Wednesday, October 2, 2024

J.A. Hall: My Mother's Poetry "Peter the Pelican"

 

My mother, Clare Oxley, was born in Standerton, South Africa. She and her brother, Michael, lived on her maternal grandfather's plantation. On the plantation they grew beautiful flowers which would be cut and sold to people in the cities. When mother was four years old, she started her formal education. Mother was sent to Saint Ursula’s boarding school in England.  It was at Saint Ursula's that mother wrote her poem booklet. 

When mother finished her formal education at Saint Ursula’s School, she enrolled at the Victoria School of Nursing. Mother's nursing duties sent her to the 7505th United States Air Force Hospital, which was located at the Royal Air Force Station, Burderop Park, Wroughton. My father was stationed at this USAF Hospital and when he saw my mother for the first time, he knew she was the one. They married and had three children. 


From Athens County, Ohio, USA, J.A. Hall is an award-winning children's literature author. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Ohio University in 2013. A retiree of Ohio University, Hall spends her time as the proprietor of Little Meadow Farm, an animal sanctuary, where all types of animals find their forever home. She is a member of the ASPCA as well as an active supporter of animal charities. Follow Hall on Facebook @ Little Meadow Farm.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

HorseHaven Ohio: An Interview with Solange

 

Solange @ HorseHaven Riding Stable, Ohio USA

“I find the misogyny against mares so perplexing, especially when so many women

 ride and perpetuate that ‘marish’ narrative.” 
~ Solange

HorseHaven Ohio: An Interview with Solange

by Gina McKnight

Archived from the September 20204 issue of Florida Equine Athlete
No Duplication Without Permission

In the heart of Ohio horse country, Solange is the president of HorseHaven, a riding stable that embraces quality instruction and the joys of horsemanship. Solange, an Equine Affaire presenter, is the creator of the Stable Riding System, “designed to keep the rider stable on the horse’s back, using physics and gravity to align both their skeletons so that the horse can move forward freely. Solange’s goal is to bring stability to anyone who ever sits on a horse regardless of their age, athleticism, experience, or goals, so that she can help horses by helping their riders become more confident.”

Welcome, Solange!

GM: Solange! It’s super nice to connect. After visiting your website and social media, I am intrigued by your riding methods and goals – to make horse and rider more confident! When did you meet your first horse?

S: When I was five years old, my parents had me skip a Friday of first grade to go to the little local circus that came in for the weekend. I rode a pony for the first time ever on one of those circular pony rides. And it was at that second I knew I understood horses.

GM: A magical event, riding a circus pony! Now, you are not only riding horses, but helping others to see their riding dreams come to fruition. Take us through a day in your life with horses...
S: First thing, someone has to go down to check on the sixteen horses in my barns, feeding, watering, and just seeing how they’re doing and feeling. I boop a lot of snoots and feed a lot of treats!
    By far I spend the majority of my day teaching riders. There is a high demand for the type of instruction Stable Riding provides, so I am rarely not busy.
    I really enjoy teaching in my mind, my job consists not only of teaching my students how to ride, but also to translate for them what their horses are saying so that they can communicate more clearly with their aids. I teach so much that sometimes I will go days and days without riding myself.

GM: Do you prefer one breed of horses over another?
S: I have no real breed preference. I have owned, ridden and trained all types of horses, including Appaloosas, Arabians, Hackneys, Morgans, National Show Horses, Percherons, Quarter Horses, Saddlebreds, Standardbreds, Tennessee Walkers, and assorted minis and ponies.
    Personally, I ride a lot of Arabs. I enjoy their speed and how easy they are to train. I find riders who have a strong dislike of certain breeds tend to lack riding skill. If you have the technical skill to ride that type of horse, you like it. People don’t like horses they cannot ride. Can I also talk about people’s dislike of mares? I find the misogyny against mares so perplexing, especially when so many women ride and perpetuate that “marish” narrative. I make it a point to say “I have no breed, color or gender preference” in my horses.

GM: A nice quote about mares. Owning a mare myself, I find that she is very intuitive and more intellectual than a gelding. But your quote is true and we find ourselves diminishing the loyalty of a mare. You work with a lot of disciplines and riding scenarios, including fox hunting, cross-country, and trail riding. How do you place riders into specific disciplines?
S: My instruction is non-breed and discipline specific. I view the rider as a human on a horse; this allows me to create riders who are able to competently be able to ride multiple disciplines and then I tell them to try them all. Then I tell them to pick the one they like the best! I deal often with riders who feel pressure, judgment and guilt surrounding their abilities or their horse’s actions and abilities. I have taken to saying, “When you ride next, ask yourself two questions. Did I have fun? Were my horse and I happy?” So I would say I place riders into what they think is fun and makes them happy.

GM: Wonderful! If we’re not having fun, what’s the point? Living in Ohio, we are in the heart of the horse world, surrounded by so many horses! What are your thoughts about the current equine industry, the kill pens, and the Ohio horse scene in general?

