This is my new blog to continue my journey with my Dales Ponies. It will also be the story of my building a new life for myself, alone now, except for my friends, horses and dogs, since my partner died in March 2009. We had lived and worked together, mostly twenty four hours a day, for nearly 28 years and I have never lived alone before. It is a tribute to my wonderful friends that I am still here, still sane(ish) and ready to re-invent myself. I love them all more than words can ever say and can never thank them enough for all they have done and are still doing. It is also a tribute to Alexandra Kurland and 'The Click That Teaches' that I know how to save myself now. To new beginnings.......
wonderful article Helen! I really enjoyed it and am planning to past the link on to some friends.
ReplyDeleteMary
Great article , a pleasure to read.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great article!! Perfect foreshadowing and an easy explanation for people who might not be familiar with clicker training and such a happy ending!! I loved it! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat article. You have a gift for words. Keep using them. I found my clicker and want to start working with the beasties this spring. Right now, it is snowy and cold and I am no fan of being an icicle!! I did work with a clicker with an abused Holsteiner, but it went down in flames. He just had more issues than I could move him past. So sad.
ReplyDeleteHelen, congratulations for another inspiring article,
ReplyDeleteI feel sure that you are going to get quiet a lot of feed back.
This will be your pebble in the pond,we all have to play to our strengths in life and yours is the joyous way you write about clicker training,which is how we met anyway! Well done. Still have Seamus on box rest 24/7 and Sophs in at night to keep him company,he's more like having four horses in at night.I am finding it quiet Knackering as I still hav'nt kicked this horrible flue/broncitis thing.
Shouldnt grumble,he's being such a gent,even down to peeing in a bucket. AT least there tucked up warm and cosy,we still have thick snow and the lanes are sheets of ice.Very hairy walking Soph's back in the mornings.
Well written. You express yourself clearly with a good narrative flow. So, while you are "teaching" your lesson, you are also telling a compelling story. Good flow and it builds nicely to the final comments. It makes me, your reader, want to hear more about how the brakes worked. *G* (By the by, I am a retired English teacher, so this is true critique.)
ReplyDeleteI think you have inspired me to play some clicker with my Boys while I am still recovering from my surgery...that is if the snow ever melts and the temps rise. *sigh*
Oh, wow, thank you so much everyone!!!! I am such a perfectionist. I read it and think "that bit could have been better" and "this bit isn't quite right" but I guess that's real life and I am so grateful for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI'm a self taught writer, from practising with blogs really, so you have and are all playing a huge part in educating me and giving me confidence - thank you so very much all of you!!!!
I remember well your story, it is what hooked me onto your first blog ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have posted the plan for making a round-pen. It is all written in French, but it looks easy to understand the drawing.
I guess you will have it after Christmas.
Merry Christmas and best wishes!
Thank you very much Muriel, and now you have my address I will be hoping that you will turn up on my doorstep one day. A very Happy Christmas to you too.
ReplyDeleteI really think you did a fine job with the narrative. As a writer myself I can assure you that no work ever seems done to a writer, at least not to this one! :)
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so much, Breathe, that is so kind of you.
ReplyDelete