Horses Want to be Happy ...

Howdy Friends!

"Just like us, horses want to be happy. They have a desire to please. And they think a lot. They are better than most folks at noticing things—things they want investigate, things they love, things they worry about. We have a responsibility as owners, caregivers and partners to be there for our horses. When they ask a question that’s important to them, it should be important to us as well,..." EXCERPT from my book, "It's for the Horses: An advocate's musings about their their needs, spirit, gifts and care" www.itsforthehorses.com ~ Gitty Up, Dutch.

"Choices: Ours or Our Horse’s?"

Howdy Friends,

So much of what is done to, with and around horses is for the person’s benefit, ease and perspective. It’s natural and certainly correct for the person to choose the discipline, sport and activity they wish to engage in with their equine partner. That is, after all, why we have horses. To do stuff. And to do stuff we need to make choices. Many choices.

Choices about housing, feeding, health care, training, saddles, tack and much more. Almost every day there is a choice to be made about something.

Everyone is busy with life; families, living and jobs take lots of time. There is never enough money. Never enough time. So, many times the choices made by equine caregivers are made for reasons of human convenience, ease and dollars.

It most often takes no more time, or money, to make choices from the horse’s perspective than from the human perspective. It requires only a simple paradigm shift. A brief pause to ask, “Am I doing this for my benefit, or my horse’s?” ... EXCERPT from my book  “It’s for the Horses: An advocate’s musings about their needs, spirit gifts and care.” I invite you to have a deeper look and buy bit for your horse. You can find it here www.itsforthehorses.com 

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

“FROM THE BANKS OF LITTLE BEAR CREEK” now available!

Howdy Friends!

“FROM THE BANKS OF LITTLE BEAR CREEK” is now available!

Paperback on Amazon here ~ .... And Kindle here ~

Continuing the saga begun in “Tom Named by Horse” ... “Three years after the death of Tall Dog, Tom Named By Horse and Soft Cloud have turned the little soddy, the lands granted them by Red Cloud, and the lean-to barn into a thriving horse ranch, fulfilling Tom’s dream. The Plains Indians Wars, or Red Cloud’s war, is mostly behind them, and the lands have had their transformation as Red Cloud’s vision had warned years earlier. Trailing horses from the ranch to Denver city has become an annual event for Tom, Buck and the rest, and this is the story of that trail. In the spirit of a good old John Wayne movie, vengeance, cattle and horse thieves, a dirty sheriff and corrupt mayor, and a wedding make this year’s drive a ride you’ll want to tag along on.”

I hope you’ll have a read. I promise you’ll love the adventure! 

~ Gitty Up, Dutch Henry. 




Find all my books here www.itsforthehorses.com .

"Suddenly—Don’t Use in Writing or Horsemanship"

Howdy Folks, "Suddenly—Don’t Use in Writing or Horsemanship" ... 

I often think about, and write about, how living and working, or playing and learning with our horses, and writing have so many similarities.

The other day I was reading a writer’s blog about the overuse of the word “suddenly” in a manuscript. Every word she said was exactly correct, and I’d hoped she would say more. I’ve always found the word “suddenly” to be a speed bump in a story or novel. Instead of propelling me forward with the action as the writer intends, it stops me dead in my reading tracks. Pushes me away. In fact most “ly” words have that effect on me. If the author replaces the “ly” word with the action she’s trying to portray, we readers can be drawn in and feel the action. Instead of “hearing” about it. But “suddenly” for me is the worst of the “ly” words.

Here’s a brief example. “Suddenly she burst into tears.” Not much there, even if we knew why she had to cry. How about something like, “She needed to see him again. Where was he? Why can’t she find him? Sucking short breaths, she tried to be strong, but her burning eyes flooded, tears streamed down her face.”

I’ve always found while I’m editing, if I re-write scenes or sentences replacing “ly” words, the scene embraces me more. Adds depth, meaning and emotions. Yes it will add words, but I suggest they are words that build emotions and connection with the reader. And for writers, aren’t they the two most important things?

In our relationship with our horses, “emotions and connection” are most important as well. If we do anything “suddenly,” it’s more than a speed bump to our horse. It’s a “failure to communicate.” And as “authors” of the moment, it’s our job to “re-write the scene.”
If we replace that “ly” word, or action, with a more descriptive series of words and actions, our horse will follow us, feel the emotion, and sense the connection. And our relationship will deepen.

