Kerri Lukasavitz's Blog, page 2
December 19, 2023
Riding at 60 vs Riding at 20
School Horse, Cowboy
I have settled into a regular riding routine at the dressage barn where I started taking lessons in late October. I go on Wednesdays to only walk Cowboy (who is pictured above) as he heals from a suspensory injury he sustained back in August. He is one of the school horses used for lessons.
The first time I got on him, we walked for maybe half the ring length when he suddenly bucked three times. I pulled on the reins, bringing up his head, and continued to walk him as if nothing had happened. If it wasn’t for my (mostly) relaxed manner in the saddle and an experienced seat, I might have had a different outcome, like ending up in the dirt. It was a clear reminder of what I am doing and what can happen on the back of a horse, even a quiet school horse who rarely behaves that way. I hope I will tuck and roll if I fall off, like I was taught to do when I was a young rider, but I’m not counting on it. I’ve been more timid on some levels, protecting myself from these possibilities.
What is most obvious to me is the way my body has changed - the weight is distributed far differently, which changes my balance even more than when I was riding 13 years ago. This is something I’ve gotten serious about improving. I am following a program through Nicola Smith's Dressage Rider Training. I love her enthusiasm for horses, riding, and training the rider before they get on so their bodies are ready for the demands of riding. Although I seriously strength trained for over a year and a half and have been athletic most of my life, I’ve had a more sedentary lifestyle this past year with the writing of my fourth book and redoing the other three. I barely had time to do anything other than get the writing work done, which did not help my waistline! Now I’m undoing all of that by daily movement and better nutrition. Exercise is a great activity for anyone. It’s definitely a must for riders.
The Author showing Anglo Arab, Taaj, at 14
What I’ve noticed, too, is that I’m not as driven to “succeed” at riding as I was when I was younger. I want to enjoy myself as I learn more about dressage and riding in harmony with a horse. Yes, at some time in the future, it might be fun to ride a basic dressage test at a schooling show, but I’m not focusing on a career with horses like I did when I was in my 20s. I remember being very competitive when I showed a neighbor’s horse, Taaj (above photo). I wanted to win instead of learning from the show experiences. I think I placed second in this 4H show. I most likely needed to work on my correct diagonals, picking up a canter instantly, or any other riding challenge that wasn’t executed perfectly in the ring. I had a lot to learn, more than just bringing home blue ribbons. I just don’t feel that’s why I’m on the back of a horse again. This time it’s for enjoyment only.
School Horse, Gent
This sweet horse is Gent, the gentle school horse I’ve been using for lessons since I started riding at the barn. He has a quiet disposition and manner about him. Riding him has been a wonderful way to be back on a horse without feeling anxious about him being nervous or skiddish or sour. He does take some time to warm up before we do a nice forward trot, but I don’t mind the exercise to get him to move along. Last week my abductor muscles (inner thighs) complained from all of the posting we did, but it was a good ache in my opinion.
The trainer may get impatient with me for not making him go as fast as she wants him to. I think he is reacting to my subconscious “Am I ready yet?” attitude of moving along. In time. We are getting better together. As I spend more time in the saddle, this unconscious “breaking” will come to an end, and I will again feel as confident in the saddle as I was for most of my life. It’s just taking me longer than I though it would. I can’t be too hard on myself. I’ve only ridden six times in the past two months.
The worst part about riding again? Dismounting. When I went on the impromptu trail ride back on Labor Day, I hit my stomach hard on the Western saddle’s pommel. I had black bruises on my belly for months. I still have faint marks. This, of course, makes me nervous to get off the horse. I thought using an English saddle would prevent this, but I was wrong. The first time I swung down I hit my stomach on the side of the saddle too. Not Fun! The trainer and I addressed this last week. She showed me how to (mostly) dismount gracefully or at least not hurt myself. This, like everything else, will take practice, but that’s exactly why I’m doing it again.
Even though I was around horses for nearly 30 years, I have to remember it’s going to take some time for things to come back to me and for me to loosen up in the saddle. I learn something each time I get on or am around the horses. I’m so glad I made the decision to try this again. That inner 10-year-old, horse-crazy kid is a very happy girl again.
