Some Random Horse Facts

I do the vast majority of my research online. I vaguely remember the day when I had to go to the library and look up articles and books and take notes directly from there. Then there was interlibrary loan when the book I needed wasn’t carried by my local library. And now most everything is at our fingertips. All we have to do is “Goggle it”. Of course with the advent of blogging and anyone being able to post whatever he/she likes (kinda like this blog right here…) one has to be very careful about what is used for sources. Using accurate, reliable sources and fact checking should still be a vital part of research. But it’s also very easy to get distracted when you are researching online. Invariably I will start clicking on interesting looking links and before long I’m somewhere completely different from where I started and where I should be. I guess it could be considered online ADD. And one of those times I found some interesting horse facts that I thought I’d share. Oh…and FYI…the source that was sited there was The Encyclopedia of Horses and Ponies, by Tamsin Pickeral.

• There are about 75 million horses in the world.
• Horses younger than 4 years can concentrate for about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Horses sleep 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day, but only lay down about 45 minutes a day.
• A horse has approximately 205 bones.
• There are over 350 breeds of horses and ponies.
• Horses have 2 blind spots. One is directly in front of them. The other is directly behind them.
• Horses can drink up to 10 gallons of water per day.

 Cheers!

Getting Started in Writing

Are you at the point where you want to have an article published? Whether you are trying to break into a print or online venue, established publications usually like to work with published authors. So then how do you get established if no one will take a chance and publish your work? It can be a frustrating catch 22. There are websites that will publish most any content, but I’m not sure how much influence that would have for websites and magazines that emphasize content that has been proofed and fact-checked. A well written blog could certainly show people that you have the technical skills and perhaps creativity, but won’t necessarily go into the depth that a publisher might need for a specific article. Another option is to look for a magazine, newsletter or newspaper (yes there are a few still in existence) that would print your article for free or for a small fee. My first publication was a brief story about a personal experience I had. It went into a monthly newsletter, paid $10 and I was thrilled! A piece published with your byline will start to give you “clips” or examples of work that you can share with a publisher.

It is also important to know where you are sending your article. Research the magazine or website before submitting an idea. Check to see if they have done a piece recently on your topic and make sure it is appropriate for its target market. Many publications have writer’s guidelines on their websites. If they do, read them and follow them to the letter. You could also subscribe to Writer’s Market or purchase their annual guide. Do they want a query letter submitted via regular mail? Will they accept ideas via email? Do they want the entire manuscript or just the idea? If you follow the specific guidelines exactly and send it to the correct person, you will have a much better chance of being considered. If you send an email to an entity that wants to be contacted via mail, you will likely never hear from them. And most people do not want to be called so don’t even go there. Becoming an established author usually takes time and patience. Keep trying and eventually you will make it.

Cheers!

Finding Inspiration

I’m often curious how people come up with ideas. As writers, we are always having to come up with new ideas, whether it is for a regular column, series of articles or character development for a book. So I ask people how they do it, and most people tell me their best thoughts occur when they are doing something mundane. For one friend it is cleaning the house. For another it is driving. Okay, driving probably shouldn’t be considered a mundane task, but when you’re on the highway with the cruise control set and have a long drive ahead of you your mind wanders. I’ve heard of people waking up with a brilliant idea. They keep a notepad by their bed so they can jot it down right away. Me personally? I agree that driving has given me my share of ideas. Quite often, however, my greatest moments of clarity come when I’m cleaning stalls – a mundane task to be sure – and walking the dog. Whatever works for you, the key is that we are not overwhelmed by outside stimuli. As we go through our daily lives, we are constantly being bombarded by noise, ads, demands from others, the list goes on and on. When we get away from that and do something like mop the floor, our conscious mind tends to go on autopilot and it allows our subconscious to creep in. So the next time you have to come up with a brilliant idea, go do something mundane and see what magic is created.

Remember Letter Writing?

