I found this place by accident. Or did it find me?  A few years ago, at a cookout in Greenfield, a friend suggested I try out an old motorcycle of his. I objected saying I didn’t know how to work the gears but he said “squeeze the clutch, tap the pedal down to shift ahead, tap the pedal up to downshift; it’s that simple. Have fun and don’t worry!”  So I went out for a ride and, with a minimum of stall-outs, pretty quickly got the hang of it. In fact – much to my surprise – I enjoyed it so much that I started keeping an eye out for those “end of the driveway specials” that are so common in the area.  Before too long I was the proud owner of a twenty-five-year-old Honda Nighthawk motorcycle.  I learned that the country roads of Saratoga and Washington Counties are a gift from heaven: they’re well maintained and lightly traveled, and they offer spectacular views  not to die for.  (Learning to safely operate a motorcycle, I realized, made me a mu...

I am helping my island neighbor George train Magnetar... ...a three year old Standardbred  stallion.  Getting ready: the "horse-human" bond is a boink this morning! George has taken the unusual step of waiting until he’s three to begin training. “Maggie the Monster” is a HUGE and “gently explosive” animal with superb bloodlines.  inside the barn George has invested three years (I remember the day he was born) in nurturing his character and physical health to get him to a level of emotional maturity and physical growth that most trainers are too impatient to develop.  George’s belief is the combo of genetics, TLC, and now training with regularity and discipline and love will bring out the best in him.  I admire that view, and marvel at his progress. Yesterday at sunset: tuning championship conformation after "the work": yes, he steams In his career, so far, George has had two million-dollar-plus winners who have ...

ANYTHING with teeth should receive regular care... ...including horses. The horse’s mouth has evolved over millions of years into the highly efficient food-processing machine that we know today. What the horse eats, as well as where he eats it (at ground level or off an elevated rack, even drive-through McDonalds) will all affect how each horse's teeth wear.  First, Dr. Morgan administers a sedative. "Your eyes are growing heavy...." Then mouthwash.  The experienced vet checks carefully...  ...to be sure the mouth is clean... NO X-RAYS...⚡️ ...and to use expert 'feel' to get a sense of what's needed. A gentle, calm "stall-side manner" is key. She "rasps" the sharp edges of teeth  so Chief  doesn't hurt his cheeks. Stable-mate Gordon: just happy it's not his turn today.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS STORY it all started here… or 15 miles from  here .  The Saratoga racecourse is generally acknowledged to be the oldest sporting venue in United States. On August 3, 1863 the first four-day meet was held. Its success lead to a 150-year (and counting) celebration of equine athletes, social interaction, and wagering. Winslow Homer’s illustration of the Saratoga racecourse in the August, 1865   Harper’s Weekly  and an early jockey Living in and around Saratoga Springs for almost thirty years, of course I was familiar with the track and, more recently, the Thoroughbred retirement community.  Unless horses are superstars, thousands of them are on a Road to Nowhere after they peak in their career, generally after four years or so. A survey performed by the ASPCA in 2017 suggests there could be an estimated 1.2 million homes that have both the perceived resources and desire to house an unwanted horse. This number exceeds ...

Drumroll 🥁.... INTRODUCING THE NEW B-LOG 🍾  Writing, for me, has become what painting is for this friend of mine Matt Chinian (photo below): a somewhat focused, “intentional” way of paying attention to things, thinking about them, and then presenting/sharing/translating them through words and images to try and share a vision and values.  When I visited Matt's comfortable, well-used studio (a spacious converted garage with lots of natural light and a crackling pot-belly  wood stove) we had a wide-ranging conversation as I browsed the "walk-in album" of dozens of his plein air works. After about an hour -- and a cup of great, strong coffee -- I had to go but a few thoughts crystallized. Here is a guy who lives in a stunning rural setting. He doesn't just see things, he observes and (I think) muses and "curates" the images and what they evoke for him. He gets a blank canvas (stacks sit on his tables). He picks up a brush. After pausi...