Willfully Guided: An Interview with Jenna McGrath

Photo Courtesy Jenna McGrath

Animal Communicator Translates Horses’ Emotions Interview by Allison Trimble As a middle-aged woman with a lifetime in horses, I’ve accumulated a barnful of geriatric performance horses, most of whom I spent years training and showing. My favorite horse, Playboy (Smokums Playlena), has been struggling this year and we’ve nearly lost …

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Willfully Guided: A Different Side of the Horse Industry

DC Structures
Photo Courtesy Samantha Etsell

An Interview with Samantha Etsell of DC Structures I have spent my entire adult life working in some aspect of the equine industry, first as a horse trainer and competitor, and for over the last decade as a Realtor specializing in equestrian and agricultural properties. When I hear young folks …

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Willfully Guided: Barn Thoughts

Barn Thoughts
Two-inch black PVC pipe cut in half and screwed to the top of fence boards protects the wood from chewing horses. Photo Credit Allison Trimble

Goals, Choices, and Changes in the Barn Construction Process I’ve spent several nights in my barn over the past three frigid weeks caring for one of my beloved senior horses, leaving me lots of time to analyze my barn. A couple of years ago I wrote about the construction of …

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Willfully Guided: Equestrian Property Specialists

Equestrian Property
Allison Trimble and Blake Westhoff of Allison & Blake Real Estate/Coastal Realty

Making the Grade A real estate agent from Utah reached out to us recently because she’d been looking for coursework to obtain an equestrian Realtor specialist designation. There’s no such designation, but it did spark some great conversation and thought about what’s important for becoming a competent equestrian real estate …

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Willfully Guided: Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Tips for Winter Horse Care

winter
Allison’s son helping with winter chores. Photo by Allison Trimble.

This morning it was a balmy 27 degrees at the barn. We worry about mud management during the winter months, often forgetting about freezing temperatures until they are upon us. My horsey childhood in Alaska was spent more than half the year in the dark and cold of winter, so …

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Buying Horses and Houses – Similarities Abound in the Purchasing Process

Allison and Blake with Blake's horse "Huckleberry" at their first show in Las Vegas, NV. Photo from Allison Trimble

It’s been a long time since I was focused on buying horses. Right now, I’m anxiously awaiting the vet check on a colt Blake (my real estate partner) and I are hoping to buy for next year’s NRHA futurity. At the same time, I am packing to fly to Fort …

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