EQUESTRIANIST

Equestrian Dreams*Part II

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

When one has a dream come true only to have it shattered, dreams pretty much lose all of their allure. It’s a difficult struggle - gaining the strength to ponder, to let your imagination wonder, to allow yourself to become vulnerable to the possibility of heartbreak – but I can say that it’s worth it.

After Blossom I didn’t think I could love again, trust the universe again, and believe that my dream could be filled with beauty rather than sorrow.

It took well over a decade, but when the time was right, I knew.

This is the face of a second chance; a second chance to dream, to believe, and to love. His name is War Council, or as I affectionately call him, Will. Named after my late Grandfather, William F. Gorman, he is strong, inquisitive, affectionate, and courageous.

We’ve only begun our journey together and, although I’m anxious, I couldn’t be happier. My heart has had time to heal and while it still hurts, it’s has a place for him. The good thing about dreams is that even though they can take a scary turn, sometimes they’re not over. And sometimes - not forgetting how beautiful they can be, is all you ever needed to look towards the future.

Equestrian Kentucky Couture

The annual “Run for the Roses” is just about three months away. So, when I was perusing the the Couture runways, obviously I was thinking to myself, “what would I wear to The Derby?”

Photo credits: Style.com

Equestrian Dreams*Part I

I don’t remember when it happened, or if it was even something so large it was noticeable. I think, rather, it was something inherent. It was something good, something quiet; it came from somewhere deep and unwavering – my love of horses.

Sometimes I think she was only a figment of my imagination, a dream I once had. For over a decade I tried to forget; smother that thing deep inside. But the loss of her had broken me, and it. What was once strong, bright and steadfast was crumbling, dark and wilted.  When I lost Blossom, I lost myself.

As strong and vibrant as she was in life, she was in memory. With the patience and confidence I had once shown her, she fought her way through my anger. Although it took over a decade, I began to remember the breathtaking moments we had together. The clouds gradually cleared and, with the memory of her, that thing deep inside began to once again be good.

I go to bed at night hoping to catch a glimpse of her, and it’s not often that I do. But when it happens, those dreams are always the best dreams. I miss her every day; she was the love of my life.

Equestrian Treat

I can’t wait to attempt these beauties from SprinkleBakes.com. Check out the recipe here.

Equestrian Honor

Honor NYC is having a sale. Check it out here.

Inherently Equestrian

Falling for Eli

I had submitted a Feedback letter to Horse Illustrated over the summer and was thrilled to learn it was selected as the winning letter featured in the November issue.

I couldn’t have been happier to come across your book preview of Falling for Eli by Nancy Shulins (June 2012). As a horse person, it’s not often that I’m able to carve out time to curl up with a good book. So when I read the excerpt of the award-winning true story, I tore out the page and kept it for a rainy day. It wasn’t long before I found myself sidelined with a back injury. Unable to move, I pulled out the torn page and downloaded Falling for Eli onto my iPad. I couldn’t think of a better way to pass my time than with such an inspiring story that kept me crying, laughing, uplifted and of course, ready to get back in the saddle!

Beyond the Barn

Working in the fashion industry and living in a New York City apartment, it’s really hard to store a full, two- season wardrobe. Add my equestrian adventures into the mix and now I’m faced with the daunting task of trying to fit two separate year-round wardrobes into a space meant for about six sweaters, three pants and two pairs of shoes. Oh, and then there’s the fact that I live with my boyfriend who shops more than I do…

Needless to say, I have to be creative. Storage issues aside, I’ve realized that if I want to fit at least all my cold weather clothes in accessible areas, I have to buy clothing that’s double duty worthy. Based on runway trends as well as barn functionality, I’ve gather some of my favorite pieces that can work beyond the barn.

Product credits (from top): LL Bean Town and Field Tote $179, American Apparel turtleneck $7, LL Bean Adirondack Coat $89, Barbour Classic Tartan scarf $75, LL Bean Chamois shirt $44.95, DeNiro Ottaviano Hunt Boot $679.95, Regatta breeches $69.99

Black Magic

As a little girl, I had always loved jet black horses. This was probably due to my constant obsession with The Black Stallion and Black Beauty. I had mostly ridden bays, a couple greys and paints, an appaloosa and a few chestnuts here and there. It wasn’t until my family and I moved to Pennsylvania that I had encountered an all over black horse by the name of Felina.

She was mareish to the bone. 30% sweet, 65% nasty and the other 5% of the time - she was sleeping.  But I didn’t care, she was beautiful to me. I as a hunter/jumper and her trained as a Tennessee Walker, she wasn’t exactly the horse for me to take lessons on. Again, I didn’t care. I insisted upon it and my trainer acquiesced. Felina and I had a good go at it and decided we were better off friends from afar.

I soon moved on to an older gelding by the name of Shane. He was the most well behaved horse I’ve ever encountered. I learned just about nothing from riding such a good, old school horse but he did win me my first and only barrel race. Non-the-less, I look back on my time with Felina and Shane with fondness.

When I began riding again a few years ago out in Long Island, I took a few lessons on a black horse by the name of Beauty. Had I been eight years old, I would have grabbed onto that horse and never let go – Black Beauty in the flesh! There’s still a special place in my heart for dark horses. They remind me of my childhood and the early ‘barn years.’ There truly is something magical about a dark horse.

Photo credits (from top): WeHeartIt.com, WithaBigBlackHorseandaCherryTree.Tumblr.com, WeHeartIt.com, attlid.deviantart.com, Rafter Bar D Morgans on flickr.com, vadalein.deviantart.com, WeHeartIt.com