"Writing Michael Martin Murphey's Story"

Howdy Folks,
 

On Friday I had the privilege and honor of interviewing Michael Martin Murpey for a story in my Heartbeats column in Trail Blazer. I figured it needed to be in the April issue, because my story about David Lichman's "Horses Helping Humans North American Benefit Tour" was my March Heartbeats story.

After Michael's interview was scheduled, for Friday at noon, I sent Bobbie Jo, the fantastic editor at Trail Blazer, an email about my upcoming story for April. It must be in April, I said, because one of his major fundraisers, a nationwide trail ride event to raise money for the, "Fiona Rose Murphey Foundation," was happening in June and I'd like my story to help that, too. Bobbie Jo loved the idea and said she was just about to ask me about moving David Lichman's story to a "Feature Article." So if I could get Michael's story to her by Monday, his could be the March Heartbeats! Of course I said, "You Bet!"

Michael Martin Murphey

I never had two stories in one magazine issue before! The fact that I only had two days did not sink in yet ... Happily, I'm all set to do the interview at noon on Friday.

A good interview takes me about two hours. I figure we'll do the interview, I'll take a short ride, then start writing about five Friday evening, and finish it Saturday. Then send it to Michael and his publicist to proof. It usually takes me ten to twelve hours to write, edit, polish and complete a story for a magazine. I figure I'll get the proof back Monday, make the suggested corrections, and get it to Bobbie Jo by midday Monday right on schedule. Good to go. Almost.

Friday morning I'm talking with the publicist, about getting photos, and I verify the time, "12:00 Eastern, right?" 

"Oh no, you're Eastern, that's right." He says. "That would be 3:00, your time."

Oh darn. Well that's okay, I'll just ride first. No big deal. And I did. Then at three, I called Michael. No answer. I leave a message. I call back at 3:30, no answer, and the mail box is full, but the number is there for his assistant. I call her, leave a message. Then I call the publicist, and leave a message. It's about 4:00 now. I hang out, table set, paper, pens and recorder ready to go for the interview, just waiting for a call.

About 6:30, Gary Holt, from Equine Legacy Radio, who had suggested and arranged for the story, calls me to see how the interview went. I said, "It didn't." I told him what happened, and knowing it had to be to Bobbie Jo by Monday, Gary said he'd try to contact everyone.

Gary called back to tell me he too found Michael's mail box full, but left a message with his publicist. I knew I couldn't work on the story at all on Sunday, I'd be gone all day, and that couldn't change. I also had an obligation Saturday morning. So now I worried about my completion time. Bobbie Jo had probably even begun to change the layout of the magazine by now.

As soon as Gary and I say goodbye, Michael called. It was getting close to 7:00. He literally called me as he was unlocking his motel room door. Apologizing, a lot, he explained he planned to call as he drove, but he had no, or not very good service in the desert, and couldn't call until he got to Reno. "What would you like to know?" He asked. "We have about forty-five minutes before my appointment with a major sponsor."

Oh my gosh. Forty-five minutes! I need a lot more time than that. I'm a different kind of interviewer. Never had any training, barely graduated high school, so I just have a visit, and listen. As if we're having coffee. I don't really know how to ask a lot of questions. I just spend time with them, like I do with horses, and let them lead the way. And the story comes to me. That's it. That's how I work ... But 45 minutes, holy cow!

I used every bit of the time we had. Michael was terrific! We had a most delightful chat, and an hour later, I felt like we were long time friends. I think he was getting ready for his meeting while we talked, but like the pro he is, he made sure we had a perfect interview. Including the true story behind his beautiful song, Wildfire." And what those lyrics mean to him.

I wrote the first paragraph Friday night. – "Growing up in the city, but spending the summers of his youth on his grandparents' ranch, Michael learned the horse, human bond early. It was there the spark of enjoying the world from horseback was first ignited deep within him. Life on the ranch was busy for a young Michael, but that busy time forged ideas and plans that shaped a lifetime. The ideas did not take long to sprout into real life adventures and by the age of fifteen, he vowed he would see as much of America from horseback as possible. And he would help others see it too."

I always try to get my story started soon after the interview. I usually go out to Kessy, or go lay down a bit, let things bounce around in my hollow head, then write the beginning. I'm good then, the rest can grow as it needs to. It was nearly 10:00pm by the time I had that first paragraph, but now I had my footing.

Saturday morning at 11:00 I started right off. Let me here explain, every story must not only tell the tale, but it has a beginning, a middle and an end. It also has a rhythm, and transitions. My opening paragraph carried me into the story. I read my notes, listened to our recording and did really great. It all came together and flowed gently. Until about 3:00. I was in a big transition, knew where the story wanted to take me but it just wouldn't work. When it doesn't flow, well, it just doesn't. Everything was in my head, but nothing worked smoothly.