S: Ohio is huge horse country, which I think surprises people! My barn and Rider Lab are in Hinckley and I tell people that there are 30 horse barns within 30 minutes of me. It’s wild!
    The horse industry is alive and thriving here in Ohio. We have an incredible Metropark bridle trail system that I am eternally grateful for. This time of year I am on the trails up to five days a week so I love that about where I live.
    When it comes to any aspect of horse welfare, abuse, neglect, or slaughter I come back to the same root issue: poor quality lesson instructors, specifically beginner instructors.
    Lessons are how the majority of riders enter into the sport and the education they are receiving is simply not good enough when it comes to horse care, but also riding. If you have a well-trained riding horse you feel confident on, you are going to take care of it, and if you cannot keep it, there will be a line around the block of people who will. When you cannot ride a horse, when you do not or cannot care for it correctly, it becomes unmanageable and therefore unplaceable.
    I don’t like the kill pens – a number of my horses were saved from the pens – but I think the way to get rid of them is to greatly increase the number of good riders.
    Riders who can ride any horse and train them to be good equine partners.
    We have a terrible culture of education in the US about all learning in general that says New Teachers for Beginner Students. The “best” instructors and coaches are reserved for the advanced students. I constantly hear from instructors “I don’t teach up-downers,” referring to teaching beginners to post. 
    I never think a rider is beneath my teaching and I believe all riders regardless of age, gender, skill level, discipline and future goals deserve the best possible riding education for them and for the horses they ride!

GM: What is the Stable Riding System and how does it differ from other riding programs?
S: Stable Riding is a practical, real world riding system designed to keep the rider stable on the horse's back. The majority of all riding instruction is designed for the show and competition ring, which is where the majority of the revenue is made for the horse industry. So trainers, instructors and coaches are monetarily incentivised to teach those types of riding. 
    The way you ride when you show and compete is not how you ride in the real world. I use the analogy of a show or completion position on your horse being like a cocktail dress or a fancy gown: it’s a great dress to go to a party or ball in. But I do not want to hike a trail, go to the grocery store, or clean stalls in it!
    I use the four factors of riding: skeletal alignment, weight distribution, grip, and absorption to teach riders how to sit in a way that they stay on the horse's back. Instructors rarely teach all 4 of these factors fully. When a rider early in their education misses these vital pieces of instruction for stability, they often continue riding for years, if not decades, while unstable.
    This leads to them losing confidence, their horse not performing as well as they know it can and them not meeting their riding goals. 
    The next and final step is they begin to think that they are the problem and that they are not good enough. I hear over and over again in my Rider LAB “I am too old” or “I am not built like a rider” or “I don’t have the talent” and all of that is simply not true. They are missing vital information. I want a t- shirt that says: “It’s Not You. It’s Your Instruction.”
    I should explain what my Rider LAB is for your readers next. My Rider LAB is a dedicated building on my farm next to my arena filled with tools that riders can learn the hyper-specific body movements necessary for riding without the complexity of the horse beneath them.
    I have two Equicizers, a Home Horse, a Mighty Bucky as well as mirrors and other custom tools to help riders learn. I created the LAB for my intensive riders; I give multi day intensives to riders locally and from all over the country. They spend about half the time in the LAB and the other half on horses. Many of the riders are preparing for the world’s longest horse races: the Mongol Derby and the Gaucho Derby. To date, I have trained 6 Mongol Derby riders and 2 Gaucho Derby riders. These riders have taken my Stable Riding system and field tested it in some of the most difficult riding conditions in the world. They have reported back with very little pain while riding, no injuries, and they all completed their races and several without even having a fall. The derby riders have proven that Stable Riding works.

GM: What is your best advice for those looking to purchase their first horse?
S: Take the time to learn how to fully ride first, in your own body. And by that I mean you can sit your walk, trot, and canter comfortably with and without your stirrups. If you buy a horse before you have those skills you will not buy the correct horse for you, as you are still learning. Also, your possible horse choices will be severely limited by your skill set.

GM: Where in the world is your favorite place to ride?
S: I have soared over stone walls behind hounds in Ireland, and I have galloped stallions in front of the pyramids of Egypt. And let me tell you, it was all pretty awesome. However my favorite place to ride in the world is on trail cantering and galloping behind my 12 year old daughter and watching her ride securely and confidently. 

GM: What does horsemanship mean to you?
S:  Making good decisions. Making logical decisions. Being honest and reasonable about what is best for you and your horse. I watch riders make decisions against their own self-interest and the horse’s interest all the time. When you can consistently make good decisions for yourself and your horse, every second of your ride, then you’re truly demonstrating good horsemanship. And you’ll both be having a great time!

Connect with Solange…

Solange riding Waffles

Solange riding Tiger in Egypt

Solange, Portrait, Warm




 

 


Monday, September 30, 2024

Milliron Monday: The Journals July - September 1971

 

Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021

Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.

A continuation of Jody’s Journals.