MHWF Website.
I donate regularly to the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation. I have followed them for years and send a portion of the book sales to them quarterly and for their annual fall hay drive. They always need donations for the rescued horses they have in their care.
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
December 11, 2023
National Horse Day and Free Ebooks
Photo collage by Rae Rankin
Wednesday, December 13th is National Horse Day. What better way to celebrate than offering Free Horse eBooks!
I have teamed up with some great horse book authors who will also offer a free eBook on the 13th. As you can see from the photo above, I will have Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 4) available for a free download from the above Free Horse eBook link, Amazon, The Fussy Librarian, and Freebooksy.
Remember, this is only offered on December 13th, 2023. Follow the link to discover more horse book authors!
Happy Holidays!
MHWF Website.
I donate regularly to the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation. I have followed them for years and send a portion of the book sales to them quarterly and for their annual fall hay drive. They always need donations for the rescued horses they have in their care.
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
November 28, 2023
Horse Rescues and Giving Tuesday
If there is a cause that is close to my heart, it is horse rescues. I think at one time I considered running one instead of fulfilling the dream to have my own horse farm. It would have been a way to keep the horses I had from ending up in less than ideal situations. If I had the way and the means, I would stop every slaughter pipeline to both US borders and end the trafficking, stop all wild horse “round ups” and let them live in peace, and every other injustice done to theses noble beings. Mankind owes so much to the Horse, certainly more than treating them as disposable when they reach the end of their “useful, working life.”
Photo Pexels
There are many foundations that have been created to help find new homes for horses. Since it is Giving Tuesday for the 20203 Holiday Season, I thought it would be fitting to share a few of these organizations that work so hard to care for the horses and find them new homes. Here is a list of some of the horse rescues you might want to learn more about and donate to:
Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary
Photo Pexels
Let’s make every day a Giving Day and remember to share with those who need it most - those who need us to speak up and take action for their welfare.
MHWF Website.
I donate regularly to the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation. I have followed them for years and send a portion of the book sales to them quarterly and for their annual fall hay drive. They always need donations for the rescued horses they have in their care.
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
November 20, 2023
2023 Horse Books Holiday Gift Guide
Looking for a great place to find horse books for the readers on your gift list? Here is the 2023 Horse Books Holiday Gift Guide. It offers many talented equine authors (including me) and their books in one place. There is a great selection of books for young readers as well as for adults. A little something for everyone!
Here is also the link to ISSUU if you prefer.
Upcoming Author Event
Please join me at Literatus & Co. Bookstore for a few hours of book signing, good conversations, and an all round lovely time at a great local bookstore. Looking forward to meeting you!
MHWF Website.
I donate regularly to the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation. I have followed them for years and would like to someday adopt a suitable horse from them. They are currently seeking donations for their 2023 Hay Drive. They only need $2150 to complete their funding. Please follow the link if you’d like to donate to their wonderful cause. It will feed their rescued horses for the winter and more. Thank you!
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
November 15, 2023
SCBWI 2023 BookStop and the Love of Flash Fiction
I am participating in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators 2023 BookStop Holiday Promo this year. It’s a wonderful way to support international authors and illustrators and their books. From Picture Books to Middle Grade to Young Adult to Nonfiction, there is something for every reader on your holiday shopping list (even you!). Follow the above link to learn more about the diverse authors and illustrators and their work.
One of my favorite writing forms to use when I am not working on a novel (or when I am working on a novel and need a diversion) is flash fiction. The greatest challenge is being given a small word count, like 650 words, and creating a complete story within those perimeters. It is similar to poetry in that every word counts. What I have found is that when I practice flash fiction along with writing a novel, the novel’s prose clears up and becomes tighter too. All writing plays off of each other, whether that is intentional or not. It is all part of the practice of writing.
Here is a flash fiction piece I wrote for the 2020 Lakefly Writers Contest. I was surprised to win the category. The story was inspired from my days working for an antique dealer and selling my own costume jewelry. You never know where a story might come from!