Only one answer, saddle Kessy, and let her help. So I did. We had a delightful ride, lots of gaiting and racking. We had a blast. We were half an hour from home when my transition sentence came to me. I couldn't wait to get back. The rest of the story, even the last sentence, was shouting to be written before I could see the barn! The last sentence by the way, made Bobbie Jo cry … Me too.

I finished the story at exactly 10:30 Saturday night. Sent it to Michael and his publicist for review. Sunday they sent it back, approved. They had one small edit. Michael said he liked it, "a lot." His publicist said I caught things few people do, and he really liked my, "conversational style of writing."

They sent me terrific pictures, and I got everything to Bobbie Jo by noon on Monday. It was a wild ride writing this one, but my story about how much more than a great singer/songwriter Michael is will be in the March issue of Trail Blazer. Thanks everybody for helping!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry 

By the way, if you'd like to know more about the June, "Fiona Rose Murphey Foundation," Nationwide fundraising ride  CLICK HERE 

 

"Feature Friday-Friends of Sound Horses- FOSH"

Howdy Folks,

I had the pleasure of interviewing the President of Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH), Teresa Bippen this week for a story that will appear in the June issue of Trail Blazer and knew I had to feature them here today. FOSH was founded by Cherie Beatty with a vision to end "soring" in the Tennessee Walking Horse world. Soring is a horrible practice that employs such despicable techniques as smearing chemicals on horses' legs so heavy flopping chains wrapped on their legs will hurt when they rub the tender, chemically sored skin above the hoof causing them to fling their leg high to relieve the pain with each exaggerated step. Other techniques include shoeing with nails up into the foot causing terrible pain and forcing the horse to try to carry itself more on the back legs. There are other, and just as gruesome techniques, but that's the general idea of the "soring" style, or insanity, of training.

Cheri had a vision of not only fighting to end soring, but to open new venues for Tennessee Walking Horse owners to showcase their horses. Creating FOSH would make possible both those dreams. FOSH has come a long way in shining the light on the horrible soring practice by keeping pressure on legislatures to pass bills to protect the horses and informing the public. Much has been accomplished on that front, but sadly much is still needed. (At the most revered, Tennessee Walking Horse show, the "National Celebration" in Shelbyville, TN, this past August, the USDA swabbed 190 horses and 145 tested positive (76%) for foreign substances including caustic agents and numbing substances.) One way of informing the public has been FOSH's creation of a website that provides 57 year's worth of history on soring including thousands of violations and violaters http://www.stopsoring.com/

 The second and third approaches to helping horses is that FOSH employs education, and creating fun. In the show venue their rule book and judges have been used nationwide for owners of all gaited horses to show sound horses. FOSH defines a sound horse as "one that has not been sored." FOSH will only support flat shod or barefoot horses and will never endorse any event that allows any artificial means to modify the natural gait of the horse.

First Gaited Dressage Competition-1986 Red Deer, Alberta Canada-TWH Shaker's Royal and Diane Sept

FOSH is the fastest growing gaited horse organization in the country and has become an umbrella group for all gaited breeds. Showcasing the agility, naturally beautiful gaits, fun and greatness of all the gaited breeds is their mission. They've created the "Gaited Sport Horse Program" with opportunities for owners of all gaited breeds to compete, play and learn. Check out the "The Gaited Sport Horse Program," here http://www.foshgaitedsporthorse.com/  ... You'll find the "Gaited Distance Program," and their "Equine Agility Program." And the "Gaited Dressage" program which FOSH has been on the forefront of promoting. In fact they've developed and written a non-specific gaited breed Dressage Test that makes it possible for riders and owners of any gaited breed to join in the fun, excitement and rewards of Dressage.

 Visit the FOSH website  http://www.fosh.info/index.html to learn how you can help them help.

Be sure to watch for my full article in the June issue of Trail Blazer http://www.trailblazermagazine.us/ to learn even more about FOSH whose motto is, "The Horse Comes First."

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"What's In A Title?"

Howdy Folks,

Titles have always been my nemesis. Photo captions, too. It seems I need to be allowed a whole pile of words to say what I'm thinking. As all Coffee Clutchers already know. That was supposed to be funny. But coming up with a few words labeled a title, that peek interest, and define the story is very hard for me. It remains a challenge for me her on this blog.

What does a title do? Hopefully it will not only catch a reader's eye, but give a clue to the story, too. It might be able to drop a hint about the tone, or mood of the story, too. In the magazines I write for not only do I have the help of extraordinary editors like Bobbie Jo Lieberman and Lisa Ross-Williams, and the being in equine magazines will prepare you for the fact it will have something to do with horses. Here in my blog, I have neither of those helpful assistants.

The other a day a friend emailed the latest title he was kicking around for his book. I knew what the book is about and the title worked, almost. Quickly I shared how I struggled with titles and explained some folks are really good at it. Just not me.