I am a member of Generation X. I consider it a crossover generation. We lived in a time B.C. (before computers) so we remember things like typewriters and hand writing letters. I can still remember the anticipation I experienced waiting for a letter to arrive from a special person. But today we are swept up in a world of texting, blogging and social networking. It’s easy and convenient to send an email or text, but there is a large segment of our population that doesn’t keep up with all the technology and still appreciates the handwritten word. That is an important thing to remember, especially when it comes to customer service. Think about it. Do you enjoy getting a card in the mail? Is it somehow different than getting an email? I know I’m always pleasantly surprised to get a card in the mail and enjoy it for reasons I can’t really explain. Maybe it is because in the instant world we live in, I appreciate someone who took the time to pick out a card, write something in it, stick on a stamp and put it in the mail. Chances are if you like it, there are many other people out there that like it. So text away, email general correspondence, but don’t underestimate the power of the hand written word. I challenge you to think of someone special in your life and send them a hand written note. It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be fancy or poetic. Simply writing “Thank you”, “I’m sorry”, or “I love you” can be very powerful. It could bring a smile to someone’s face and make them feel better. So spread some good will and send someone a note today.

Cheers!

Writer’s Block

Not long ago I needed to get an article written and even though I had my notes sitting in front of me and I had nothing. Nadda. Zip. Zilch. No inspiration at all. After giving it some time, I came up with a few sentences, but couldn’t seem to get any type of flow. What’s a writer to do when she can’t find the words?

Wikipedia describes writer’s block as “a condition, associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work. The condition varies widely in intensity. It can be trivial, a temporary difficulty in dealing with the task in hand. At the other extreme, some ‘blocked’ writers have been unable to work for years on end, and some have even abandoned their careers.” After reading “Goats With Coats” to a group of second graders, one frustrated young writer said to me “Sometimes I just can’t figure what to say. Then what do I do?” It’s a very good question! Here are a few suggestions…

1. If you don’t know how to begin, try jotting down the main ideas of your piece. Then go back and add other thoughts to those ideas. You will then have the beginnings of an outline.

2. Step away from the computer. Stand up, stretch, go for a short walk if you can. I find fresh air can work wonders.

3. If you’re feeling anxious about writing the piece (or anxious that you can’t seem to get it written), make sure to quiet any negative self-talk going on in your head. Replace “I can’t” with “I will”. Trying playing your favorite, upbeat music to liven your mood or soothing, relaxing music to calm your nerves.

4. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the piece, try breaking it into smaller, more manageable pieces.

5. Remember that your first draft doesn’t have to be the finished product. Sometimes when I’m having trouble with a really technical piece, I just try to get the important points in basic sentences. I know that if I can get a draft down, no matter how awful, I can walk away knowing the hardest part is over. Then later I’ll come back to it with a brighter perspective knowing that I “only” have to edit the piece. Granted, there might be a lot of editing that needs to be done, but in my head that is easier than the original writing part. Sometimes it’s all a matter of perspective.

Cheers!

Picture Perfect

I’m not a professional photographer, but I have taken enough pictures of horses and have certainly looked at enough pictures of horses, that I know a good picture when I see one – and a bad one. They say no photo is better than a bad photo, and I completely agree. So often, I am dumbfounded by poor quality photos used to sell horses. If you have horses for sale that need marketing photos, my best advice would be to hire a professional. It is money well spent to have quality pictures that speak volumes and can sell your horse. But, if that is simply not in your budget, here are some tips I’ve learned along to the way. Some of them seem obvious, but considering the quality I’ve seen over the years, apparently not all people think about it.

1. Take your time. Don’t expect to pull your horse out of the stall, snap a few photos and be done in 5 minutes. Plan on taking as much time as you need to get the job done right.
2. Make sure your horse is clean. This is one of those obvious ones, but I’ve seen sale pictures of dirty horses. Amazing.
3. Try to pick a day when it is overcast, but still fairly bright. If you must shoot on a sunny day, make sure the sun is at your back and be aware of shadowy areas that could show up on the horse. (For example, if the horse’s head is turned toward you it can throw a shadow on the horse’s neck and body.)
4. For a full body shot, stand opposite the horse’s heartgirth. If you stand too far forward, it makes the head look too big and the body underdeveloped. If you want a ¾ shot that emphasizes the hind end (like what is common in Quarter Horse photos), take two steps in the direction of the rear of the horse.
5. Make sure you have both ears forward, and often it looks better if the head and neck are in a longer, natural position.
6. Typically, the legs are set such that the far (furthest from you) front leg is slightly behind the closer front leg and the far hind is slightly ahead of the closer hind leg.
7. Unless there is a specific background element you want to include, fill the frame with the horse.
8. Speaking of background, pay attention to what’s behind your horse. With photo editing software today, this isn’t as important as it used to be, but it is still best to choose a non-cluttered background. Simple is good.

