that is perfect for cantering. All these things and more will bring that surge of love for the equine world back to the surface over and over again.
Thought for the Day
The more I know about the friendship of a horse, the more I know I will always want to have it as part of my life forever.
September 3rd
Here Comes the Welcome Wagon…Full Blast
That strange lump in my throat, the acid burn in my stomach, the sweat in my palms, as I watch my horse clear a fence! A fence that was meant to keep him in his new paddock! Chasing a horse through unfamiliar countryside is not fun; worrying about what mischief he is getting into while out of sight, brings out the ability to run like the wind and the Indian tracker in your lineage. When the chase is over, and the dust settles, your skills as a neighborhood negotiator for peace will surface. There will be amends to make to the new neighbors for the roughed up hedges that he plowed through and the hoof-shaped divots in their lawns.
As always, after the fiasco there’s plenty of robust story telling and laughter with friends who have been there and done that!
Thought for the Day
Horses bring out talents you never knew you possessed and they can get you introduced to the neighbors in a hurry.
September 4th
Health
I take my energy and capabilities for granted most days. It’s true you know that old saying about “you don’t know what you have until you lose it.” I wake up and I’m too tired and run down to go outside. I want to ride, paint my barn, groom and show, yet without my health I can do none of these wonderful things.
Thought for the Day
Balance in everything is my goal, especially my food and my rest! I know what I have…I don’t want to lose it.
September 5th
Money
Money buys many things. Lots of money buys even more things. I find that money in all its opulence will not make a rider sit quieter or have gentle hands. Money cannot give to its possessor a quiet oneness with his horse. That comes from the inside... not from the outside!
Thought for the Day
If the connection to life is only through money, empty out the barn and buy a boat.
September 6th
A Living Rock
Precious are my soul mates! What a grand way to describe a horse; precious, as a stone of priceless value; a solid rock. This rock enriches the soul and puts a stopper on low self-esteem; how precious is this creature, a living rock to build upon.
Thought for the Day
This is a great foundation from which to start reaching for the stars.
September 7th
Am I Crazy?
Some of the dearest family members just cannot comprehend what it is about a horse that touches our souls. Questions like: “Do you really shovel that stuff out of the stall EVERY DAY?”
“Why can’t you come over to the family picnic? Just a little colic shouldn’t keep you away. Babies have it all the time.” or
“You really think it’s fun to talk to a horse?” “You’re looking forward to going in the woods to sleep overnight by a campfire with all those horseflies and mosquitoes?”
Thought for the Day
Yep - Crazy and loving it!
September 8th
Break Out the Fiddle
A barn raising in the old western movies used to look like such a foreign or rare gala, something that could only happen in the movies. Today, I know different.
Fences have sprung up in one day, sheds and lean-to’s go up in a weekend with oh! so helpful friends. With horse folk the pioneer spirit truly lives on.
Thought for the Day
Westerners or Easterners, horse folk help each other.
September 9th
Growth
Opportunities to grow are everywhere, with each new day comes a new chance to succeed.
Thought for the Day
Difficulties are opportunities turned inside out.
September 10th
The Safety Net
It’s not the fall, it’s the sudden stop at the end that I thought about. Gripping the reins in fear was how I first learned to ride. I would have a knot in my gut and tremble.The thing about standing on the ground, that one thing is that there’s no way to work through the fear.
Thought for the Day
Take a little risk and saddle up and go for a little ride.
September 11th
Discerning the Spirits
Some folks I have known for years and only lately have I noticed their feathers.
Thought for the Day
Hmmmm…are those peacock feathers or angel feathers?
September 12th
Style
The fashion world would keel over and faint if ever they viewed my morning feeding outfit. A blue holy bathrobe, barn sneakers or worn slippers, a nightgown longer than the blue holy bathrobe and to top it all off pink curlers dangling every which way in my hair! Yawning and wiping the sleep out of my eyes I walk to the barn and no one up there seems to really take notice of what I am wearing! They’re just glad I have arrived.
Thought for the Day
A sight for sore eyes!
September 13
Great Stress Relievers
Anxieties and stress can add to our heart palpitations and shorten our lives.
The aura and exercise around the horse relieves stress and anxiety, puts life back in the right perspective and for a while allows us to forget all about the pressurized world we live in. It’s a way to stay healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Thought for the Day
Who needs Valium?
September 14
A Different Kind of Day
Some mornings, I just want to shop until I drop, or clean the house (what happened to me?). Other mornings I just might talk on the phone with my sister or son, maybe even go for a walk (with just me).
Thought for the Day
Playing hooky isn’t the same as when we were in High School.
September 15
Keep Those Important Appointments
What could be more soul satisfying than a lazy afternoon spent with friends at the barn?
Thought for the Day
Make an appointment for a lazy day and show up on time.
