Kerri Lukasavitz's Blog, page 3

Second Time in the Saddle …

I’m on the left with Hoss, and my writing and riding friend, T.K. Sheffield, is on the right with Willow.

My dear writing and riding friend, T.K. Sheffield (whose debut cozy mystery, Model Suspect, is due out November 14) and I spent a morning trail riding at Bob Paluso Guest Ranch last week. I was happy to be back in the saddle again after only a week’s time, and it was T.K. Sheffield’s first time on horseback in several years.

The weather was perfect: a cool 60 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze. A nice change from the 90s of the previous week. Our guide, Chloe, was so much fun. It was wonderful to ride with someone who is a true horsewoman, especially at such a young age. You are in good hands if you go trail riding with her.

T.K.Sheffield on the left, Chloe our guide in the middle, and me on the right.

We weren’t too sore afterwards. I was earlier in the week, after my first ride. Abductor muscles (inner thigh) are seldom used for other sports. Mine complained for a few days, but I did yoga and helped stretch them out. I’ve since started a workout routine that incorporates walking, yoga, and strength training, plus some Pilates just added. I cannot ride without proper flexibility and strength. The best cure for sore muscles is, of course, more time in the saddle. It’s truly the only way to gain the fitness needed to be on a horse regularly.

Chloe on Bebe on the left, me on Hoss, and Willow’s ears.

I have to admit that I’ve been a lot happier since starting back riding again. Horses are a part of my soul, something I was born with. I get mad at myself for putting this off for so long when It’s obviously a deep passion of mine. I suppose I told myself more than once, “Some day I’ll ride again …” except when would that have been if I hadn’t jumped at the chance recently? If the Queen rode daily until she was in her 90s, I could get back on in my 60s. I’m blessed to be healthy and able to do this. I want to keep riding now that the “Horse Bug” has bitten me again.

Hoss and me after our ride.

As I write this, I’m looking for a barn near me to ride at regularly and maybe even lease a horse. I have a meeting on Sunday with a woman who runs the riding program at a nearby hunter/jumper stable. She has a wait list, so I’m not sure how far this will go (hopefully, though …). I visited a lesson barn last Friday and literally left in tears. No need for details, but it was definitely a NO for me. I had high hopes for riding there weekly with a small group of adult riders but had to walk away. There is also a stable close by who leases horses for riding, along with weekly lessons (this is part of the agreement) that sounds promising. I’m waiting for a response from the owner when she has time for me to visit and go over more details. So, hang on. I’ll have more details next post. Wish me luck!

Happy riding!

Pre-Order Ebook

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.

Goodreads Giveaway!

From now until September 27, 2023, enter to win one of ten signed copies of the award-winning, new edition of Dark Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 3) through Goodreads Giveaway .

Here are a few reviews for the middle-grade horse book:

“This book will hold special appeal for those who are interested in what life is like in the world of equestrians. The author is a lifelong horsewoman, both a rider and a teacher. Her expertise shines forth in her prose.” —Maryann Macdonald, author of Rosa’s Animals: The Story of Rosa Bonheur and Her Animals, and over 30 children’s books

July 2022 issue of the online book review magazine "Children's Bookwatch.” Diana Perry, Reviewer: “This coming-of-age book has everything a young girl could want - danger, teen romance, life-changing decisions, and, of course, horses.”

“Dark Horse at Oak Lane Stable has a hybrid structure that combines a sports story with the hint of ‘Black Beauty.’ It’s a satisfying story, one that will give you a good look at kindness and courage” —Vincent Dublado, Reviewer for The Readers’ Favorite

“Middle grade libraries, strong in stories about horses and coming of age, will find ‘Dark Horse at Oak Lane Stable’ a multifaceted, compelling tale that lures leisure readers with entertainment value, but offers so much more.” —Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer for Midwest Book Revi

Read a Chapter Excerpt here:

Good Luck entering!

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.

Re-branding the Horse Book Series

Old and new editions of Dark Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 3)

When I took over the publishing of the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series, I knew I wanted to make a completely fresh start with them, especially since Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 4) is being added to the mix. Although I thought the old covers were fine, I wanted to find images that spoke more directly to the younger readers, something they could relate to when they were curious about reading the stories. - an added human factor that I thought was necessary for the books.