A Most Unusual Find
Artie Fischer liked collecting and selling old things. He and his fourth wife, Norma, had a little shop in one of the old sheds on their old farm filled with an odd assortment of items for sale that were displayed in relative disorder across the worn, wooden floor: rustic furniture needing only some repairs; dusty books on sagging bookshelves; oil-painted portraits of eerie people whose eyes followed you; fragile china stacked haphazardly in a hutch missing both doors; and three glass cases lined up along the long wall, flaunting prized costume jewelry and exceptional trinkets. A painted sign, weathered from too much wind and sun, was propped up at the end of their gravel driveway, indicating they were open for business Thursday through Sunday, with the exception of some weekends when they could be found attending local antique shows.
Estate sales were a treasure boon for the couple’s business. Artie had found some of his most peculiar finds among the bartered odds and ends sold at the end of people’s lives. At a particularly splendid sale, Artie spied a shoe box of tangled costume jewelry set out on a mahogany table, among an assortment of hideous lamps. Curious, he dug through the box. He raised his eyebrows when he moved the snarled necklaces aside and saw what was at the bottom.
“How much?” Artie held up the box and its contents toward the bored estate attendant who surveyed the people whose turn it was to look over the merchandise. Artie was careful to tuck the snarled necklaces back over the bottom.
“What’s in it?” the attendant asked.
“Tangled necklaces, some old plastic bracelets, unmatching earrings.” Artie was mostly truthful.
“What number?” The attendant rifled through his clipboard of papers.
“115.” Artie felt wicked. He glanced around to see where Norma was. She had been two rooms away looking at a pair of overpriced chintz chairs. She was nowhere in sight.
“Um . . . 115 . . . $20.00 for the box of assorted costume jewelry.” The attendant looked at Artie.
“Will you take $10.00?” Artie asked. “It’ll take me hours--”
“Don’t care,” the attendant replied rather annoyed. “$20.00. Take it or leave it.”
“Sold.” Artie paid the attendant and walked out of the room with the box tucked under his arm. He went to find Norma, who was still looking at the pair of chintz chairs.
“What’d you buy?” Norma asked him, nodding toward the box under his arm.
“Costume jewelry.” Artie held out the box to let her see.
“It’s all tangled up!” Norma shouted. “We already have jewelry no one buys. Why’d you get more? Wasted money, you stupid old fool.”
Artie’s cheeks flushed crimson. “Coming?” He turned and started toward the front door.
“No, I want to see the--”
“We’re leaving!” He held the box tighter under his arm.
“Oh, you old coot!” Norma followed him outside.
When they got home, Norma went inside the house and slammed the door, and Artie went inside the little shop to put away his treasure. He flipped on the light switch, and then pushed aside the window’s limp lace curtain to make sure Norma had indeed stayed in the house.
Satisfied, Artie took his box over to the glass counter by the rest of the displayed costume jewelry and unusual trinkets. He picked up the tangled necklaces and promptly tossed them into the garbage can, along with the plastic bangles, unmatched clip earrings, and four fake-jeweled cocktail rings. He picked out the last two remaining items and set them on the countertop before throwing the box in with the rest of the bejeweled trash.
Artie picked up one of the items. He examined a tarnished but beautifully cast woman’s Victorian ring with rosettes and vines curling around the sides and over the dome top. He fumbled along the ring’s dome, but the hidden latch wouldn’t open.
“It’ll still fetch $125.00. Now who’s the old fool?”
He placed it back on the countertop and picked up the second sterling Victorian dome ring. This one was a man’s pinky ring--a most unusual find. He barely touched the edge of the ring’s dome when he heard a tiny clink! The dome opened to reveal a hidden chamber once used to carry a bit of poison for an unsuspecting foe.
Artie laughed like a crazed man, intoxicated on heinous thoughts. Placing the ring on his finger, he blurted out, “There’s always room for a fifth Mrs. Artie Fischer!”
MHWF Website.