September 16
Shavings
Shavings, what lumber companies consider unimportant I consider the best bedding for my horse. Shavings, they plane their wood to make and sell houses and all I need is the leftovers, blessed shavings!
In the summer and spring shavings keep my stalls clean and dry and in the winter my horses have a warm cozy repose even in sub zero temps! I also know my truck is paying for itself when I get a load of shavings at a cost of $55.00 that'll last weeks versus one bag at $4.85 that will last two hours! One man’s trash is truly another man’s treasure.
Thought for the Day
The study of Economics sure applies a lot better in real life than it did in school!
September 17
How refreshing the whinny of a packhorse unloaded of everything!
One of those Zen sayings.
Thought for the Day
Ahhhhhhhh
September 18
What A View
Earth is the home of the horse...but only those of us who know their spirit see into the heavens!
Thought for the Day
What a view.
September 19
Lifestyle
The air is as crystal clear as sparkling mineral water in a wineglass! A taste of fall is in the air, just enough of a taste to know that it’s a perfect day to ride and not be driven crazy with bugs and incessant 95 degree heat. A rally for the soul and a perfect day to trail ride on any trail!
Thought for the Day
Today I ride.and ride…..and ride ‘til the sun sets.
September 20
Teenage Rebellion
My horse accepts my requests with an immense amount of dignity......sometimes! Other times I couldn’t lift a hoof to pick it out to save my life! I couldn’t have a collected canter in the ring if the Queen of England were watching. I think back on the days of being a teenager and remember how I balked and was stubborn and even now some of those “traits” are with me.
Thought for the Day
I am rebellious myself ...sometimes!
September 21
Brainstorms
The insulated, handy-dandy, water bucket holder...the miracle cure for those frozen buckets in a New England winter. So, the project begins, send for the pattern, spend approximately $150.00 on materials and then build it.
By summer it is a faite accomplis!
Thought for the Day
This finished project looks exactly like an old two-seater in an outhouse.
Laughter is the best medicine.
September 22
Rekindling More than Fire
Up at 5 a.m. to rekindle the fading embers until they are aflame and crackling all that is in their grasp once again! Then, getting comfortable and watching the sun rise slowly as it sheds light in dancing rays on everything it touches. I can hear the cattle lowing and rustling, munching their chosen patch of grass and in my heart I silently give thanks to a power greater than myself for letting me participate in this grand 24 hours.
Thought for the Day
I’m glad I camped out last night!
September 23
Control
Worry and fear seem to go hand in hand. Worry weakens the body and mind and it keeps our positive energy from doing what we need to do to stop worrying! The impetus behind our worry is the need to control. Teaching and training my horse puts me in positions where I am anything but “in control”. If I let go and have faith in life I am also letting go of worry and fear.
It starts with a doubt leads to a worry and ends in fear.
Thought for the Day
Faith in life is always an option!
September 24
Hercules
Inner peace comes from outer effort! Take Hercules, he was given the Twelve Labors to atone for a misdeed. The Fifth Labor was to clean the Augean stables where thousands of cattle were stabled and which hadn’t been cleaned in years…. in one day!
He did it! These myths help us to understand ourselves. We may feel like we have to clean the Augean stables daily. Our lives change when we get up and do it!
Thought for the Day
Take the first step and all else falls into place.
September 25
The Doers
We are the courageous. We risk, we compete and we achieve; we are responsible and administer love, grain and care.
Thought for the Day
We belong with the “doers” of this world.
Simplicity
Under clean, crisp skies or cloud-laden days, I am forced by the pitchfork and manure to bring life into the basic perspective of its simplest truths.
Thought for the Day
Back to basics!
September 27
What If……..
The fear of calamities haunt the imagination. The “what ifs” in our lives can ruin a beautiful day and steal the pleasures of a peaceful ride on the trail.
Thought for the Day
Enjoy what is!
September 28
The Sun Shines Every Single Day
The day dawns and the coffee tastes burnt, the dog had an accident on the kitchen floor, there’s a pain surging from my stubbed toe to my brain, and the days’ plans just went out the window when I noticed a case of colic in the barn. All my “best laid plans” have gone astray for this day. My attitude is also heading for the toilet. When this happens the bigger picture of contentment and peace seems very far away and out of sight. I really try to remember that the sun is still shining on the other side of the clouds!
Thought for the Day
If I were in an airplane heading through those clouds on the way to the Bahamas, it would make it easier to see that sunshine…a lot easier.
September 29
All the blues that I entered the barn with this evening, like the effect of the winds on a sandy footprint, were erased.
September 30
Perception
Calmess of spirit and peace are the beauty we can create in this horseworld of ours. We give of the essence in our being and generate a pulse felt by those around us. The horse picks our innermost pulses and reacts to them. They are wary of a phony and humbled by gentle friends.
If we are still and observant we can behold this animal telepathy unfold.
Thought for the Day
One thousand pounds of perception is ours.