Kessy, Saturday and me writing

 But I did show how I usually handle it. Often when I’m writing stories I’ll start with a "Working Title," until something in the story shouts out the perfect title.

Happened with my novel. My working title had been Mar-Sa, the name of their ranch. Then I was writing, somewhere about page 200, Mary is just back from the doctors after her exam and telling Sam she’s not doing treatments again. He asks what’s ahead and through his tears she tells him, “We’ll have the summer.” … WOW, I thought, there is my title.

I was writing a story for Trail Blazer about the Premerian Mares and foals, and about a woman who rescues the mares who suffer horribly standing strapped up in “pee Lines” for months so their urine can be collected, and little foals that most often just get sent to auction and slaughter. The “Unnoticed” byproduct of a horrible industry. When I wrote that sentence I thought, “Noticing The Unnoticed!” what a title. The story named itself.

Another story I wrote for Trail Blazer "Carrots For The Horses" about Teresa Paradis' rescue, Live & Let Live in NH. There is sentence in the story relating a time in Teresa's youth when she would leave "carrots for the horses" in a mailbox of a farm she walked by on her way to school. There's my title, I thought.

"Tearing Down Walls" is another Trail Blazer story about the wonderful work Nancy and Rick do on their ranch in NM helping Veteran's tear down the walls of PTSD. That sentence named their story.

Other times I just struggle, but my advice to my friend was don't rush it. Let the story name itself.

By the way if you'd like to read all the stories I wrote for Trail Blazer in my Heartbeats column, just look at the banner at the top of my blog page, click on "Dutch's Articles In Trail Blazer Magazine" to find a little book they put together of just my Heartbeat stories. I hope you'll read them, all good stories of "People & horses Helping Horses & People."

Link to  "Dutch's Articles In Trail Blazer Magazine"

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday – Bobbie Jo Lieberman –Teaching Better Ways

Howdy Folks,

Bobbie Jo & Flite

Bobbie Jo Lieberman, managing editor of Trail Blazer Magazine, has a devotion, a mission, to teach better ways to care for our horses' physical needs – nutrition, hoof care, exercise – and to make life interesting, varied and "nonhabitual" for our horses. As she explains, horses are thinking, sentient creatures who need mental stimulation, just like we do, for optimal health. Whether it's learning to step up onto a pedestal, walk through a labyrinth, or experience true "connection" with his person, horses are capable of much more than many people realize. The results of working with horses in such creative ways, and sharing insights with others, is one of the things most rewarding to Bobbie Jo.

Through her career in equine journalism, spanning an impressive forty-plus years, Bobbie Jo has had the privilege of working with many people who are shining a light in understanding how horses learn. People like Linda Tellington-Jones, Peggy Cummings and Suzanne De Laurentis.

Her journey began as a child with an imaginary horse named Bright Angel. As a young girl Bobbie Jo and Bright Angel would compete in races, shows and even start a breeding farm. Finally at 13 and after much persistence, she "convinced" her parents to buy her a pony, Little Stormy. Stormy taught her much and together they won their first trophy. After Stormy came Flip, a half-Arabian who excelled at barrels and poles. Only during her college years did Bobbie Jo go horseless. Then, in her senior year, she found Khabur, an Arab colt.

Annakate & Bobbie Jo flying

Khabur never put much stock in any, "in the ring stuff" and one day, Bobbie Jo flung open the gate and across the fields, up and down hills they flew. It was Khabur who started Bobbie Jo on a lifelong love affair with Endurance Riding. Endurance riding is the sport that most closely mimics the lifestyle of horses in the wild—covering long distances in the course of a single day at moderate speeds. "Endurance will teach a rider more about equine physiology than any other horse sport, and developing fit equine athletes is very rewarding," says Bobbie Jo. It was Khabur who first planted the seed in Bobbie Jo to share that knowledge with the world for the sake of the horse. Later, she would write a column called "Equus the Foal," continuing that real-world focus on learning and growing.

Rushcreek Caribou & Bobbie Jo

When she went to work for EQUUS as the founding Editor in 1977, Bobbie Jo met Medical Editor, Matthew Mackay-Smith, DVM, who was already in the endurance riding American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) Hall of Fame. Bobbie Jo had done one competitive trail ride in Minnesota in the early 70s with Khabur (they were having so much fun that they missed a trail marker and ended up in Wisconsin!) so was already intrigued with long-distance riding. Matthew and his wife Winkie became her friends and mentors in the sport. Those were the days of burgeoning knowledge in equine sport science, and Matthew was a pioneer in the “gate into hold” concept that is still in use in AERC. The defining distance was 100 miles in one day, and the supreme test in the East was the Old Dominion 100. Bobbie Jo and her mare Rushcreek Ingrid, finished 5th on their first Old Dominion and third that same year on the Vermont 100. She's logged over 5,000 AERC miles so far and hopes to ride many more.