I donate regularly to the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation. I have followed them for years and would like to someday adopt a suitable horse from them. They are currently seeking donations for their 2023 Hay Drive. They only need $2200 to complete their funding. Please follow the link if you’d like to donate to their wonderful cause. It will feed their rescued horses for the winter and more. Thank you!
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
November 7, 2023
New Riding Apparel I Love
As I returned to riding, I had to pick up some new riding gear to wear during trail rides and lessons. One of my favorite tops is the Kerrit's Rail Quarter Zip Tech Fleece Top. It comes in five different colors and an extensive line of sizes. I have the Leather Snaffle Harmony (shown above) and the Iris Starlight. It is soft and warm without being too hot, even while riding. I love that it sheds horse hair and dirt and looks great after repeated washes. The length in the back is long enough to be comfortable during riding, which means no bare lower back from shirts riding up.
Dublin Shona Full Seat Denim Breeches are stretchy and comfortable, however I find myself wearing the Piper Stretch Denim Full Seat Breeches by SmartPak far more often. Maybe they fit me better, or they are simply more stretchy and easier to get on and off a horse with than the Dublin pair. Both pairs need a belt, at least for me. They seem to need adjusting and pulling up, especially after walking around the barn - which can be annoying. The “suede seat” on the Dublin pair doesn’t seem to stretch much where the SmartPak Piper breeches do. Both are machine washable and line dry.
I also have a pair of Piper Evolution High-Rise Breeches by SmartPak but have yet to wear them. They seem comfortable enough, but they don’t fit as well as the denim ones do. Again, they will need a belt. I adjust them - a lot - when I’m only trying them on. What are they going to be like if I wear them to the barn? I guess I need to try them out and see what they are like to give an accurate assessment of them.
I love my TuffRider Ladies Derby Leather Half Chaps from Dover Saddlery. I’ve had compliments on them. They are soft leather with durable zippers. (I looked at other half-chap brands and some have very small zippers. I wondered about them holding up with regular riding.) They fit fine right out of the package and are comfortable when riding. The only issue I have is the zipper going up the back of the leg instead of the side. It can be hard to start the zipper from the top if you aren’t a yogini (and I am a yogini). Still, they are attractive and beautifully made. The stretch panels allow for leg contouring and holding them in place while I ride. They look especially smart with my Ariat Ladies Heritage IV Zip Paddock Boots. It’s a nice clean line on my leg.
My Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet also from Dover Saddlery rounds out my new gear. As a former riding instructor, I never let anyone I gave a lesson to get on a horse without a helmet. Period. During my time around hunter/jumper stables, I saw several accidents where the rider thankfully HAD a helmet on and prevented a terrible injury. Helmets protect you. Wear one. This Ovation helmet is **ASTM F1163-15/SEI Certified. Almost all riding helmets will have this certification level for protection. (Please, no bicycle helmets when riding. Wear proper head gear.)
MHWF Website.
I donate regularly to the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation. I have followed them for years and would like to someday adopt a suitable horse from them. They are currently seeking donations for their 2023 Hay Drive. They only need $2475 to complete their funding. Please follow the link if you’d like to donate to their wonderful cause. It will feed their rescued horses for the winter and more. Thank you!
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
November 1, 2023
A Few New Things …
Round Two Tack Shop in Thiensville, WI now carries the Oak Lane Stable Novel Series. I met with Sherri Albinger last week and dropped off several sets of the book series. Of course, I had to shop a bit. Round Two offers consignment for riders and horse equipment, homemade horse treats, blanket cleaning, and brush making. There is a great selection of new and used tack, riding apparel, and gifts to choose from. Stop in and say hello to Sherri or her daughter, Melissa. Kind, welcoming people for horse lovers looking for a new place to buy their gear.
Upcoming Author Events
The Author
Here are a few of the upcoming events I have scheduled in the near future:
River Falls Public Library, Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 10:00 to 12:00
Literatus & Co. Bookstore, Saturday December 2, 2023, from 10:00 to 1:00
More info on my Author Event page here on my website.
