Alys's Blog/Essays

Introduction/About Us – 11/28/08
Pete (husband) and I live in Southcentral Alaska, approximately 10 miles from Palmer. We moved here six years ago, to the place we named Squalor Holler.

. . .This is us, and there is more to come. The focus of my blog is on Raudi, my Continental Divide Ride horse, and her training; however, I would be remiss if I didn’t also write about the day-to-day doings here at Squalor Holler. Read entire entry.

Lesson #3—Going Full Circle 2/7/09
I had another lesson with Dottie today. I was feeling confident until I entered the arena, and a chunk of snow fell off the upper ledge, onto the snow below. Right then, my heart started pounding and I began sweating. A flashback explained it all. Read entire entry.

Riding Lesson #2 - 2/1/09
It’s late. Seems like the related events of a riding lesson and a trail ride took place a long time ago. It is like Father Time decided to play shuffleboard or something. I had an 11 a.m. lesson with Dottie, on Chester. I say with because for the first twenty minutes or so, I watched Dottie ride. This was so I could get a better sense of what she was asking me to do. This was a wise decision on Dottie’s part – its very hard, when riding, to take it all in. Being a spectator allowed me to observe and process what was going on. Read entire entry.

+30 - 1/19/09
Within a two-week timeframe, we experienced a 60 degree temperature change, so I stopped riding for a while. I figured that -30 degree temperatures would be hard on the horses’ lungs, and +30 degree temperatures would be hard on their legs, should they slip on the glare ice and fall.

Lessons Learned, 1/23/09
I had a lesson today, on Chester, in instructor Dottie Kallum’s arena. Chester is a chestnut Morgan, about 14’3; but because he’s stocky, he appears to be physically larger than actually is. I recently tended to him for Dottie, and learned that he’s a fellow who both likes routine and dislikes indecisiveness. Read entire entry.

Iceryder Website - 1/17/09
A month or so ago, Pete and I linked the Iceryder website (www.iceryder.net) to the AIHA website. Shortly thereafter, we honored the viewpoint of another club member, who suggested that we remove it. Read entire entry

-25 F - 1/3/09
It’s -25 as I write this. I’m sitting at the kitchen table, in the chair closest to the woodstove. Pete, upstairs, is watching a Clint Eastwood western. An oatmeal, apple, flax mash mixture is cooking on the stove. I’ve just finished tending to the horses, fed, cleaned up poop, and checked the water. Read entire entry.

And a Happy New Year to All - 1/1/09
A few minutes before the 2009 New Year began I stepped outside our cabin. I’d been feeling restless and needed to walk off the pizza and apple pie that I’d just consumed. I was also concerned about Tinni; his poop had been loose, and he was moving a bit more slowly than usual. Memories of the lethargy that accompanied his previous year’s bout with pneumonia had came back to mind. At about 6 p.m. I’d blanketed him and given him some warm water baited with molasses. Read entire entry.

To the tune of I’ve Been Working on the Railroad - 12/31/08
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The Two Hunars - 12/27/08
A few years ago, I was asked if I’d like to be the Alaska Icelandic Horse Association census taker. The job duties then consisted of finding out where all the horses in Alaska were located, and then keeping track of their whereabouts. I tried to bow out, by explaining that I’m admininistratively challenged. After considerable pressure, I decided to take the job until someone else signed on. Read entire entry.

The Second Annual Arctic Arrow Solstice Gathering - 12/21/08
Yesterday Pete and I ventured out to Bernie and Jeanette Willis’s Arctic Arrow Farm, which is now on the outskirts of Wasilla. (For many years it was in Anchorage.) Bernie, Jeanette, and their daughter Janet were hosting their second annual winter solstice get together. Read entire entry.

Siggi and Pete’s Big Day - 12/19/08
Today Pete rode Siggi. This had to be one of my best days as a horseperson, because it’s been a long time in coming. The past year of Siggi’s life has been a series of ups and downs. Read rest of entry.

Mistakes Made - 12/16/08
We all make mistakes. Sometimes we learn from them, and sometimes not. Today I learned a few things which I hope will serve me in good stead in my future horse dealings. Read entire entry.

Cardio Grrrl Does a Triathlon - 12/14/08
Today I did a triathlon. In the past, I have, before, during, and after like-events, asked myself why I’m doing this. I have stood at innumerable starting lines, overtired, on the verge of injury, and fearing the worst, finishing last or not finishing at all. The cold did have me a little concerned. At 8 am, when I went to tend to the horses, the
shed thermometer read -1. Read entire entry.

-8 - 12/12/08
That’s what the thermometer read, early this morning. I was on my way over to feed the horses and glanced at it. I immediately wished that I hadn’t because I then began thinking about
how cold it was. Never mind that the sky was a brilliant blue, and that the snow hung in clumps on the surrounding birch and spruce trees, all I could think about was that it was utterly ridiculous, to be outside in weather like this. Read entire entry.

Snow Day - 12/11/08
I woke up sensing that the day’s plans would evolve as time progressed. A glance out the bedroom window verified this. There was a foot of fresh snow on the ground, and more was falling out of the sky. Pete told me that the plow truck had not been by, meaning that I was not going anywhere. I had planned to drive Rosebud, my Suzuki Swift, to Peak Fitness. There I’d work out with Paisley, my personal trainer. (See Twenty-Five -- Seventy Five.) It was to be a strength training day. Read rentire entry.

Baby Steps - 11/29/08
I began telling people that I’d be riding from Canada to Mexico about six months ago. This was because, up until then, I wasn’t sure if I was up for this. Raudi was green, very green. And so was I. We began our forays three years previously, by walking around our block, a mile-long dirt road that encircles our neighborhood. From walking we progressed to riding with Pete leading us. From Pete leading us we progressed to our going solo. Read entire entry.