Time, patience and paying attention to details will really pay off in the end. Good luck!

Some Random Thoughts on My Trip to NYC

I just spent a few days in New York City attending my first Book Expo America with my publisher Headline Kids. It was a great experience and I can’t wait to go back again next year. Here are just a few random thoughts I had about the entire trip.

1. Books may be dead, but not among librarians. They want books of every size, shape and genre!

2. People can be polite waiting in line. There were lines galore for popular authors signing their latest releases. Everyone waited their turn without pushing, shoving or making rude comments.

3. There is still a market for romance and young adult fiction as evidenced by the long lines for these types of books.

4. We traveled by train from Baltimore to NYC. It was a great way to get there, but it does take you through areas you would never see otherwise. All along the East Coast route you go by many vacant row houses and abandoned factories that harkened back to a time when this country produced goods and shipped via train rather than import everything from China and transport via truck.

5. Baltimore has some rough areas that rival anything New York can produce.

6. There really is a Starbucks on every corner.

7. NYC is very crowded and very vertical. It can make one a bit claustrophobic.

8. It seems that a Starbucks cup in your hand and earnubs in your ears are as important accessories as shoes and sunglasses.

9. There are men and women in NYC that are very fashionable. And then there are some with a very unique sense of fashion.

10. It seems many women in NYC are like women in Paris. They carry the nylon Longchamp bag as their “everyday” bag. I saw many in various shapes and sizes. I was a proud carrying member of that group. I love my Longchamp bags! They are durable and never go out of style.

11. The city is always busy, but the makeup of the crowd is different at different times of day. Before 8am it’s full of suits. By 10am it’s mostly tourists. Then the after 5 crowd are people walking their dogs. Then you have the theatre crowd, the after dinner theatre crowd, and finally after 10pm the nightlife crowd starts to come out.

12. The last night we were there, we headed back to our hotel room around 10pm. It seemed too early as the nightlife was just getting started.

13. Want to get somewhere? Walk.

Literacy for Children

Last week I had the good fortune to read “Antics in the Attic” at the Marshall Street School’s Literacy Night. In a time where electronic gaming rules and writing has been reduced to LOL, TTYL some may lose sight of literacy. Of course as a writer and a reader I think it’s very important and I love the idea of a literacy night for young people. It’s a great time for family, fellowship and to learn something new. The school provided some great tips that I thought were worth sharing. By doing just a few of these we will help form the next generation of great writers.

Literacy Activities to do at Home:
Read to your children before bedtime every night.
Bake our favorite recipe and cook meals together.
Tell stories to your children about when you were growing up and about when they were born.
Tell traditional stories about your culture.
Play games together.
Look at family photos together and talk about them.
Take lots of pictures and do scrapbooking.

Tips for Parents on Reading:
Let them see you reading.
Share books together.
Point out the print that is all around you. Look at street signs, grocery store labels and posters.
Choose a book from the library or from your home. It’s even better if you let your children choose.
Take turns reading aloud or tell the story by looking at the pictures.
Talk about what’s happening in the story.
Help your children with difficult words.
Praise your children for reading.

Tips for Parents on Writing
Let your children watch when you do basic writing tasks such as filling in forms, paying bills, writing birthday cards and writing shopping lists.
Let them put a scribble or drawing around their name on a greeting card.
Encourage them to scribble and draw (in appropriate places of course!). This is the beginning stage of writing.
Make sure you always have writing materials available. This includes lots of paper, pens, pencils, crayons and markers, old envelopes or greeting cards for kids to copy, little blank books for children to make their stories and a box to keep all the materials.

