Heather Wallace's Blog, page 2

Keeping Your Horse Husband Happy- and other Impossible Tasks

Just kidding, horse husbands are the best! But we do want to keep them happy. After all, they can either make our hobbies possible or interfere. Are you the type of equestrian that yearns to share horses with your partner? I’m not. I think it is great to have a hobby to share. However, I am a pretty independent person and crave my alone time. For me, my self care involves going to the barn and grooming, spending time in the paddock, or riding. I don’t really want to do that with my husband. In f...

Is My Horse Spicy or Uncomfortable?

When your horse behaves badly under saddle, what do you assume is the reason? Is it better to push on and assume they are just being spicy or to take a step back and look for signs of pain? I know what I prefer.

The Anti-Goal Setter

You Won’t Catch Me Setting a New Year’s Resolution My social media feed is filled with years in review and resolutions for the coming year. It’s rampant. And good for you if that’s your vibe. Honestly, most resolutions last two weeks and fade away into nothingness. Winter is not the time for new beginnings. For me, it’s a time of self care and self reflection. I refer to it as Hibernation Season. The winter season is a time when nature pauses and everything stills. Nature takes a break and pause...

7 Grooming Items My Horses and I Can’t Live Without

I’m not a professional groom, but I do spend a lot of time doing this with my horses as a way to bond and relax together. If you’ve been following along by now you probably know that I have a shopping problem when it comes to horses. Combine that with the fact that my massage clients recommend different things that work for them AND I meet so many wonderful brands at events and conferences through my writing and podcast…well, you see how I could be somewhat of an expert. (Insert my husband’s eye...

I Get My Saddle Evaluated Regularly So I Don’t Break My Horse

I’ve been a bodyworker with multiple certifications for many years. Trust me, I’ve seen a lot. The thing I hate the most, however, is working on a horse to have them feeling there best only to have them ridden in improperly fitted tack and undo all my efforts. The ill effects are instantaneous and significant, especially if you know where to look. That’s why I reached out to my friend, Sabine, a few years ago and asked about her husband’s certification program, SaddleFit4Life. After a lot of res...

I’m Full of $H, I Mean…Excuses

Confession: It’s Easy for Me to Rationalize the Things Holding Me Back. A few years ago I published a fun little book based on excuses equestrians. I had used many myself but it was fun to source them from others and have a little giggle. If I am being honest, and I always try to be honest, I make a lot of excuses to myself. I am slow as molasses when it comes to horse riding and stepping out of my comfort zone. So slow that even I get annoyed with myself. Case in point, I’ve been really wanting...

Is It the Fear of Falling or Something Else?

Recently I sent out a poll to my Timid Riders Community on Facebook asking them what they were most afraid of. As I do, I take from my own life for examples and listed a number of things that have given me fear or nerves over the years. For example, I listed: Jamie from Horses in the Morning made a really good point- all of these can be tied to the fear of falling off. I just never really focused down or saw that fall off could be the result of the other things like riding a new horse or jumping...

The Power of Mindset in Riding

Confession: Two rides, two mindsets, two vastly different experiences. I rode two horses when I traveled last in Mongolia. The first experience was disappointing and the second was exhilarating. The difference wasn’t the horse, it was my mindset. Most people think that I am scared or unable to ride when that could not be farther from the case. I love horses and most often find my time with them incredibly relaxing. However, periodically I experience periods of anxiety or even panic attacks. In t...

Safer on the Ground or In The Saddle? It Depends On The Horse Of Course

Obviously I identify as a timid rider. As such, I may have skill but I tend to over think things, expect the unexpected, and prefer a slow but steady approach to anything I do. The term I like to use is CAREFUL. Trail riding is my favorite pastime with horses. Of course, in my opinion it comes with the most risks of unanticipated consequences. Perhaps it’s ironic that a timid rider such as myself prefers such a risky past time. Psychologically I wonder if there are so many variables to consider ...

Leveling Up the Equestrian Dream- Taking the Leap and Buying a Horse Property

Confession: my husband and I just bought a dream home in Vermont with 10 acres. You can bet I’m planning to bring my horses. Since I was a little girl I dreamed of waking up to my horses grazing outside my window, their nickers greeting me for the day. It’s always been that, a dream. I bought my first pony when I was 41. A little later in life but totally worth the wait. For years my husband has teased about one day perhaps having a little property in New Jersey. Somewhere close where we could h...