Jody’s Journals

July – September 1971

JULY

·        Debbie’s birthday

·        Alma Ann’s, Marshall’s birthday

·        Class of ’56 Gotto Hall reunion

·        Hartley’s – Sea World, Cedar Point, Blue Hole

·        J birthday

·        4-H camp, proactive demonstrations, activities night J gave demonstration

·        Picnic Hoon’s barn

·        Baked oatmeal cookies

·        4-H picnic

·        4-H painted barrel, Hensley’s

·        Ralph Guthrie reset Preak, Shah

·        Pat shot BB in finger

·        Horse sale, sold Misty $27.00

·        Breakfast with Mom, Dad at Perkins

·        Dinner, OU Inn, Mom, Dad

·        Abbott’s birthday, called Abbott

·        Cassy Hoon here, Pat at Hoon’s

·        Swam at Windy Hills

·        Rode Preak, worked on side-pass

·        4-H practice show, grandstand, J L’Heureux judge

·        Cassy back, Pat here

·        Pete reset Shah’s front feet

AUGUST

·        Went to Mifflin to see Jessie, Mom, Dad

·        Worm horses

·        Marshall Adams, Rita Shasta, Ariel

·        McDougal Homecoming

·        Rode around thru woods

·        Dinner – Dolen’s

·        Rich Feldman here

·        Took 4-H books in, ran errands, out to Scotts

·        Sherrie Indestadt’ s birthday

·        Rode Preak, J rode Silver, Leslie rode Misty, Mrs. Sands rode Shah

·        3 pm meet at Dolen’s; 4 pm dog judging; 6 pm Jr Fair parade

·        Worked at fair booth, 7-9 pm

·        Picked up Pete’s western saddle – Laura Theiss; watched part of fair horse show, watched end of harness races

·        Dog show

·        Picked up Tina, left Pat

·        Tramp > bred Libbie

·        Tina went on calls with Pete

·        Jerry Hartley, Jan, Chris Worthington, Gloria Adams, J, me, rode from Logan fairgrounds to Girl Scout Camp

·        Marshall, family here

·        Rode Preak, drove Silver around Eddy’s, etc.; Gave Adams, Booth children cart rides

·        Dog practice > Pam Brooks

·        Hensley’s, picked up Tramp

·        Gary, Aggie here; Gary rode Shah

·        Went to see The Odd Couple with Hartley’s, Booths

·        Gary Franklin, Pat to Dow Lake; rode Preak, led Silver around by Eddy’s

·        Pat’s to Fritz, haircut

·        To Mansfield, Gary filled two teeth

·        Jan Worthington, Gary rode; me sick/flu

·        Ride at Logan; Jon, Gary Worthington, Jeff Wagoner, Bea Booth

·        Rode Preak, P rode Shah with Calvary saddle, J rode Silver, saw three deer in the blackberry meadow

SEPTEMBER

·        Sherry picked up Val

·        12th Wedding Anniversary to Ohio State Fair, 4-H J novice class

·        Rode Preak, Pete, J and P looked for cows

·        Daddy’s birthday

·        Rode Preak, J rode Silver, P rode bike 7.5 miles

·        Rode Shah looking for caws until dark

·        1st day of school

·        Rode Preak, led Silver around woods, 3 hills, looked for cows on 690, Baker boy helped

·        Attempted to herd yearlings out of corn, Bea, Jerry

·        Pete rode Preak, I rode Cricket, Bob L. rode Shah

·        Turned 7 geese on pond

·        3:15 left for Auburn > Lake City Farm overnight

·        Arrived Auburn 3:00 pm, attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

·        Dr. Morgan showed us the vet hospital

·        Watched short movie Blue Water, White Death

·        Balance car ties, left front out of round

·        Uncle Arthur Rhonemus birthday, 84

·        Wrote letters

·        Catfish dinner

·        Gary’s birthday

·        Finished Pete’s braided reins

·        Toured Tuskegee Vet School, Dr. Adams, dinner

·        Less River’s birthday

·        Finished my braided reins

·        Dinner with Buckley’s

·        Jim Smith’s birthday

·        Write letter to AKC

·        Carol’s birthday

·        Clipped Silver

·        Fritz, reset Silver and Preak, Pete, flu booster VEE

·        Simmy’s birthday

·        Cleaned tack

·        Logan ride, 40 miles

·        Tina, Helen Connor

·        Opened clover pasture

·        Rode Preak, J rode Shah, saw deer and large fawns in hay meadow

·        Chris’ birthday 5 years old

·        Made cherry pudding cake

 

Please forgive typos, name or place misspellings; transcription from

vintage handwriting sometimes requires a magnifying glass and random

interpretation.


Enjoy the journey!


Connect with Gina

Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian. 


J.A. Hall: My Mother's Poetry "Peter the Pelican"

  My mother, Clare Oxley, was born in Standerton, South Africa. She and her brother, Michael, lived on her maternal grandfather's planta...