It's always nice to see your horse doing this after recovering from a hoof abscess.

I free-lunged Limerick on Sunday to see how her feet were. To my relief, she was sound and I was able to ride her Monday and yesterday.

Here are a couple clips from Sunday:

Quick update: Limerick, Calusa Red breaking his maiden, and Deaf Women History Month

Limerick developed a hoof abscess a couple weeks ago so our riding has been on hold, unfortunately. She seems to be slowly returning to normal, however, so hopefully we're back in the swing of things soon. She has been doing well otherwise, and has her boyfriend Call Shot wrapped around her little hoof.

Lim after being groomed last night. She is not impressed by camera phones!

Christine's homebred racehorse, Calusa Red, broke his maiden in his third start last Saturday. I was already there to shoot the Illinois Derby so the timing couldn't have been better. I was absolutely thrilled and that race was the most exciting part of the week. You can see these photos on my Medium publication, Racing Reviewer.

Lastly, I came across this article today about Deaf Women History Month. The article was published April 1 and Deaf Women History Month is apparently March, so the timing is a little odd, but I thought it was pretty cool. I can attest that intense observations of social behavior and a deep sense of empathy are traits that I also carry with me. 

The dapples are emerging, so spring is officially here.

Limerick's dapples have begun to emerge from beneath layers of shedding winter hair and dirt, not unlike the blades of green grass and daffodil leaves emerging in yards and gardens around here.

I am no poet but I was inspired to write this:

Dead vegetation

And hair

Flattened by pressure

From wind and hand

Float away

To feed the earth

And leave behind

Blooming dapples and life

A deaf receptionist in the White House

Today I read this article about a deaf woman acting as the gatekeeper to the Oval Office--and the President.

I think that's quite amazing, and I hope that people around the country read this and realize that there is little that the deaf cannot do.

It's been 7 years since I last needed to search for a job but I remember the discrimination I faced during the search. In fact, this blog was started during that time frame partly in response to that discrimination.

In the years before and since, I have encountered discrimination in various forms. I have a thick skin and most of the barbs tossed my way--whether intentional or not--don't penetrate because the people doing the throwing have no power over me. But once in a while, they do have such power--nurses, doctor's office managers, potential employers, friends, family members, and so on. And most of these people are basing their discrimination upon what they assume I cannot do.

And in assuming, they forget what I can do, and what I am--an intelligent, creative, observant, capable individual. The only thing I cannot do for certain is talk on the phone, which isn't a big deal in this era. My only request is that people look at me when talking to me so that I may read their lips.

Most of us have limitations. What are yours? How do you work around them--if at all?

19 years

To my darling Limerick,

Happy 19th 'anniversary'.

Much love, 

Me

Racing Reviewer: Racing in New Orleans: Two Loves

Some places touch a deep part of your soul. For me, New Orleans and its heady weird beauty is such a place. Each time my plane descends towards Louis Armstrong International Airport, over the resplendent gray-blue expanse of Lake Pontchartrain and the silty ribbon of the Mississippi, with its barges and tugboats and green grassy banks, my heart skips like a happy colt and a part of me feels like I’ve come home.

Continue reading at Racing Reviewer...

Before and after: a grooming saga

Mud, mud, mud everywhere. Yet it's too cold to give your horse a bath. The months of March and April can really test your horse grooming skills.
 

Yesterday a friend sent me a photo of Lim in turnout. My darling mare looked adorable, of course, but boy was she dirty! It was time for a deep grooming session, which can be fun when you have a quirky mare.

First I used a metal curry to remove all the mud and loose hair. She dozed off during this section. Next, I used a double-sided rubber curry (one side has large nubs and the other side has fine ones) to curry her hair and skin. She didn't doze off during this section, but she stood patiently. Next I used a stiff body brush to whisk away dust and loose dirt. She eyeballed me during this section but made no complaints otherwise. Lastly, I sprayed Vetrolin Shine onto a horsehair finishing body brush to complete the body grooming session. She pinned her ears and let me know she wasn't too pleased with this delicate brush. 

Next I sprayed her tail and mane liberally with Vetrolin Shine. I then brushed her tail out, from bottom to top. I haven't brushed it all winter so it took a while--you don't want to pull on the knots.

Then I brushed her mane very well and gave it a light trim to tidy up the uneven edges.

Lastly, I groomed her face and head. 

The entire session took about 1.5 hours but it was so worth it, and the liberal applications of Vetrolin Shine will make it easier to remove any fresh mud she rolls in.

"Stop, no photos please!" (photo courtesy Mary)

"Photos are perfectly okay."