We came across another Horse Blog that we feel you should add to your list to check on weekly. It is run by a very nice girl in New Jersey. I know that is not usually a state most people associate with horses, but New Jersey is not all like Newark. Nicole is a geat writer and you can find her Blog at hopelesslyhorseless.blogspot.com.

Nicole’s Bio:

Horses have been my obsession for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a typical urban New Jersey city so I really have no explanation for where that infatuation came from. My appetite for reading equestrian themed books and magazines often led my classmates to tell me that I would one day turn into a horse. I lived for the days when my family would take trips to watch harness racing at the nearby Meadowland’s Racetrack. What everyone thought would be a phase has turned out to be a passion that has only increased exponentially.

For a time, I was an equine studies major at Centenary College. Unfortunately my equine college career was not meant to be. I am now majoring in Business at St. Peter’s College. Once I earn my MBA, I hope to open a small chain of holistic pet stores. I ride whenever I can but it is not nearly often enough.

I started my blog as a way to vent my frustration at being so hopelessly horseless. I knew that there must be other people like me who wish they could have a horse in their lives but for one reason or another are unable to. I hope that I can eventually develop the blog into a full scale website and support network for the hopelessly horseless.

Wiola’s Bio:

I was born in February 1979 in Lodz in Poland. It wasn’t until I was about 14 years old that an injection of finances allowed me to take a greater interest in the equestrian sport. After spending some time helping out in a local riding school I went on to train with one of the best Polish show jumpers, Grzegorz Kubiak based at the Boguslawice Stud at the time. With my own Trakhener stallion and other horses from the Stud we trained and competed in show jumping up to the 1.20m and I completed the third sport class in 1998.

Serious knee problems forced me to back off the competition arena. I concentrated on work behind the scenes, produced my other young stallion, Szafir, worked as an instructor, yard manager and schooled other people’s horses. After graduating in 2003, I took a year out and travelled around the UK. I wanted to experience equestrianism abroad so I could go back richer in knowledge and skills. I planned to set up a competition/training livery yard upon my return. This has never happened as while in London in November 2004 I met my partner and we decided to settle in the UK. Despite my initial worries about a permanent life in England and about abandoning my plans I could not have imagined a better turn of circumstances. Finding the best man in the world does not happen very often!

Coming back to show jumping after 6 years of flatwork proved a hard test and made me think more about various training methods and coaching principles in equestrian sport. I decided to take British Horse Society exams to qualify as a BHS Equine Coach. I received the Level 3 certificate in 2006 and I am planning to take further exams in 2007. This has given me much needed confidence to teach in English! It can be a very frustrating experience not to be able to express yourself and explain things with a quality you are used to. Many times I have felt like a layman among professionals and struggled to pass meaningful comments. There are still moments I wished I could communicate better but I am glad the worst period is over and things are getting easier when the right words are more familiar.

In order to take my knowledge and skills to the next level I decided to study part-time on BSc (Hons) Equine Sports Science at Hartpury College (University of the West of England).

Education, Experience etc in a nutshell:

• Involved in the equestrian world since 1987
• Teaching riding since 1996
• BHS Level 3 Equine Coach
• Trained with an Olympic rider and competed in show jumping (1996 – 2000)
• Livery Yard Manager – 2.5 years
• MSc (Dist.) Management & Marketing (dissertation on Public Relations matters) (1998-2003)
• Part-time student on BSc (Hons) Equine Sport Science, Hartpury College

Deanna Castro is a Riding Instructor, Horse Trainer, and Instructor Trainer with over 15 years Professional Experience in the Horse Industry.

Deanna has won multiple Grand Champion titles in the show ring, and she teaches riders of all levels and ages. From the recreational rider to potential riding instructor or future horse trainer.

Deanna Castro teaches and trains in Bath, Pennsylvania where she lives with her Husband Horse Trainer Fredi Castro, Daughter, Son, Pug, Cats, and Horses.

