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In my weekly blog, “Amateur Equestrian Confessions,” I share the passion and the pain of one of the most endearing pursuits in the world, horseback riding.
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Winter is Coming
Yesterday there was a decided chill in the air. Rain was predicted to start in the afternoon and continue for fourteen hours. I hunted...
JoAnn Shannon
Nov 20, 2024
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Equestrian versus Surfing
I did not expect the sport of surfing to have anything in common with equestrian sports. But it turns out that Surfer Mentality would...
JoAnn Shannon
Nov 13, 2024
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Equestrian versus Tennis
Like equestrian sports, doubles tennis is played with a partner. Granted, the tennis partner stands on two legs, uses the bathroom...
JoAnn Shannon
Nov 6, 2024
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Equestrian versus Skateboarding
The skills required to be a good skateboarder mirror those needed to be an effective horseback rider. Patience Determination Ability to...
JoAnn Shannon
Oct 30, 2024
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Equestrian versus Formula 1
The website Legit ranks Big Game Hunting as the only sport more expensive than Equestrian. (I’m happy hunting big game is expensive –...
JoAnn Shannon
Oct 23, 2024
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Unpacking the Season
One of the first things I did when I got home from horse show finals was to unpack the car. Everything needed to be washed, especially...
JoAnn Shannon
Oct 16, 2024
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Finally, Horseshow Finals - Part 2
The best part about horse show finals is that during the parts of the day when you aren’t showing (usually nine hours), you get an...
JoAnn Shannon
Oct 9, 2024
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Finally, Horseshow Finals - Part 1
When I arrived at the Michigan Hunter Jumper Association Finals in the second weekend of September, I remembered all my tack, riding...
JoAnn Shannon
Oct 2, 2024
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Riding into Autumn
When my father was younger and his days weren’t consumed with sore limbs, medication and long naps, he used to welcome autumn by roaring...
JoAnn Shannon
Sep 25, 2024
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Horses and Ponies
Ponies are cute. So are babies. They’re cute so that when they don’t act like mature adults, we still manage to like them. A lot....
JoAnn Shannon
Sep 18, 2024
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Horses and Birds
After observing horses interact with birds, I’m convinced that horses intuitively know the common traits between humans and birds. ...
JoAnn Shannon
Sep 11, 2024
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Horses and Flies
According to the Welcome Wildlife website, there are an estimate of seventeen million flies in the world – per person! Since there are...
JoAnn Shannon
Sep 4, 2024
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Horses and Dogs
Dogs are often seen alone, but horses are often accompanied by other furry creatures. No horse show would be complete without a ratio of...
JoAnn Shannon
Aug 28, 2024
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My Husband the Enabler
The one that really enables me to ride horses is my husband, Geoff. It isn’t something he intended, but it’s a by-product of his immense...
JoAnn Shannon
Aug 21, 2024
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My Sister, the Enabler
The dictionary describes an enabler as “ a person or thing that makes something possible.” Without a doubt, my sister, Cindy, enables...
JoAnn Shannon
Aug 14, 2024
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Grandma as an Influencer
When we were kids almost everything at Grandma’s house felt special. Although many of the foods were the same as those we ate at home,...
JoAnn Shannon
Aug 7, 2024
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Mom as an Influencer
The Rocking Horse My 1960’s nursery included wooden alphabet blocks and a red wagon. The blocks taught me to read, and the wagon taught...
JoAnn Shannon
Jul 31, 2024
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Horse Show, Day Two
A Good Morning It was shortly before eight when I led Captain from his stall to a grassy mound dappled by sunlight. We were basking in...
JoAnn Shannon
Jul 24, 2024
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Horse Show, Day One
Grogginess from the eleven-hour car ride on Friday weighed me down on Saturday morning. When I couldn’t find my name listed in Long...
JoAnn Shannon
Jul 17, 2024
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Part 2 Destination: Wilmington, Ohio
A continuation of my last blog… While driving to the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio , I e nded up at the Perry Nuclear...
JoAnn Shannon
Jul 10, 2024
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