I think I’m gonna keep trying to make Fridays a little more light-hearted for a while. I got used to Fridays being fun with the Foal Friday posts and now my brain just really doesn’t want to accept anything difficult or serious or particularly wordy. Plus, like, I watched waaaaaay to many hours of impeachment proceedings this week and I need something to balance all of that. How about a little bit of randomness?

First and foremost, my favorite article of the week, which ok is maybe a little heavy and serious, but I loved it anyway and everyone should read it.

What You Say About Your Horse Says More About You

One of my biggest pet peeves is hearing a rider say a horse is being a jerk or an asshole, especially when it’s because the rider thinks the horse did something to them maliciously. Granted I will be the first to admit that I do sometimes jokingly and affectionately say “butthole” or “idiot” (usually when the horses are playing with each other or Henry spooks at himself) but I definitely make an effort to keep words and labels like that out of serious moments. I know I’m not perfect though, and should be more mindful of it. Tik makes the point really eloquently and it’s a good “call to action” to hold ourselves more accountable for both our thoughts and our words, and hence our viewpoints and actions.

My runner-up article of the week is the one about Will Coleman winning a hunter derby at WEC, because it’s fun to see people cross disciplines like that and step outside their comfort zone. I love it!

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I don’t know why I can’t stop watching this video of Mari prancing across the pasture and then putting herself into half pass but it has delighted me. I love seeing horses do things at liberty and of their own free will that we ask them to do under saddle. Plus I haven’t seen much footage of Mari in a while and she’s developing into a pretty girl. I think she gets a little bit forgotten sometimes because she was from the same WTW class as Manny, and he definitely stole the spotlight that year. She’s coming 3 now though and developing into a super nice girl (and she’s for sale!). To tie things up into a nice little bow here, she’s also by the same sire as the horse Will Coleman won his hunter derby on.

Last but not least, we need some comedic value these days, right? This came up in an Irish horse sales group that I’m in, and it might be my favorite post ever. The only thing better than a frustrated ranting horse seller is an Irish frustrated ranting horse seller. You have to read it in an Irish accent to get the full effect.

I DON’T NEED FRIENDS! I’VE COPED ALONE!

I’M NOT THE FOOKING SAMARITAN HELPLINE!

IF YA WANT THE FECKING HORSE RING THE GODDAM NUMBER!

It’s just so classically and endlessly quotable. Happy fooking Friday, lads!