New Riding Stable
Meet Gent, the horse I rode for my first lesson at the new barn last Saturday. He is a gentle soul - a Saddlebred and Standardbred mix. It’s hard to put into words just how much fun I had being in a busy barn, grooming and tacking up a horse to ride, then cleaning him up afterwards (although we just walked) and taking him back out to his pasture. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed this horse life.
I have a lesson this afternoon, which I’m about to get ready for. I’ll take a few photos for next week’s post.
Happy horses!
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
October 24, 2023
Photo Shoot Follies
Skip and the author
I was recently featured in a photo shoot requiring horses (more about this soon). I had the best time with them, but as you can see from this photo that Skip had other ideas on how to pose for the picture! There is a cow pasture across the road and one of the cows had a calf. They were bellowing with each other. Apparently, Skip needed to see what was going on behind me. It’s not that this was anything new for him. He is pastured across from them every day, so he must have just been curious about the commotion.
Jester and the author
Jester enjoyed his grazing while we took photos of him and me. It’s a beautiful picture of him, but not so much of me. He was happy to take up all of the limelight in most of the pictures with him in them. We did manage to get a few that we could possibly use for the shoot. When he decided he was done posing for the day, he literally beelined (I couldn’t stop him!) right for Becky Milne , the horses’ and farm’s owner, who was gracious enough to share them all with us for the two and half hours it took to do the photo shoot. The farm environment made for a magical background in all of the photographs.
Stryker and the author
Ah, Stryker, grandson to the great Seattle Slew. He was happiest grazing for photos but not so happy when we wanted to take some poses with him standing near me. He suddenly pulled on the lead rope and insisted on saying hi to the author and model, T.K. Sheffield, who was busy using three cameras for the shoot. He, like Jester, decided when he’d had enough. You can see I’m pulling on the lead with zero response from him and I strength trained!
All in all, it was a successful and fun-filled day. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to be outside and around the animals on the farm.
A huge thank you to T.K. Sheffield and Becky Milne for all of their help!
Eeyore and the author
Finding A Riding Stable Update
Pexels Photo
I am happy to report that last Friday I met with a trainer at a nearby stable who teaches dressage. Although I’ve ridden mostly hunt seat, I am interested in learning more about dressage, basically that beautiful seat where the horse and rider work together in perfect harmony. I have a lot to learn, but I am so happy to be able to ride and be around horses regularly again. My first lesson is this Saturday. I’ll try to remember to take pictures to share next blog entry.
Happy horses!
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
October 10, 2023
Ghost Horse Out This Saturday!
Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 4) is out this Saturday, October 14th. I’m so excited to share the story with you, dear readers!
One of my favorite new characters is young cowboy, Logan Rusniak. When I wrote the scene where he first appears, I expected him to be a different character, someone you will still meet later in the novel. But when I “saw” him in my mind walking into the restaurant where main character, Cassie, is sitting with her friend, Allison, and her boyfriend, Robert, I knew he was definitely NOT the boy I originally thought would be there for the blind date Cassie was begged to go on. This whole date scene is pretty crazy, with plenty of young YA drama.
I wasn’t sure who Logan would become in the story, but he surprised me more than once. I loved adding a Western riding element to the story, where the series previously focused only on the hunter/jumper world. Logan’s love of Quarter Horses shines throughout the novel. He is flawed, of course, but then what character would be any fun to read about if he or she wasn’t? Pretty boring then.
I hope you enjoy meeting Logan and the continuing stories of Cassie, Ingrid, and Allison, who have been there from the start of the series.
Happy Reading!
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
October 2, 2023
Ghost Horse Press Release
I was surprised and delighted to have editor, Piper Klemm, PH.D, at The Plaid Horse magazine include Ghost Horse’s Press Release in their newsletter. Here is the Newsletter Link.
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Contact: Kerri Lukasavitz
Website: www.kerrilukasavitz.com
Triumphing Over Life’s Challenges.
Hartford, Wisconsin (September, 2023) — Overcoming life’s challenges are difficult for adults, but it’s even more so for early teens and their limited experiences. In her latest book, Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Marsh Edge Press), award-winning author Kerri Lukasavitz guides young readers through her characters’ words and actions to choose growth over difficulties when pursuing life's adventures.
Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable is the continuing story of fourteen-year-old Cassie and her showjumper, NightHawk, who is recovering from an injury sustained at an earlier show. She’s allowed to borrow Oak Lane Stable’s showjumper, Ghost Story, as she heads out on the summer show circuit. Although Cassie is an experienced rider, she must adjust to the big, snowy horse if she plans to succeed. Thoughts of easily winning with the seasoned Ghost Story enter her mind, but placing in jumper classes proves to be a problem. Her dad’s unexpected absence at shows and championing her—due to increased travel and work responsibilities—leaves Cassie in an angry, vulnerable state. More tension builds between them—if he’s actually at home— when he casually remarks about the expensive upkeep of a lame, useless horse, tossing around regretting not selling NightHawk when he’d had the chance earlier in the spring, which adds to Cassie’s troubling concerns about being able to keep her horse.
“Confronting the difficult issues of a young girl coming-of-age, the conflicts of friendships, first love, and, of course, horses, presents a compelling story that will attract young horse-loving readers. The plot follows Cassie as she learns to adjust to a new horse and new friends, all while facing the challenges that everything new presents. A descriptive narrative is used well to develop the setting, and the plot and dialogue are effective and believable. The characters are well-presented and defined. This is more than a story about a girl and her horse (or in this case, horses). It’s a story about dreaming big and working hard to achieve those dreams.” —Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Senior Reviewer for Readers’ Favorite.
The novel series is inspired by Lukasavitz’s experience working with horses for almost three decades, with life at two Class-A hunter/jumper stables. “I wanted young readers to learn from strong, dedicated girl characters about the realities of and how much work goes into life around horses, whether that means something as simple as Saturday morning riding lessons or more involved by having their own horse(s),” Lukasavitz says. “It takes strength—physical, emotional, and mental—heart, and devotion to thrive in the horse world, but I also wanted them to see how life at a stable can strengthen friendships, build new ways of relating to others, celebrating goals once they’re met, and the healing power of horses. It’s not an easy life by any means, but it’s full of rich rewards if they’re willing to put in the time to learn.”
Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable is the fourth book in the series for upper Middle Grade readers. Lukasavitz’s first three books—Mystery Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 1), Gray Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 2), and Dark Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 3)—have earned awards for their literary excellence, with Mystery Horse and Gray Horse both Silver Medal Finalists in the Children’s Fiction category for the 2023 & 2022 Midwest Book Awards and Dark Horse a 2023 Nominee for the Eric Hoffer Book Award and the 2022 First Place Winner in Middle Grade Fiction for the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards. Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 4), the final novel to round out the series, will be released mid-October, 2023, just in time for Halloween.
Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 4) paperback ISBN number: 979-8-9882964-2-3 [$13.95 US retail], eBook E-ISBN number: 979-8-9882964-3-0 [$3.99 US Kindle Select]. Published by Marsh Edge Press. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble.com, and everywhere books are sold.
A portion of the book sales are donated to the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation and the Wisconsin Humane Society and the Washington County Humane Society.
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Canva Photo
Finding a Riding Stable Update
I met with the trainer/instructor yesterday at a hunter/jumper barn not far from my home, in a beautiful area where horses grazed in sunny, three-board, fenced-in pastures. I was impressed with her riding philosophy and the care of horses, so no leaving in tears from there. The property was lovely, and I was met by kind people and three happy dogs ready to greet someone new when I sought help to find the trainer, who was finishing up a lesson in the back ring.
I was added to the trainer’s wait list, with hopes of being able to ride regularly with her soon. I haven’t heard back from two other stables that I contacted, so I’ll let them go. There are still a few other places I can inquire about and learn if they are looking for new students, although It seems as if some of the places don’t want or need the new business. In the meantime, I can continue to go trail riding as the weather permits until something more permanent comes along.
I honestly didn’t think this would be so challenging, but maybe I underestimated how busy riding stables are now. I would like to possibly lease (or maybe own) a horse. All I can do is keep trying.
Author Kerri Lukasavitz and the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series: Books written for young readers, but enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages.