Three different book covers for Mystery Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 1)

Since Mystery Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 1) was first published in October, 2017, it has undergone three cover changes as you can see in the photo above, mostly due to having new publishers. The first cover in the upper left hand corner was something I thought would be interesting. I was given three photos to choose from and thought this one was the best of the choices I had. Although it is definitely a show jumper rider, if you look at the hands you will see it is a man riding the bay horse. I also hadn’t given much though to the direction of the photo. I was taught a very basic lesson in design school: we read from left to right and from the top down. Images carry direction and this rider is galloping away from opening the book. It might have worked better if the image had been reversed and it was a young female rider.

The second cover in the upper right corner does have the horse looking to the right, so the direction is correct. He (or she) is a lovely horse. I liked this cover much better than the first one. The only thing was that it didn’t clearly reflect the book being written for young readers 9 to 12 or so. Being someone who gravitates to any book with a horse on the cover, I wasn’t too worried about it not attracting attention from my readers.

The newest cover on the bottom is my favorite one so far. I love how the girl and her bay horse have this great connection between them. It was exactly what I was looking for. I then had to find three other photos for the other books in the series that had a similar feel to them so they all read “this is a series” better than it had. Fortunately, I was able to locate them after a long search.

In the photo above, the old covers in the series are on top and the new editions run along the bottom. There is a definite “series” feel to the new covers when they are all together. I think they clearly read “books for young readers” much better than before, but that’s my opinion of them. You may not agree.

Of course, Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 4) stands alone in its only cover so far. I had a few other covers I tried, but this one stood out for me. Who knows how its cover may change over the next few years, if it does. I never thought Mystery Horse’s would change, but then we can never predict the directions our lives will take us. That’s one of the great things about life - its miraculous unfolding.

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.

Back in the Saddle Again …

Hoss and me getting acquainted.

Well, I finally did it. After being away from riding for 13 years (and almost to the day), I went on a two-hour trail ride with my husband and two of our friends - both of them wanting time on a horse before their ride-in hunting trip out west. I said I would be happy to ride with them if they wanted someone they knew to go along and help out if needed. Of course, I really didn’t need much of an excuse to get back on a horse, but it certainly presented itself in a timely manner. A call was placed to Bob Paluso Guest Ranch and arrangements were made to ride for two hours - plenty of time to be in a saddle for those new to riding and those of us with too many years in between getting on and riding regularly. I cautioned against riding for four hours (a possibility) since none of us was conditioned for riding. (I knew that would be way too long for us.)

I’m getting ready to mount up.

When we first got to the ranch, there were several horses tied up inside the indoor arena waiting for their riders. I had to say hello to each of them. I was allowed to help groom the horses, too, something I always enjoy doing and did plenty of when I was in charge of the school horses used for lessons when I worked at the first hunter/jumper stable in my youth. It wasn’t long before the horses were tacked up, and we were ready to get on.

I wasn’t the least bit nervous. I actually looked forward to getting back in the saddle and trail riding in the Northern Unit Kettle Moraine State Forest, a beautiful location to enjoy the outdoors and be in nature. I swung up onto my horse, Hoss, (not as gracefully as I did in my youth!) and was ready for our trail adventure with the other riders and guides. We rode around the fenced-in outdoor arena for some quick lessons in controlling the horses and then headed out to the trails. It was sunny and hot, but we rode mostly in the shade of the forest.

I was glad my seat and leg position were still on point, even though I hadn’t ridden in years. One’s body doesn’t forget decades in a saddle. I do yoga and walk, but those aren’t enough to stay conditioned to ride. Only specific training and time in a saddle prepares and strengthens your leg muscles seldom used for anything else. You need a lot of strength, flexibility, and stamina to ride, something I will be working on now. Mounting and dismounting were true indicators of what had changed for me over the years. Neither one was “easy” for me anymore. I need to lighten up and practice again.

Hoss and me enjoying the trail ride (I’m in the blue cap).

I’m not sure why I hadn’t returned to riding earlier than now. It wasn’t that I was afraid to get back on. I’m sure I made plenty of excuses not to ride and be around horses again, but when I look back at that it seems silly. How could I push aside such a big part of me, a part I was born with? Perhaps “better late than never” applies here. I think about how much time has passed when I could have been riding again. Life is meant to be lived, not to sit idly on the sidelines. We need to pursue our dreams, mine included.

