You always know there is something up on a horse farm by the amount of sleep the people appear to be getting. Good or bad, the delirious slur of their...
My childhood memories are a blur of horses and ponies, horse shows and Pony Club, trail rides and riding lessons. I don’t remember much about school or friends that didn’t...
On Saturdays I have been volunteering at a COVID-19 mass vaccination site. It has been strangely magical. There is a buzz of hope, agency, and human connection there that I...
In my youth, I pointedly pursued activities that I perceived as “macho,” and horses were decidedly not one of those. Who knew that it would take horses to ultimately teach...
I have come to recognize that when I’m nervous I’m compelled to discuss it—with anyone, whoever you may be. My high level of nervousness tends to surprise people who don’t...
My father, Robert “Deacon” Doubleday, was a radio/tv personality in Syracuse, NY on the NBC affiliate WSYR. His radio voice prompted friends to recommend an occasional horse show to announce,...
Tall, gangly, and inquisitive, Basil is one of the biggest characters I’ve ever met. Let me tell you about my weird horse friend. I met Basil in Queensland, Australia. Several...
With very heavy hearts, we said goodbye to Costa Rica Z on Thursday (1995–2021). There have been a handful of horses in my life who have really touched my soul...
Several roached maned horses watched as I walked towards the shed row barn. I couldn’t see anyone, which had me checking the time and feeling awkward. "I'll be right with...
In my final semester of university, I took a class that was to prepare us for the world at large. A world of opportunity and excitement, or so the professor...
In recent days, there have been many, well-deserved tributes to Jane Savoie by some of the most revered names in equestrian competition. And now there’s this one from me, a...
To recap the unprecedented year that was, we asked horsemen and women from all spectrums of the industry to write a holiday letter to the year 2020. This is the...
I spent 10 years of my eventing life in Ocala, Florida competing against and losing to some of the best riders in the world. It was quite something to ride...
“9 am?” My trainer responded when I asked if I could have a Thanksgiving Day lesson. “I should be done feeding before then.” Her words were simple, but they had...
One of the benefits of being a >shudder< senior citizen in the horse world is having much more clarity to see the big picture. Or, at very least, to see...
“Don’t let it be forgot that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment….”—Alan Jay Lerner In the midst of an unpredictable global pandemic and a contentious American...
Every time I sat down to finish writing this essay, I had to begin again. The catastrophe on the page from before had blossomed into something even worse every time...
