I was listening to a chat on the radio about hair. The women being interviewed had created a range of products to help women eliminate ‘bad hair days’. She said that the state of a woman’s hair can have a negative impact on her life. Now, I’ve had family members and friends who have lost their hair during illness so I am deeply aware of the impact that causes. But can a ‘bad hair day’ damage your mental health? Can a good hair day’ make you happier? I’m genuinely curious about this. I have hair. It gets washed and brushed and cut as necessary, but it has never affected my mood in any way. So I’m wondering, does your hair matter enough to be able to dictate how your day goes? I’m with horses and dogs and other creatures - oblivious 😜

I definitely fall naturally and firmly into the Introvert category, but I have been known to unleash my inner Extrovert when necessary. I’m also right-brained - but can access left brain characteristics. And I doubt I’m alone 😊 Some equine training methods categorise horses as right or left brained, and as introverts or extroverts. What’s been your experience? Have you noticed introvert or extrovert behaviour in your horses? Can you see left or right brain thinking? Or, like us, are they all wonderfully unique combinations of nature, nurture and experiences?

In the past few days, I’ve been speaking to two people under very different circumstances – one online and one in person – who told me that they don’t like horses! Both had been physically hurt by a horse many years ago, and that experience turned them off from ever coming close to one again - forever. I’ve been involved with horses for well over 50 years. In that time, I’ve been bucked off, walked on, kicked, bitten, and knocked over. At separate times, I’ve broken a few bones, needed stitches and clocked up more bruises than I could ever count. And yet, it never crossed my mind to not like horses. The Paralympic Games are underway at the moment, and I will be watching the Equestrian. It amazed me last time to learn how many of the riders used to be able-bodied until an accident off a horse changed their lives. So, my question is, how do we explain that to the people who told me they don’t like horses because they were hurt once? What is it about horses that keeps drawing us back? Are horse people just a different breed or is there something addictive about horses? Can you define it?

I love Full Moons 😊 It was too cloudy to capture the Blood Moon in all its glory earlier in the week, but this was the view from my back door last night 😊 The phone camera really doesn’t do justice to how spectacular it was 😊 Did you get any moon shots?

You know when you have someone ‘important ‘ coming to your yard? Maybe it’s someone who can get you funding or help your program get to the right people. Everything gets swept and brushed until it’s spotless. There isn’t a wisp of hay or a trace of poop to be seen. You wear your branded get, buy the fancy biscuits, break out the good cups, and put the milk in a jug 😊 You’re on your best behaviour trying to make a good impression on this VIP. But your horses are oblivious to the fact that an impression needs to be made. They behave exactly the way they always behave. They don’t change or put on a show for anyone. They simply respond to what is actually there. Energy, presence, congruence. Not reputation or status. And that’s one of the quiet gifts of being around horses. They invite us to drop the performance and meet ourselves and others as we really are. QUESTION If horses aren’t interested in our status or reputation, what are they actually responding to?