I did something today to keep moving forward: I ordered a pair of full-seat breeches and half chaps for riding English and riding jeans for Western trail rides. I already have a helmet and two pairs of riding boots, so I’m set for now. If I have the gear, I can’t make any excuses not to ride. Now, I need to contact a stable near me and schedule lessons as well as return for trail rides at Bob Paluso Guest Ranch, which I highly recommend. They have a great staff and a string of well-trained horses that are perfect for any riding level. Maybe I will have the chance to meet you when you ride.

Happy Trails!

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.

Equestrian Author Carly Kade

Photo courtesy Shelley Paulson Photography

I first met Equestrian Author Carly Kade when I reached out to her to be included on her amazing Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast, a podcast where she interviews other authors devoted to writing about horses - fiction and nonfiction. (I recommend visiting the site and contacting her to be included on the podcast if you are an equestrian author. She is delightful to work with.)

I learned that she was the author of a four-book, cowboy romance series and offered to read and review her books (you can find the other reviews on Goodreads and Amazon). I read Books 1 (In the Reins) and 2 (Cowboy Away), then Book 4 (Beyond Eight Seconds) when she released it before I could get to Book 3 (Show Pen Promise). I was able to read Show Pen Promise recently and here is my review:

“A wonderfully entertaining read. "Show Pen Promise" is the third book in Carly Kade's “In the Reins” four-book series, a series that follows the lives and romantic relationship between main characters Devon and McKennon and their life at Green Briar farm. The first two books - "In the Reins" and "Cowboy Away" - deal with Devon's and McKennon's budding and tumultuous love affair, with its many roadblocks, but "Show Pen Promise" moves forward to their growing commitment to each other and a long, sought-after resolution for their lives together. The story/series is perfect for anyone interested in a cowboy love story and, of course, horses. You might want to read the first two books in the series to fully understand the drama between Devon and McKennon. Not that the books can’t stand alone, but it’s worth learning about how they met and what shadows of the past threaten to keep them apart. Besides, if you do start on Book 3, you will want to go back and read the others - they are that good.”

”Carly Kade's storytelling is well-done - a definite page-turner (there are some spicy spots!), but what I love most about Kade's work is her attention to horsemanship and the proper way to train and handle horses that are a part of each of her stories. It's obvious she is an accomplished horsewoman. She uses this knowledge as she writes about Devon and McKennon training Willa, a young Palomino Paint, for the Congress Championship for two-year-old Quarter Horses and all of the challenges they encounter. Kade's stories are fun to read. I hope she continues to write new books for her fans.”

I am always a little jealous (in a good way) of authors who not only write about horses but own them too. (It would probably be a good idea if I found my way to a stable soon!) Above is a photo of Carly with her two beautiful horses. As a reader, owning or being around horses in some capacity always lends credibility to the stories authors write. You can see and feel it in their words. Horses and riding can be “researched,” but that seldom holds a candle to someone with years of experience around them. Carly is an accomplished horsewoman. You will sense when you read her books.

You can learn more about Carly Kade Creative and her love for horses at this link.

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.

Goodreads Giveaway!

From August 16 through August 26, 2023, enter to win one of ten signed copies of the new edition of Gray Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 2) through Goodreads Giveaway . Good Luck entering!

Book blurb: A young rider. A jealous rival. Who will win?

Cassie Piotrowski is alarmed. After excitement peaks when she and her new hunter mare, Snowdrops, are on track to be the Children’s Hunter Equitation Champion, the thirteen-year-old equestrian’s confidence vanishes after discovering a threatening note and then two more in her show trunk, warning her she better stop winning or else…

But the determined young rider is surprised at how quickly she caves into the mounting bullying. Wishing she could safely tell someone about the intimidation, Cassie carries the secret alone, doing the best that she can but unconsciously messing up the easy-to-win classes.   

Will Cassie find the courage to compete and make her dream of earning the championship come true, or will she hopelessly give in to the threats of a mystery tormentor? 

Gray Horse at Oak Lane Stable is the award-winning second book in the middle grade Oak Lane Stable Novel Series. If you like friendship bonds, horse adventures, and coming-of-age stories, then you’ll enjoy Kerri Lukasavitz’s engaging tale.

