How horseback riding impacts the rest of your life

I didn't ride throughout most of November, as NaNoWriMo -- a writing challenge I do every year -- plus freelancing and my childcare work took up a lot of my time.  I'm hoping to have more time for it now that November is over.

In the meantime, though, check out this cute post about 20 ways horse riding becomes life itself.  The first eight in particular I've found to be very true!  I've always felt like learning to work with horses has taught me a lot of confidence and self-control in how I deal with other aspects of my life.

What about you?  Do you also feel like the things you learn from working with horses -- and from horses themselves -- impact other areas of your life?

Cold horses and justification for blanketing

I'm sharing blanketing duties with the owner of the new mare in our corral.  The mare's name is Jasmin, and she has -- inexplicably -- grown quite attached with Rondo.  Usually it's Panama who gets the ladies, so I was quite surprised about her choice of companions, especially since I don't think he cares all that much.

In any case, Jasmin's owner is a little on the nervous side -- she fussed about introducing Jasmin to all the horses individually the day she came before finally putting her in with them.  Likewise, she is a bit of a nervous Nellie about blanketing, not to mention she seems a bit inconsistent: She blanketed one night that I know of not too long ago for 30 degrees, but wasn't blanketing the other night for 20 or so.
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The debate on blanketing horses

We've been enjoying a gorgeous Indian summer in Colorado, with temperatures in the 60s, 70s, and even the 80s all throughout October.  It's very welcome after our rainy, cooler summer and early fall.  Yesterday, however, was blustery and very fall-like, and today is cold and threatening some freezing rain or snow.

With cold weather finally making an appearance (briefly -- it's supposed to warm up again tomorrow and stay nice for the rest of the week), blanketing season isn't far out.  I only blanket under 20 degrees and for snowstorms, so I'm not blanketing yet -- but I sure was tempted today.  I sure felt cold, and the horses were acting like they were a little cold, too.  I do want them to grow winter coats, though, so I resisted the temptation.  I may go back later if it rains or snows, but as long as it stays dry I'll leave them unblanketed.
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Why EVERYONE should love horses

Horse Collaborative ran this article on my Facebook feed recently, and I thought my horsey-bloggy friends would be interested in reading it as well:

8 Reasons You Should Learn To Love These Under-Appreciated Animals

Most of these things won't come as any surprise to horse people, of course, but they are definitely talking points when you're trying to explain to someone why you love horses so much, or how you have benefited from having them, despite the expense.  I kinda want to give this article to V.'s mom, especially after she pressured her daughter into quitting her riding lessons a couple months ago.
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Rattlesnake apprehended!

I was in the right place at the right time on Monday, and not only helped to save another horse from getting bitten, but also aided in apprehending a rattlesnake before it could cause any more harm.  The snake is now dead, but we don't know for sure that he was the one who bit Jess, or that it was the only one on the property.  Hopefully that's the end of it, though.

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Horseback riding as exercise

I love this article, How Good of an Exercise is Horseback Riding?  I've always laughingly said that I don't need to go to the gym, I have two horses, and although that's mainly just a humorous excuse for not doing something I wouldn't do anyway (I hate gyms and working out), it is true that having horses is good exercise.
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Snakebite

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