Not just one blog for you this week, but all of Anastasia Burke’s blogs.  This girl keeps busy!  If you didn’t hear Anastasia’s inspiring interview in Episode 4, take a listen.  Here are Anastasia’s Blogs:

Box of Stars:  

Perhaps her most inventive blog.  It is a teenage book that Anastasia wrote that she gives you for free one chapter a week.

A NOVEL APPROACH TO A HORSE BLOG:

Follow the fictional adventures of 14-year-old, horse crazy Olivia and her steel grey event horse, Finnegan. A new chapter each week! In between chapters, catch up the latest horse news, read training tips, join our contests, and more!

The Best Horse:

This is Anastasia’s blog that she writes for adults.  Thought provoking and inspirational.

The Cottage at Pilot Hill:

As if Anastasia wasn’t busy enough, she decided to open a Bed and Breakfast on her farm in Pilot Hill, CA.  Bring your horse or ride one of hers.

The Cottage at Pilot Hill is beautifully outfitted in authentic cowboy memorabilia, original fine art, and inviting furnishings. Relax in the comfy sitting room or wander through the French doors to your own private deck, sheltered under the oak trees. Dive into our queen size bed, featuring luxury linens. At the end of a dusty day on the trail, refresh yourself in the newly renovated bath, with a beautiful, spacious, stone tiled shower.

About Anastasia Burke:

We liked this blog for Blog of the Week because it is so well written and attractive.  Plus, it adds an element of horse art in the form of classical writings and poetry.  Only after we contacted the blogger did we learn that the writer for all of this is 17 years old!  Good job Kristen!

More about Kristen and Equestrianism from the blog:

We chose regarding Horses because of Jackie Baker’s excellant coverage of the equine portion of the Olympics.  She had one of the most extensive and well thought out blogs for Olympic coverage this year.  Great Job Jackie!

You can hear her interview on Episode 2.

More about Jackie and Regarding Horses:

Regarding Horses
Regarding Horses is dedicated to researching and analyzing the most current horse industry news, events, and issues and sharing experiences and knowledge. I write from a perspective of horsemanship, passion, respect, and years of experience in riding, showing, teaching, horse care, and volunteering.

Horses are our companions, partners, and friends. And many of us have a special connection with these animals. Whether you grew up on horseback or found them later in life, horses can get in your blood. Some people are merely riders–and not all with equine experience are true horsemen. Real horsemen may have favorite breeds or favorite styles of riding, but can appreciate everything equine. Among other things, they find joy in mucking stalls, reading horse books, loving on any horse in arms reach, learning as much as they can, and talking horses with anybody who will listen.

Jackie Baker
jackie@regardinghorses.com
I am a horsewoman. I was in the saddle before I could even walk, and I just can’t get away. I have years of experience showing in the hunter ring, teaching lessons and camps for kids and adults, taking care of horses, working with therapeutic riding programs, and living, loving, and breathing horses. I learned most everything I know from my mom, who poured her heart out in shaping me to be the horsewoman I am today.

My mom and I have a 19-year-old thoroughbred mare named Penny who she bought off the track and we both trained and showed. We are currently in different states, so I am exercising and training horses of some friends. My best bud is Marahute, an Arab/Appy mare with a lot of personality and too many smarts. Classic is in her mid-twenties and has arthritis in her back hocks and hips, but just doesn’t want to be retired yet. I help keep her exercised. Then there’s Poke, a 10-year-old Quarter horse who belongs to an adult beginner. He’s very willing and knows a lot of the basics, he just needs to get whipped back into shape (I mean that figuratively, of course). I’m also helping with Midnight, a young Missouri Foxtrotter with a bit of a hot head and some spooking issues. Louie is another young Foxtrotter who is fun to play Parelli games with and who constantly flirts with me. One of the best parts of my week is volunteering at Pegasus Farm, a certified North American Riding for the Handicapped facility in Northeast Ohio. It’s one of my greatest joys.

More than anything else, I love to share horses with other people.