EQUUS’ early motto was “the voice of the horse,” and that is the banner Bobbie Jo has always carried in her heart. She's emotional when it comes to the care and treatment of any animal. She's an advocate for holistic therapies for horses, barefoot horsekeeping, minimal vaccinations and training methods that honor the intelligence of the horse.

Teammates Perle & Bobbie Jo

One of the most difficult moments in Bobbie Jo's horse history was losing her beloved mare Perle to the bite of a green Mojave rattler in 2006. Perle had been the focus of a series in EQUUS and proved to be a challenging horse to train—meaning she had many lessons to teach. She emerged from her early trials as a willing trail partner and had just completed a series of competitive trail and endurance rides when tragedy struck. It took Bobbie a long time to come to grips with losing her and ultimately discover Perle as her spiritual guide. Years after the event, Perle’s full sister Permynta “found” Bobbie  from across the country and came West to live with her, bringing them all full circle in the journey of love and life.

For as long as Bobbie Jo can remember, she wanted to write about horses. Opportunities to do so were slim in the early 1970s. For the first decade or so of her working life, she was a newspaper and sports editor and wrote feature stories about horses whenever she could. Bobbie Jo's first two freelance articles appeared in Hoof Beats magazine and Western Horseman during her university years. Then, in 1977, she was invited to become a founding editor of EQUUS—the first magazine devoted to the health and care of the horse. EQUUS was a breakthrough in equine journalism…. In fact, it defined the genre for many years.

Later she would spend a decade as Editor & Publisher of Modern Horse Breeding, a journal written for breeders, veterinarians and farm managers. As managing editor of Trail Blazer magazine for the last four years, Bobbie Jo plays a major role in shaping the editorial direction. Trail Blazer's publisher, Susana Gibson, was a highly successful endurance rider back in the day as well as the manager of the legendary Race of Champions. They were both “students” of Matthew Mackay-Smith, and his wit and wisdom continues to inform and inspire their efforts.

Bobbie Jo has coauthored two horse books: “The Ultimate Horse Training and Behavior Book: Enlightened solutions for the 21st century,” with Linda Tellington-Jones, and “Connect with Your Horse From the Ground Up: Transform the way you see, ‘feel,’ and ride with a whole new kind of groundwork,” with Peggy Cummings. Both books were the result of years of writing, refining and experiencing the work with each author. She writes these books to give people a way to work with horses that is safe, effective, stress-free and honors the individuality and intelligence of the horse.

She also coauthored a human-health book called “Heart Sense for Women,” with Steve Sinatra, MD and Jan Sinatra. Bobbie Jo and her husband, Kenny Weber, are also working on a book right now featuring a fun, sassy, easy approach to healthy nutrition. 

Bobbie Jo Lieberman has devoted her life to giving horses a voice. Her efforts as a writer and editor extraordinaire have helped spread the word of a better way to live with, take care of and have fun with our horses.  Join her on Facebook and get to know one wonderful woman.

For more information:

Bobbie Jo's Facebook page

 Tellington TTouch Training
Connected Riding -Peggy Cummings
Imagine a Horse - Suzanne De Laurentis.
Bobbie Jo's Photos
Gitty Up

Dutch Henry

Mustang Monument

My story of Madeleine Pickens and Mustang Monument is in the August issue of Trail Blazer on page 72. Madeleine has long been known as an animal advocate. After hurricane Katrina she chartered commercial airliners from New Orleans to California specifically for the abandoned dogs and cats of the storm. They called this mission, "Orphans of the Storm." Later many of these were returned to their rightful masters.

It was through her work saving animals and speaking out for them, that she found out about the horse slaughter industry. She was amazed and disheartened that, as involved as she was in the horse racing community, it took her so long to discover the fact that such a thing existed in this country. She and her husband became actively involved in helping to put an end to horse slaughter in the United States. It was about that time that she became aware of the capture and removal of the American Mustang. She was just as surprised and dismayed that she had not known of their battle to survive.

My story tells of Madeleine's plans, personal investments of over 12 million dollars, and 5 year determined struggle to create a sanctuary for some of America's Mustangs now standing lost in hateful BLM holding pens. One big question torments her, "How did we reach the point that the noble Mustang is considered a feral nuisance that must be removed?"

To read my story if you are not a subscriber to Trail Blazer please follow this link, then page to Page 72. Please read their story …. And as you page through the beautiful award winning magazine, please consider subscribing.

Thank you Trail Blazer for allowing me this platform in your beautiful magazine to tell the stories of "People & Horses Helping Horses & People." Thank you Bobbie Jo Lieberman for being such a wonderful editor and friend! ...

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