To learn more and read a chapter excerpt, please visit Kerri Lukasavitz

Welcome Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 4)! Coming October, 14, 2023.

Ghost Horse Cover Reveal

Three covers not chosen for the new Ghost Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 4) coming October 14, 2023

When creating a new book, authors are as invested in a new cover as much as the new story. One of our worst nightmares is ending up with a cover image we don’t like. How are we expected to promote the book we lovingly created when the cover is awful? It happens. I was fortunate to always have a say in the covers (mostly) with the first two publishers and now by designing them myself.

The first book cover on the left was only a mock-up. I never intended it to go further than that. It did resemble the other older covers the series had, but I wanted something more interesting when the time came to create the new cover when the book was written. It’s a beautiful horse, but not really what I wanted.

The second cover was more interesting. I tried to do a ghost-like image and was somewhat successful. But as I finished the book, this cover did not portray what eventually happened in the end, so I gave it a no. I like the movement of the vapor and the horse looking directly at the reader, but it isn’t a spooky story. I wanted the cover to reflect what really happened inside and on the pages.

The third cover is cute, but … Yes, there is a love interest who happens to be a young cowboy, but again this cover doesn’t truly reflect the whole story, only one part of it. I showed the thumbnail idea to another writer friend of mine who liked the image. It came down to this cover or the one that I will reveal on Thursday. After much deliberation, the other cover won out because it was more in line with the other new covers and fits the series’ new look much better. You may or may not agree when I reveal the cover, but decisions had to be made in a timely manner. I had to chose and move on.

Perhaps I’ll have inspiration for a new series and can put a young cowboy on the cover. I have thought about a spin off from this series and using some of the new characters, but we will see. It would be fun to write from a boy’s perspective. Would I be any good at it? I’m not sure, but it might be something to consider. I have been asked in the past to write novels intended for young boys. Maybe now that the Oak Lane Stable Novel Series is complete, I can move onto something new for them.

Happy reading!

Put in the Time

Canva Photo

I recently read Kathleen Lindley Beckham’s book, Discovering the Work: How a Stroke Allowed Me to Discover a More Symbiotic Way of Working with Horses. Chapter 18, Doing Our Time, spoke to me on several levels. Beckham says:

“There is no substitute for doing the work. No book, no DVD, no daydream can replace the actual hands-on experience of working with horses. All that other study helps, of course, but we still have to go out and do the work.”

It’s true. Even though there is a desire to ride (or follow any passion), everyone starts at the beginning and works their way through the lessons they will have. Those experiences become a toolkit of sorts to build on and move up to more advanced skills. There are no short cuts.

I was at a county fair this past weekend and watched a young rider trying to cue his horse to canter on its left lead in the practice ring, which was next to the main show ring that was in session. It was obvious to me that he had skipped doing the work at home and was not only frustrating himself but his horse as well. The constant thumping of his heels against his horse’s sides and the horse’s nose held high in the air to avoid the yanking reins ruffled this former-riding instructor’s feathers. If he had ridden regularly, with an attention to working out these issues BEFORE he was due to go in the ring, he and his horse may have had a far more pleasurable experience showing. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen this sort of behavior at smaller shows. The time to train is at home, not on show day. (This is a major pet peeve of mine.)

Canva Photo

This doesn’t just apply to riding either. Learning basic handling skills on the ground, grooming, and tacking up the horse are only a few of the tasks that every new rider needs to have. When I worked at a hunter/jumper stable, I was responsible for grooming, tacking up, and then taking the sweaty school horses when the riders were done with their lessons. I appreciated the extra help (as will most hired stable hands) when riders not only wanted to learn more but looked forward to helping to care for their horse. There is a lot of necessary work that goes into ensuring horses are taken care of properly. Learning these skills and more will help your riding and develop a deeper connection to your horse.

As a child, I poured over and devoured any and every horse book and magazine I could get my hands on. All of that learned knowledge helped me, but it wasn’t until I started to apply that knowledge with actual time spent by or on a horse that I began to build confidence and work my way toward becoming a professional horsewoman. It’s been 13 years since I have ridden, but you can bet that stored knowledge is still there and will come in handy when I do get back in the saddle again.

As much as we would love to have shortcuts, it doesn’t help us in the long run. Repeated tasks until they are mastered is what is required to excel at anything, not just horses. Don’t give up when things don’t go as planned. Try again and again and again. Practice makes perfect, but maybe what we really want is practice that makes us confident and skilled. The only way to get there is to put in the time.

