Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

Photo courtesy of David Singleton

As I reflect back upon the year 2009, I realize how much has happened in such a relatively short span of time.  One year ago, I could never have imagined that I would be at this place in my life today.  Time and again I am reminded that what we hold in our hand one moment could be shattered into a million glittering pieces the next, with only the slightest wrong movement.  While I would never have chosen to take this path, I am learning every day that I can use those glittering shards of my former life to create something new and beautiful.  Out of the remnants has risen this website, which has challenged me creatively.  I am so thankful for what I’ve already accomplished here and what is to come (more on that in the coming weeks!).  I have created and seized opportunities to meet new people and make new friends, both through this blog and in my everyday life.  I don’t know how I would have gotten through some of the darkest passages without the support of the people in my life.  So thanks you all of you:  the girls that drag me out when I’m feeling down, the family that comes anytime I call, and the loyal readers that keep coming back to read what I have to say…. When 2010 arrives, I’ll be toasting to each of you.  Happy New Year!  Best wishes to everyone for a healthy, happy, and horsey start to the new decade!

Photo courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

Over and over I find myself singing the praises of living in Central Florida.  I’m starting to feel like I should be earning a commission from the Florida Tourism Board!  But it’s true – I feel incredibly grateful to live in a community with all the benefits of city life that still embraces green spaces and wildlife.  When many people think of the Orlando area, they think “Mouse Town!”  But in my opinion, far too many people are drawn here to visit Disney and fail to experience all the other gems that we have to offer.  Here are some of my favorite things about the place I call home:

Little Big Econ State Park

One of my absolute favorite weekend destinations (and one that I’m sure to be visiting frequently during my upcoming holiday vacation days) is the Little Big Econ State Forest.  Despite the funky name, this park is a great place to visit – either on foot, bike, or by horseback.  Grady and I have spent many a day wandering through the numerous wooded trails spotting wildlife.  I even went out once on Tiny, but we got a little lost and I think I scared Emma off of trail riding with me in the real forest for good!  We’ve seen a great deal of wildlife in these woods, including numerous bird species, alligators, snakes, bald eagles, and otters.  We’ve also seen evidence of wild pigs on many occasions.  In some parts of the park, the trail follows along the riverbank and you can sometimes find canoists camping along the banks.  This network of trails is an amazing, meditative place to spend a day exploring the natural world that lies just minutes from the downtown city of Orlando.

Fleet Peeples Dog Park

When Grady and I aren’t trekking through the wilderness, you can often find us hanging out at Fleet Peeples Park, easily the BEST dog park I have ever seen.   This 23 acre park is everything a dog could want and more.  The park is entirely fenced and has a large wooded section along one side with trails for walking.  A beach area borders the enormous lake where dogs frolic and splash in the water.  Pavilions with grills, a well appointed bathroom, and plenty of benches and trash cans make owners happy.  There is even a dog wash station where you can remove the sandy evidence of the day’s fun before heading home.  On weekends dogs can easily number more than 50, but generally things are all in good fun.  And the best part is that Fleet Peeples is just down the street from yet another of my favorite Saturday haunts:  the Winter Park Farmer’s Market!

Photo courtey of Natalie Maynor

Farmer’s Markets abound in central Florida and we have the option to be quite picky when it comes to the ones we frequent.  There are several wonderful weekend markets nearby, but I particularly like Winter Park’s Farmer’s Market.  Winter Park is a charming little locale and is very dog friendly.   The market is fairly large and offers a wide selection of produce, baked goods, cheeses, plants, crafts, and so much more!  You can often even find ethnic goods like Brazilian ice cream (mmm, the corn flavor is the best!) or British specialties.  My friends and I will often make a day out of going to the farmer’s market – do some shopping, nosh on some tasty treats, and meander over to the nearby Starbucks to finish up our conversations.   Great fun!

Finally, it wouldn’t be a Thankful Thursday if I didn’t make some mention of horses, right?  Since moving to Central Florida 10 years ago, I have become almost nonchalant about the sheer number and quality of horses, tack and feed stores, and trainers that populate this area.  I can recall the days of traveling anywhere between 5 and 12 hours to get to a trainer that could help me prepare for a National level show.  Since moving here, I have been fortunate enough to be selective about who I choose and why.  At one point, I used 4 different trainers – 3 of which were within a twenty minute drive from my barn, and all of which were champions in the style of riding I used them for.  Sometimes, when I actually stop and think about my horse life ten years ago I remember to be thankful that I can swing by one of the tack stores on the way home from work or call a neighbor to borrow an item I might need in an emergency.

