Two New Releases in December

I have been very busy the last few months getting two new books ready for publication. It actually takes a lot of work finalizing covers, getting professional reviews, setting up distribution, and on and on. And now it is done! YAY!

"The Stone of Wisdom" is the fourth and final book of "The Centaur Chronicles." This series, about a land filled with Centaurs, Ogres, Cyclops, and a tiny race called the Duende, has won numerous national and international literary awards. That is great when the critics like my work, but it is even greater when my middle-grade and YA readers love it! It is so fun getting emails from them. It makes all the hard work worth it when they write to me to say they love the books.

"PERCY - The Racehorse Who Didn't Like to Run" is my first-ever picture book for 3 to 7 year-olds. The Industry Standard for a picture book is 30 pages and 1,000 words. That is hard for a novelist like me that usually writes about 65,000 words! But I had fun working on it and working with an illustrator. I had strong opinions about what I wanted the illustrations to look like. I don't like picture books where the horses have big buck teeth and oversized hooves. I want the horses to be beautiful. This story is about a little, thoroughbred colt who was supposed to grow up to become a great racehorse. However, he doesn't like to run! The wise, old mare in the pasture advises him to find his true purpose. This he does as he becomes a therapy horse and becomes the feet for disabled children. I am excited for little children to get to enjoy this book.

All of my books are available on my website:
www.dancinghorsepress.com

Or here are the links to Amazon:
The Stone of Wisdom: https://www.amazon.com/Stone-Wisdom-Centaur-Chronicles/dp/1948543575/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547052701&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Stone+of+wisdom

PERCY-The Racehorse Who Didn't Like to Run https://www.amazon.com/Percy-Racehorse-Who-Didnt-Like-dp-0996661778/dp/0996661778/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1547052771

A NEW UNICORN IN HEAVEN

Here is another tribute to a noble and great horse that touched so many lives. Thank you to Nell Foxworth for her beautiful tribute to Denim.

We lost another one of the greats yesterday. Denim was an amazingly patient and kind horse, and had earned his angel wings years ago taking care of Julia Combs and Gracie Combs. He has taken care of Courtney since she was about 1. We were fortunate enough to be able to have him as Courtney’s horse for the last 3 1/2 years, and he was simply the best. He knew his job as a kids horse and made sure he kept it that way-he wasn’t interested in having the adults ride him, but he loved his little girls!! He passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon, the storm moving in got the best of him.

RIP Denim buddy-you were the best!

A TRIBUTE TO KNICKEE

When I started writing this blog, I intended to dedicate it to the NOBLE and GREAT horses throughout history and those not-so-famous ones that have touched our lives. If you have or know such a horse, please send me a tribute and I will post it here for all to see.

This tribute comes from Asako Jackson, a volunteer at Promise Ranch Therapy Riding Center in Franktown, Colorado. (If you have read, "In the Heart of a Mustang," you will recognize the name!) 

 

For Celebrating Amazing Knickee's Life

Our Knickee, the Bay Morgan mare of Promise Ranch passed away on Thursday, September 20th, at the age of 26. She came to Promise Ranch all the way from Florida after her previous career in Jumping, and as a show horse.

Knickee was kind of horse to me, that she was noble, elegant, patient, sweet-heart, and I saw her teacher side as well. Two years ago, before I joined volunteering at the Ranch, I had no experience with horses. She was my very horse encountered with for the first time, but funny, it felt like she was a long lost friend of mine.

It may sound like funny to you, but it's real that whenever I work with her, especially leading her for a session, I used to feel magical sensation that entire my body was becoming so relaxed and grounded as I received a magical power to my forehead from Knickee's. I would also feel as if I was wrapped around gently with a soft veil. It's funny, but I was soothed with her spiritual power. Knickee gave me the freedom of being okay just the way who I am.

People say that every creature ends the life when its own mission has done in this world. If Knickee's mission was saving people's life, her mission had been accomplished. She made lots of people's life uplifted, and I was the one of them.

Lastly, Knickee girl, how fortunate I am that I have you into my life. Wait up for me up there for a while until I finish my mission here. So long till I meet you again.

Training Your Arena Horse to Go on Trails

Two an a half months ago, I purchased a new dressage horse. She is a 15.1 hand American Warmblood and my first mare. She is eight years old. I named her Amara.

Amara has spent her life in an arena and is well started in Dressage. Had I not had to have knee surgery shortly after I bought her, I would have shown her at first level in dressage this summer. But, oh well.

As the author of three equestrian trail guide books for Colorado, any horse I own has to be able to function both in an arena and on the trails in the beautiful Colorado mountains.

Since Amara was not a trail horse, I needed to begin the process of training her to be one. The horse on the cover of the trail three books I have written is Kit, my thoroughbred. When I got him as a six-year-old, he was afraid of stepping on a shadow! He ended up showing in Dressage and becoming the world's best trail horse. He was so good that everyone with a new or young horse wanted to be in line right behind him. I love that horse!

 So, I've done this before. Amara is going to be easier to train because she has a very good brain in her head. But, that being said, there are some common sense steps one needs to take to move a horse from the arena to the trail.

STEP 1: Make sure your gas, brakes, and steering are well established while in the arena. Arenas serve a very important purpose when training by reducing the variables!

STEP 2: Venture out of the arena on your property. This is like sticking just your toe in the water. Practice walking, trotting, halting, circles...the usual arena stuff but outside the arena.