My First Horse Encounter

Canva Photo

People have often asked me why I love horses as much as I do. The only answer I came up with was that I was born with the passion already coursing through my veins. I’m pretty sure the first word out of my mouth was Horses and not Mama or Dada. I remember having two wooden puzzles: one had blocks with farm animals on each side that I played with relentlessly (but only wanted to see the horse photo side when it was put together) and the second was a trotting colt with about 7 pieces that I would put into place, admire, and dump out to do it all over again (and again and again). If it wasn’t horse-related, I wasn’t having any of it.

The first time I was face to face with a horse was when I was maybe 2 years old - old enough to walk but not yet truly stable on my feet. The young woman who babysat my older brother, my younger brother, and me called my mom and asked if she wanted to bring me along to see her Thoroughbred mare’s new foal. My mother, being an avid horse lover herself, said yes. I remember being bundled up into warm clothes despite the sunny, early-spring day and heading off in the car on our horsey adventure.

When we got to the farm, I could barely wait to get out of the car. The second the door opened, I made a mad dash for the white, three-board fence but didn’t get far because my mom swooped in and grabbed me. She held my hand as we walked down to the fence, along with my horse-loving cousin, our babysitter, and her mother, who also had a horse in with the mare and foal.

The women gathered together and talked among themselves, near the fence, while I leaned against the bottom board, wanting to get closer to the horses. Our babysitter said we shouldn’t go in by them because her mare was very protective of her new foal. She didn’t want anyone getting hurt, especially me since I was so small. I, on the other hand, had other plans. I hadn’t come along only to stand apart from the horses. I wanted a closer look.

As the women talked, I waited for the right moment when they weren’t paying attention to me. When it presented itself, I slipped between the fence boards and beelined right for the mare and her new foal. I remember standing by the mare’s left, front leg and the top of my head coming up to about her knee. Her soft nose dipped down and snuffed my head and my hand with her warm breath. I reached up and touched the soft hair on her leg and girth area. Then, her foal and the other horse in the pasture came over to investigate. I knew they wouldn’t hurt me. The smell of their horse coats and manure, plus their occasional soft sneezes and hay chewing had a calming effect on me. I knew on a cellular level that I was in my element around these HORSES.

“Where’s Kerri?” was nervously shouted by our babysitter after several minutes.

“She’s in by the horses!” my mother said.

The group of women shot over to the fence in front of me. I think the babysitter crawled over the fence and came to get me, much to my disappointment. I did NOT want my horse time interrupted. I was having a quiet, wonderful time with them. I’d discovered how super-soft the foal’s nose was and didn’t want to stop touching it. The babysitter had to grab me and lift me away, not only because I didn’t want to leave but also because her mare came at her with barred teeth!

When we were safely on the other side of the fence (her words, not mine), my mother grabbed and gripped my hand the rest of the time we were there, preventing me from carrying out any new plans I might have had to go back in. I knew I was defeated and had to behave myself. It would be several years before I got to ride for the first time, but I never forgot my time with that mare and her foal. What a wonderful discovery of trust and love so early in life.

Goodreads Giveaway

From July 21, 2023 through July 31, 2023, I’m doing a Goodreads Giveaway for 10 signed copies of the new paperback edition of the award-winning, middle grade Mystery Horse at Oak Lane Stable (Book 1), the novel that started the whole series, with main character, Cassie, and her two best horse friends, Ingrid and Allison, and the adventures and challenges they share along the way.

Praise for Book 1 includes:

-"Lukasavitz's knowledge of the horse and the show world, mixed with her riveting storytelling, makes for an educational and delightful read. Her books teach us the values of lessons in horsemanship, friendship, and sportsmanship." Janice Fischer, Publisher of The Midwest Equestrian magazine

-“Like all good books, this story of 12-year-old Cassie is more than the title suggests—there’s mystery, the struggles of an unrequited crush, parents who think they know best, adolescent friendship, and, of course, horses.” Michelle Caffrey, author of Bring Jade Home and Jade: Lost in Yellowstone, a picture book

-“What a great read! It's a horse story but so much more.” Amazon Finereader

Wishing you the best of luck when you enter!!!