All in all, I love it here.  I love the green spaces, the horse and dog friendly atmosphere, and the abundance of entertaining activities to suit any interest or mood. 

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

Image courtesy of j_barakat_luver, photobucket

Ahhh, here we are, approaching the holidays at breakneck speed.  Everywhere I turn there are holiday tunes in the background, blinking lights on the trees, something to remind me how thankful I am for this season.  It brings out the child in me and takes me back to a time when purple ponies with sparkles on their butts arrived under the Christmas tree.  For the first 12 years of my life, my Christmas list started off the same:  Can I get a horse?  A palomino?  And can it live in the backyard?  Never did get a palomino, but I was fortunate to have horses in my backyard for many years.  And each Christmas reminds me of those days when purple ponies had to suffice and how, with a little creativity, they were able to fill my aching need for a horse.

Another of my favorite reasons for the season is the proliferation of holiday parties and festive gatherings.  As those who know me can attest, I have a long standing love for cocktail dresses that falls behind only horses, dogs, and chocolate on my list of addictions (no, chocolate and formal wear are not mutually exclusive in my world, at least at the moment).  Holidays also remind me of my childhood when my cousin Jenn would come to visit from out of town for the week and our parents would hit the malls for returns or after Christmas sales.  Invariably, Jenn and I would spend our time in the formal wear section trying on a multitude of dresses and dreaming of the events that we might one day wear them to.  That hobby blossomed into a full blown addiction that resulted in a closet full of formal dresses ‘just in case’ I ever needed them.  A couple of years ago I accepted that neither my hips nor my wallet (nor my closet, actually) could sustain that addiction any longer and I donated the dresses to charity.  Imagine my excitement when I was invited to an office holiday party this year by a new friend.  Even better, I had to go shopping for a new dress.  I’m afraid the addiction may have been rekindled…

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

Image courtesy of John Talbot

Fall has finally arrived here in Florida.  The past couple of weeks has brought a chill to the air and crisp, clear mornings.  Most Floridians will tell you that while we love our tropical summers, by September we’re ready to cool off.  This year, fall was late in arriving as we sweltered on through October’s muggy, humid days.  So our “cold front” that traveled through here about a week ago makes my top Thankful Thursday moment this week.  Why? you might ask as much of the country is blanketed in snow and trudging wearily through winter.  This is one of my favorite times of year, that’s why.  I love the day when I realize I can put down my windows on the way home from work and feel the wind in my hair as I sing along to the radio at the top of my lungs.  I love opening the windows on a cold night and burrowing under the covers, curled up with Milo lying against me as we listen to crickets chirping.  And finally, I love sitting around a fire on a cold winter night smelling the wood smoke and watching the sparks jump from the flames.  Happy December to everyone!

Image courtesy of webhamster, Flickr

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

Today, you lucky readers get a double shot of Thankful Thursday!  I have been remiss in my posting duties recently and I let last Thursday go by without mention.  Since this is a special week, I can justify a double feature, right?  Here goes…

Last week’s Thankful Thursday should have been about my dear friend Emma and her girl Abby.  Way back in the early days of this website, I talked about Abby’s experience with founder.  Poor old girl’s had a rough year, between a serious shoulder injury and the founder, and has been laid up more often than not.  It took longer than expected for Abby’s recovery this time around, and between family obligations and Abby’s bad luck, Emma’s been out of the saddle a lot lately.  Aside from the obvious reasons why this is sad, I selfishly miss our time together, trail riding and chatting for hours.  Imagine my joy when last week Emma told me she’s begun riding Abby again!  The countdown is on to our next trail ride/girl time!  Even more exciting is that Abby was thrilled to be working again and was even more responsive and well behaved than she normally is.  I am so happy for Emma and Abby (and for me) that they are finally nearing the end of the path toward recovery.

On a more personal note, I am very grateful this Thanksgiving week to be so fortunate in my life.  I am more than lucky to be surrounded by my beloved animals, loving family members, and fantastic friends (both new and old).  I am enjoying this point in my life more than I could have imagined.  I am also so thankful to all the readers who have jumped onboard here and made my transition into the adventure of writing so enjoyable.  I feel that my world is ever expanding as a result of the connections I have made through FromTheHorsesBack and I am greatly enjoying the ride!  As we stand on the cusp of a new year, I am looking ahead with excitement for all the things to come.  Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Thankful Thursday to everyone!  I hope you all have a great day.   