It makes no sense to the horse when we bark commands, jerk on the lead rope or wave our hands and arms. Sure, we get a reaction, and that’s just what it is, a reaction. It’s not a connection. It’s best, even if the horse is making a mistake, to follow through that mistake, see where it takes you, then build on it. Write the scene with easy to embrace description.
Engage your imagination, your intuitiveness, let your horse help write the scene in a way that embraces both of you. It’ll add words, but those words make all the difference.  ~ EXCERPT from "It's for the Horses: An advocate's musings about their needs, spirit, gifts and care." Find it here, www.itsforthehorses.com

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

"Snowy Day Read"

Howdy Friends,

Snowed in? Gonna get snowed in? Forgive me for making an unapologetic push for my book. But what could be better than a good read, a quest that whisks you away, thrusts you into an adventure, or sweet love, or read about understanding horses, while nestled inside watching the windblown snow. All my books are available on Amazon Kindle here, www.itsforthehorses.com ... You can start reading right now! “We’ll Have the Summer,” a love story that I promise will grip your heart. “Tom Named by Horse,” an adventure that you’ll long remember. “It’s for the Horses; An advocate’s musings about their needs, spirit, gifts and care,” even if you don’t have horses I promise you’ll love the thoughts provoked, if you do enjoy horses in your life it may awaken new ideas and attitudes for you and your horse. Enjoy the snow, stay safe, and I hope you’ll have a read—or three.

Gitty Up, Dutch.

"It’s for the Horses," now available!

Howdy Friends,
 

Well by golly It’s for the Horses, An advocate’s musings about their needs, gifts, spirit and care is finally released and available here on Amazon ... Or you can email me dutchhenry@hughes.net to order an autographed copy (by Kessy and me).

With this book I hope to help horses and their people everywhere realize the most wonderful partnerships possible. Spirituality, communication, understanding, nutrition, health care, horsemanship, exercises, foot care are a few of the important subjects discussed in “It’s for the Horses.” No matter your discipline, I promise every horse owner or caregiver will find more than a few things of interest in this book.

Here is what Bobbie Jo Lieberman—Editor-in-Chief, trailBLAZER magazine had to say. “Dutch Henry is on a mission to help people see their horses with new eyes, to listen with new ears, to touch their lives with greater sensitivity and awareness. It has often been said that our horses are our greatest teachers. Dutch Henry, who has opened his heart, mind and soul to the horse, is living proof of that statement. Enjoy the learning as we join Dutch on a remarkable journey.”

And Yvonne Welz—Owner/founder “The Horse’s Hoof Magazine” said, “I received a free review copy of this book, and it was an absolute pleasure to read. Dutch's genuine and compassionate love for horses shines through every single page. Written in such a conversational, friendly tone, his stories will keep any reader entertained, yet here is a wealth of practical, useful information and how-to advice for all horse owners. The major theme of this book is seeing things from the horse's point of view, which expands into his practical advice for more natural methods of horse care and overall good horsemanship. One of my favorite parts of this book is the section on groundwork, stretches, and pre-ride exercises - simple, useful techniques that you can put into practice immediately, for the benefit of your horse. Just about every horse topic you can think of is touched upon here: communicating with your horse, understanding the horse's nature, building trust, diet, barefoot hoof care, natural dentistry, teaching manners, gaited horses, saddle fit, the spirit and emotions of the equine and so much more.”

You can order on Amazon here. I promise it will help you to hear, and bond with, your horse on a level you may have not even imagined.

 

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

Announcing the Dutch Henry Newsletter

Howdy Friends,

I wanted to let you know I’ll be kicking off a monthly newsletter. In DUTCH HENRY AUTHOR & HORSE ADVOCATE I’ll be chatting about, and sharing updates, on upcoming books, novels and stories I’m working on—and I’ll write short stories just for folks on the newsletter! I’ll also be doing free giveaways! The first Free Gift (winner selected by drawing) is my soon to be released non-fiction, “It’s for the Horses, An advocate’s musings about their needs, gifts, spirit and care.” Winner to be announced in our inaugural newsletter TOMMORROW, MAY 5. Sign up today so you're in the drawing and to assure you receive our kick-off issue.

Your email will be kept private, never sold or shared, I promise. Follow this link - http://eepurl.com/bknmnf and join our newsletter family ... Be part of the fun! ...  Please share with your friends! Thanks! 

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

Newsletter Announcement

Howdy Friends!

I’ve spoken a bit about starting my DUTCH HENRY AUTHOR & HORSE ADVOCATE monthly newsletter and I’ve asked folks to email me to sign up, and THANK YOU those who have! I’ll be chatting about upcoming books and novels, stories I’m working on and I’ll write short stories just for folks on the newsletter. I’ll also be doing free giveaways of my books! ... For the first Free Gift, winner selected by drawing, I’ll be giving “It’s for the Horses, An advocate’s musings about their needs, gifts, spirit and care.” Winner to be announced in a special Launch Day newsletter edition. FOLLOW the LINK and join our newsletter, be part of the fun and tell your friends. First issue coming soon. Please share with your friends!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Gitty Up, Dutch