STEP 3: How is your trailer loading and unloading? If it is not good, stop here and work on that. If it is good, you may proceed to step 4.

STEP 4: Know the trail you are going to. You can hike it first or get a good trail guide book to advise you. I found that the regular trail books don't really deal with equestrian concerns which is why I wrote my own. What horse-hazards are you going to encounter? You don't need to do water crossings, bridge crossings, rocky ledges, etc, etc, on your first outing. You want it to be simple and successful.

STEP 5: NEVER GO ALONE. But don't take just anyone. Ask someone who has a steady, reliable trail horse. (Like Kit!) You don't need another horse upsetting your beginner and you may have noticed that horses feed off one another! Keep your first group small, 1 or 2 other horses.

STEP 6: This is not Endurance Training. Keep your first ride a nice calm walk. Talk to your horse, rub her withers and stroke her neck as you go along.

STEP 7: Think like a horse and be one step ahead. Anticipate what might be scary to him. Puddles will eat them, as will rocks! Look beyond the threat, keep calm and just ride past it. Or, let the seasoned horse lead.

STEP 8: Play Leapfrog. Take turns with the other rider(s) being in front, middle and back.

STEP 9: As your horse gets more experienced, add short sections of trot when the footing is good.

STEP 10: Go to the same trail a couple of times then start adding new ones.

STEP 11: Bikers - Stop and face them if they come up from behind.

STEP 12: Water Crossings: Take your time. Keep Calm. Let other horses go first. If that doesn't work, make a hundred circles, gradually getting closer to the water's edge until you actually get a foot in. Then move back away from the water and complete the circle and do it over and over.

Trail riding will become a favorite with your horse if you keep it safe and fun! It will also benefit your training. I practice my dressage on the trail: flex and bend around trees. Halt with just my seat and legs...you know...all that arena stuff but in a prettier setting!

VISIT MY WEBSITE TO SEE ALL MY AWARD-WINNING FICTION AND NON-FICTION BOOKS THAT HORSE-LOVERS LOVE!

www.dancinghorsepress.com

YETTI IS IN CELESTIA EARNING HIS UNICORN HORN

I am grateful that "The Mist Trilogy" brings comfort to those who are grieving the loss of their beloved horse. I received this letter and photo from the head instructor at Promise Ranch in Franktown, Colorado. It is a PATH, Intl certified therapeutic riding center. They are mourning the loss of Yetti, who passed away this week at only 20 years of age.

 This picture is so precious. The young man in the photo is a former rider at Promise Ranch, Patrick, who passed almost 2 years ago. It gives me great peace to know that Yetti and Patrick are together again. I have a dear friend, Margi Evans, who wrote a trilogy of books: "Behind the Mist," "Mists of Darkness," and "The Rising Mist," in which the young rider and his horse pass and learn that horses pass to become unicorns and continue to live and are protectors of animals and humans in our world. I know that Yetti truly earned his Unicorn Horn and gallops in Celestia among the great and noble horses!

-Carol Crisp-

THE AMAZING JUSTIFY!

I LOVE it when there is a triple crown winner! After watching the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness with the rain, fog, and mud, I was so happy that the Belmont had good weather and footing.

In case you missed it, here is the video of the final race of the Triple Crown:
https://youtu.be/hZDbn9P6NqU

Justify was born on March 28th, 2015...late in the year for a thoroughbred destined for the race track.  His mother is Stage Magic and his father is Scat Daddy. He was bred by John D. Gunther of Glennwood Farm.

The darling chestnut colt with the crooked blaze down his face was born full of life and cheekiness. His physique soon matched his big personality. He weighed 1,050 pounds as a yearling!

Justify was the result of careful breeding by Tanya Gunther at Glennwood Farm in Kentucky. You will notice on the pedigree that there is carefully planned inbreeding to get the desired qualities. She inbreed full sisters: Yarn and Preach, both by Mr. Prospector. 

Justify is one of only 2 Derby winners who didn't race as a 2 year-old. He remains undefeated. It is not known, yet, if he will be raced again. 

What is an American Warmblood?

Those of you who follow my blog know how heartbroken I was when my dressage horse, Jazz, died from a tear in his heart. I was devastated. It took me a couple of months to feel like I could even look at another horse as a prospective new partner. Well, yesterday, May 23rd, I brought home a beautiful little mare. She is eight inches shorter than Jazz and a girl to boot. I have never had a mare. I've always been attracted to boy horses and girl dogs!

As I said, I brought home this sweet girl and am already in love with her. She is an American Warmblood. Jazz was a Hanoverian, a warmblood breed developed in Germany. But America is developing their own warmbloods.

American Warmbloods are a warmblood type horse developed for the sports of Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, and Driving. They are approved and registered by the American Warmblood Society.  The horse must be suitable for the above sports and born in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. While almost any breed is possible for acceptance, they must meet the strict criteria set forth by the society. Therefore, the American Warmblood is more of a "Type" than a "Breed" at this point.

Typically, they are solid in color and between 15 and 17 hands tall.

I have named my new horse "Amara" because she is so feminine in appearance. She is very responsive and as supple as a rope of licorice. She is amazingly calm for just an 8-year-old.

I am planning to work up the levels in dressage with her, but I also love to trail ride and jump so she is going to get to do a little bit of everything. 

Right now I don't have any plans to feature her in a book like I did Jazz in "Behind the Mist," but you never know....