Horses in Your Soul

To me, horses are a big part of who I am. Sure, I work in the horse industry so it’s part of my working life., but it goes much further than that. I grew up obsessed with horses. Even though I started riding at age 8 I didn’t own my first horse until I was 22. There have been times since then that I’ve been horseless, but not for more than a year. Horse are more than a hobby for me. They are more than a profession. I guess they really are an addiction. A good ride on my horse can make me feel good for days, and if I go too long without riding I get very grumpy (just ask my husband). Being with the horses relieves my stress and allows me to get away from the difficult realities we’ve faced the last 2 years. You take the horses away and you literally take away my reason for getting out of bed in the morning. Sure when it’s pouring down rain or freezing cold I’d much rather stay in bed, but they keep me going – keep me grounded – keep me sane when so much else goes wrong. But how do I explain that to non-horse people? How do I explain that to people who see horses as extravagant expenses that do nothing but cost money? How do I justify keeping them and the farm? Would I survive without them? Sure I would. Would I be happy? Absolutely not.

I’m curious to know what other horse people think. What are horses to you? A hobby? An addiction? A way of life?

Cheers!

Finding a Riding Instructor

The plight of the adult amateur rider is a long and sometimes difficult one, but it is the vast majority of riders out there. Many adult amateurs are women who are getting into riding after raising children or establishing their careers. They are either late to begin or are getting back into it after many years away. They want to improve their skills by taking lessons, but how do you even begin to find the right instructor for you? I’ve seen so many people negatively impacted by instructors. In some cases the instructor is not of good quality, but in other cases it is simply a bad match. Doing legwork ahead of time will help avoid these circumstances so I’ve put together a list of questions to ask yourself (or your potential instructor). These are my opinions, by no means a comprehensive list, and it won’t necessarily guarantee success, but it will certainly help get you started.

1. Make sure the person is qualified to teach in your discipline. This may seem obvious, but since there are no licensing requirements for instructors, anyone that can ride can hang out a shingle stating that they give lessons. It is best to do some research on the background of that person to see if they know and understand your discipline.

2. The horse world is a small world. Ask your horsey friends about people you are considering. If you are new to the area, ask potential instructors for references that you can contact. Good news travels fast. Bad news travels faster and people will tell you what they think.

3. Watch the instructor ride because he/she should definitely be able to ride. However, some excellent riders are not good instructors. The key to teaching is really communication. The person might be the best rider around, but if he/she can’t communicate methods to someone else, it’s a moot point. At the other end of the spectrum, an individual may not be the caliber rider to compete at the highest levels, but they have an excellent knowledge of the basics that they can easily impart onto beginning riders.

4. Go to a show to watch the instructor and his/her students compete. Whether or not you are interested in showing, this will give you another place to view the instructor in action.

5. Does the instructor have a professional appearance and facility? This doesn’t mean expensive. It means safe and functional. The person should present herself in a professional manner, although they she or may not be clean. It’s tough to stay clean when you’re a horse person!

6. Is the instructor a good all-around horse person? Do they have knowledge of nutrition, physiology, first aid and basic handling? You’d be surprised how many talented riders leave the rest to staff. There is a big difference between being a rider and being a true horseperson. You want a horseperson as an instructor.

7. Does the instructor continue to work with someone, go to clinics and seminars? I don’t care who you are or how good you are. You can never stop learning. If you find people who think they know it all, they don’t and you don’t want to work with them.

8. Ask if you can watch that person teach. If they don’t let you, walk away. Try to watch a variety of different lessons. Does he/she tailor the lesson to the individual horse and rider combo? Does he/she have a wide variety of exercises to bring out the best in the horse? Does he/she focus on the lesson and not on what is going on elsewhere? Does he/she keep the lesson positive and end on a good note?

9. Take a trial lesson. Ask if you can do just one lesson to see how you work together. Again, if this is an issue with the person, this isn’t the right person. After watching the individual teach, he/she may look like a good match for you, but you won’t know until you try a lesson yourself.

10. Trust your instincts. If you come away from a trial lesson with a good feeling about the person and how you get along, it’s probably a good match. If you have any doubts at all, you may need to try a second lesson or it may not be the right person for you. That’s okay. There are many people out there and the right one will come your way. Patience will pay tremendous dividends in the end.

Cheers!