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

This week, I am thankful for all the love I am surrounded with every day:

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

This past Sunday I headed to the barn after a relaxing morning.  It was one of those technicolor days where life had an extra brilliant glow and the breeze hinted at fall, although the sun beat down on us relentlessly.  I saddled Tiny and we headed into the arena for a workout.  The farm was all ours for the morning.  Silence echoed around us and the only other activities were the chickens pecking around the barn and Grady keeping watch from his post in the grass.  I started off our workout with some bending and a slow warm up, just enjoying spending time with my girl.  After we warmed up, I asked Tiny to canter and something magical happened.  She cantered off as always, but I had the most overwhelming sense of wanting to run.  I could feel her muscles taut and strong beneath me, just the slightest hint of spring in her step.  I leaned forward the tiniest bit, urging her on with my seat.  She instantly responded and surged off into a gallop around the arena, her neck stretched long and low, nostrils flared.  We rode like this around and around the arena and for just an instant I was a child again, racing up the hills surrounding our old Pennsylvania farm without a care in the world.  Another lap and I was invincible and powerful, hair whipping around me and tears streaming from my eyes while I laughed joyfully.  We ran until Tiny was lathered and I was exhausted and panting.  I haven’t had so much fun on my little mare in a long, long time.   

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

It’s commonly known that Grady has been suffering from allergies for most of the summer.  I did my research and my shopping and cooked up my potions until I found one that worked to prevent the awful Staph infections he has suffered from in the past.  I’ve been feeling quite pleased with myself – we’ve made it through the summer without needing a single visit to the vet, not one steroid or antibiotic.  But there’s been one nagging question:  why does he keep licking?  His skin looked fine – maybe just anxiety from our move and the resulting upheaval in pack dynamics?  Fleas?  Food allergies?  Nothing seemed to fit and nothing relieved the itching and licking – bad enough, but never quite that bad as to warrant a visit to the vet.  A couple of weeks ago, I started to notice that Grady was becoming a little greaseball.  At first, I blamed myself for slacking off on our weekly bathing ritual.  Then the wheels FINALLY started to roll in my rusty brain.  I recalled back to late last summer, during one of Grady’s numerous vet visits, when he was diagnosed with a yeast infection.  At the time, he had Staph, yeast, hot spots, sores, bald spots – you name it!  I had no idea what a yeast infection on its own looked like.  But it popped into my head and so I started hunting around online for some information on yeast infections in dogs.  It didn’t take long to confirm my suspicions.  I immediately booked Grady in for an exam, where he was prescribed anti-fungal medication to combat the infection.  So why did I choose this for my Thankful Thursday topic of the week?  Mostly because I am so glad that Grady is finally feeling better.  I got my dog back after such a long time that I forgot what I’d been missing (2 days after he started his meds, I came home to find that he’d helped to shred the bag of styrofoam that was ready to go to recycling).  I’m also thankful that I learned something new about Grady’s predisposition to skin afflictions.  Maybe next time I’ll catch it a lot sooner and spare us all the extended suffering.

I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about yeast infections in dogs and what to look for, in case you might be having a similar problem.  Last summer, Grady went to 4 different vets for treatment before yeast was diagnosed.  If you have a dog with allergies, or any type of skin condition, please consider having him checked for a yeast infection.  Yeast often piggybacks on other infections and the use of antibiotics to combat bacterial infections can allow the yeast to take hold.  Once you get the original infection cleared up, the symptoms return rapidly as the yeast proliferates.  So what should you look for?

• Excessive itching or licking, can be anywhere but often ears, lips, genitals, inner thighs, and between toes are affected
• Greasy hair and skin
• Stinky dog smell
• Discharge from ears
• Gas/bloating
• Joint pain

It is important to note that there may be no obvious skin lesions present.  Grady’s skin looked healthy and normal, even despite the scratching and licking.  If you notice excessive itchiness, take your dog in for a checkup.  Yeast can be diagnosed quickly and easily and your pooch can be on the mend before you know it.  If you’d like further reading on the topic, check out the following links:  Patterson and Frank article, Brooks article

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

This week, I am incredibly grateful that I am still employed.  I have witnessed more than a few people recently lose their jobs and I am appreciative that I am still bringing in an income.  Bringing this point home even further, I have had two major financial challenges in the past two weeks and it’s scary to realize that if I were unemployed right now, my life would currently be taking a sharp left turn into a very unhappy place. 

On a more positive note, I am very thankful that my sister Melanie has had the opportunity to get back one of her old horses that was sold many years ago.  I know how much this mare meant to her and how hard it was to part with her way back then.  In the same vein, thanks are owed to the Schembri family and Char-o-Lot Ranch for making it possible for “Strawmaid” to return home.  Stay tuned for more on this story next week. 

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.