Summer is the Season for Action
“The secret to life is to have a task, something you devote your entire life to, something you bring everything to, every minute of the day for your whole life. And the most important thing is—it must be something you cannot possibly do!”
Sculptor Henry Moore from Life Work by Donald Hall
Ahh, summer! This is the season I think about for six months of the year. During fall and winter, I plan for the following summer: garden, projects around the home and farm, and most importantly (because horses are my passion) I make plans involving my horse. I map out a goal or two, make an action plan, and then hope for the best—with horses you can’t get too stuck on a goal after all.
I keep my horses going in winter as best I can, forcing myself to ride even if it’s windy, dark and/or cold, though part of me longs to stay on the couch. I ride because it’s what I do. Riding fulfills me—it’s the endeavor I’ve devoted my life to, and I love to develop a horse into a useful and beautiful athlete. But inclement weather often limits my ability to get my horses out to shows, clinics, or into the woods or mountains trail riding. We’ve been housebound, my horses and me, but summer is here!
Training continues in all seasons, and though it often doesn’t go exactly the way we hope it will, we keep on doing it, because we’re horse people after all, and this is our road to happiness. There is no end to the learning with horses. Ask any equine “expert” and if they’re honest, they’ll tell you they are still learning, still trying to get it right. The graph of horse training is not a lovely linear line that moves ever upward, it’s jagged, with deep pits that sometimes suck us down for a long time. But those of us who are true horse nuts can’t stop ourselves from repeatedly trying to get it right, to do better.
This month we’re happy to feature two articles to inspire your summer riding. One highlights the growing sport of working equitation in Colorado and the people behind its growth here. The other article helps you keep your horse safe and healthy out on the trail. Enjoy!
See this article in the May/June 2023 online edition:
May/June 2023 Issue
Kim Roe grew up riding on the family ranch and competed in Western rail classes, trail horse, reining, working cow, and hunter/jumper. She trained her first horse for money at 12 years old, starting a pony for a neighbor.
Kim has been a professional dressage instructor in Washington state for over 30 years, training hundreds of horses and students through the levels. In recent years Kim has become involved in Working Equitation and is a small ‘r’ Working Equitation judge with WE United.
Kim is the editor of the Northwest Horse Source Magazine, and also a writer, photographer, and poet. She owns and manages Blue Gate Farm in Deming, Washington where she continues to be passionate about helping horses and riders in many disciplines.