As promised, here's another story from the backside. Like Sam’s Stories, this entry was part of a book of short stories I published in 2014 titled For Want of a Horse. All the stories within the book were based either on personal experience or fictionalized versions of life events. The book is currently unavailable, but I’m considering reissuing it in ebook form. I’ll let you know. While Tyler’s Folly is fiction, my experience with horses with prominent personalities is reflected within the telling. And then there’s the folly of taking a loan against the equity in your house to buy…

While I planned on sharing another short story for this week’s ‘My Thoughts’ entry, I came across a cartoon by author Shami Stovall on my Facebook feed, and to say that I felt a deep connection to its subject matter would be an understatement. For those avid readers among us, I’m sure you’re pretty familiar with the one thing you will likely find at the end of any book besides The End. Invariably, you’ll come across a heartfelt request from the author for a review or rating. The majority of us barely notice it and move on. However, as I…

Last week's post garnered a lot of interest, and I thank you. Tim Bellasis's memory of the Cal Expo Flood of 1989 made for a gripping short story I enjoyed writing. It was suggested that there are a vast number of memories among the horsemen and women who work with our beloved racehorses that should be shared and not allowed to be lost to the changing times. Remember, a good story is a gift you get to give over and over again, and each time, you get to relive the moment yourself. If any of you have a memory about…

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to chat with Tim Bellasis, a C.T.T. Board member and a long-time friend who I made while training horses in Northern California. As a well-established trainer, Tim was a font of great stories about life on the backside. The following short story came into being from one such memory. And proof that heroes do live amongst us. Blanche It didn't start with a rushing wall of water, nor was it a trickle. Initially insidious, the water went unnoticed as it crept across the parking lot, filled the gutters to overflow, and quenched…