 From My Saddle Sometimes when you don’t step away from the day-to-day, you lose perspective. Events, activities, breakdowns, bills, family issues…they all pile up after a while. It’s easy to get drawn into a negative frame of mind and wonder why these things happen. As I sit here awaiting some inspiration, I think of all the places I’ve been and the great people and horses I’ve met...
...And the inspiration comes from being thankful for what I have and not focusing on what’s wrong. We all look at things differently. Everything I say and do is from my perspective. I want to learn by watching and listening to what others are thinking and feeling, and become inspired by their unique views.
My wish is to have the Northwest Horse Source be your publication. A compilation of your thoughts and wishes, focused on what you want to see and read. I believe that our surveys, the conversations we share with people at trade shows, and the input from our callers are all critically important. I encourage you to send your thoughts to us. Letters to the editor provide a way for us to keep a pulse on what our readers are thinking. Simply address your comments to the editor via email (editor@nwhorsesource) or regular mail (contact information on page 2). As long as you sign them, I’ll consider them for print. Your ideas and comments are important, so let all of us at NWHS know what you're thinking!
This month we bring you information on “horsekeeping.” From barns to accessories to training, we have some great resources to keep you up to speed on caring for your horse. I’m excited to present a fairly new facility in the Northwest, the Havilah Equestrian Center, owned by Sonia and Celso Tolman. Read about this gorgeous and growing facility on page 6. I enjoy the opportunity to bring you a different horse business every month! Also, don't forget to check out our Spotlight on the News column on page ?? for more great horsekeeping products and news.
The changes around here just keep coming. Dr. Christine King has moved on to other projects, and we wish her the best with her writing and her practice. This month, we welcome our new Equine Wellness columnist, Nicole Lanphear. Nicole was the author of the touching piece on the Northwest Therapeutic Riding Center in our July 2006 issue. She also won the AHP Student Award at this year's American Horse Publications conference. Welcome, Nicole!
Back to inspiration...I believe we are only limited by the boundaries of our own minds. What we can or cannot do generally relies on the belief that we can (or can't) do something. Old clichés such as "risk versus reward," or one of my favorite sayings, “Whatever your mind can conceive, you can achieve,” are true! We just don’t think LARGE enough, sometimes. Dreaming is how we make things possible; it’s those who put their thoughts into actions that realize their dreams!
I love success stories, delving into how people have made their dreams come true. Our feature this month (page 16) follows the dreams of a mother and her daughter as they gentle and train wild mustangs. I challenge you all to dream big. I believe it starts by spending some time in the saddle or just hanging out with your horse. So enjoy a beautiful fall and remember to ride!
Happy Trails!
Quote of the month: "We always attract into our lives whatever we think about most, believe most strongly, expect on the deepest level, and imagine most vividly." --Shakti Gawain
Correction: The caption was mistakenly left off of the photo within the July cover story on the North West Reining Association. Pictured: Cory Hutchings on Jacspins Lil Tari, owned by Karen Davis of Woodinville. Copyright © 2009 The NW Horse Source |