Writing & Living

April 15, 2018 ~ Julia Arnold ~ 1 Comment

Hello and welcome!

This fall and winter were very productive for my freelance writing business!

I had the chance to write for one of my favorite horse breed magazines, The Morgan Horse, for their March 2018 trainers issue. The editors were wonderful to work with, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

march 2018 TMH issue — I wrote about the Wick Family of Hardwood Creek. That’s Alyssa Wick and Irina Shavlik on the cover.

I’ve also taken on a new pro bono project: writing content for the National Brittany Rescue & Adoption (NBRAN) website. It was one of those rare times when everything came together– there I was, idly surfing the net trying to figure out what type of dog we should [eventually] get, and when I fell in love with the Brittany, I stumbled upon NBRAN. Lo and behold, they needed a writer. Bingo!

nbran image — A sweet senior Brittany from the NBRAN site. Check it out!

I’ve also been busy helping promote an annual horse show here in Minnesota, called F.A.S.H, short for Friends of the American Saddle Horse. This year, it will take place May 10-13 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Come one, come all! It’s casual. It’s fun. It’s FREE! Find more information about dates/classes/times at www.FASHHorseShow.com.

FASH Boost Post — Hey, look at me, creating graphics and boosting posts like a real social media expert and all!

I’m also still writing for the local newspapers (when I can), and keeping up with my other blog and passion project, Frantic Mama.

My kids are getting bigger every day, and I’m always doing my best to balance my work life and my personal life. As we all know, there’s no magic formula for that, and no one size fits all approach.

Follow along for more fun on Instagram (where I post much more frequently!). Thanks for stopping by. Don’t hesitate to reach out with content requests for your website, blog, or publication.

~Julia

Inspiring my Daughter

September 21, 2017 ~ Julia Arnold ~ 1 Comment

It’s no secret I hope my daughter (now 5!) will join me on some equestrian fun as she gets older.

In this post, I’m sharing a few of my favorite informal horse photos from this summer.

The Minnesota Horse Expo (May) is always a great chance to get some rides in.

FullSizeRender (27) — She preferred the full-sized horses to the ponies at the Expo this year. She’s getting bigger but still looks tiny on a horse!

E running into stable — Running into the stable… that’s what I like to see! (Woodloch Stable in MN).

FullSizeRender (33) copy — This is probably my favorite photo. We have a Farm Fest in our neighborhood every fall. The highlight for me is the petting zoo and the pony rides. My daughter couldn’t wait to hop on this sweet pony.

E watching FASH — I took her to the F.A.S.H Horse Show at the State Fairgrounds in Minnesota last spring. There’s nothing quite like watching English Pleasure riders prance around on their gorgeous Saddlebreds and Morgans.

getting ready black and white — Of course, I need my both of my kids to cheer me on when I participate in a horse show. Here I had fun letting them spend time with the handsome Morgan horse Gemini, from Hardwood Creek Farm in Minnesota.

Thanks for reading! Happy trails!

~Julia

Beach Riding :: Amelia Island

May 15, 2017 ~ Julia Arnold ~ Leave a comment

Beach riding tops virtually every horse lover’s bucket list, right? I finally had the chance to cross that one off recently while visiting Amelia Island, Florida (and I think I’ll go ahead and add it back to the list. I must do it again!).

Julia with Tennessee Walker — This is me with Misty, an energetic Tennessee Walker mare. Whoa, Nelly did she have some GO!

On the right is my sister, who hasn’t really ever been on a horse. She did a great job on Cookie!

Cue the joint head tilt. We must have been in sync!

We lucked out on the weather. Our 5 p.m. ride was beautiful!

Interested in taking our lead (hehe)? Contact Debbie at Amelia Island Horseback Riding. Our awesome guide and impromptu photographer was Reva. The horses were well-taken care of and well-matched to our riding experience.

Happy trails!

~Julia

Young Rider Magazine

April 28, 2017 ~ Julia Arnold ~ Leave a comment

I had my first article in Young Rider magazine come out this spring (May/June 2017 issue). The article is all about equestrian vaulting. If you’ve never seen the sport in person (or even on YouTube), it’s a must-see. These people are serious athletes, and of course, the horses they use for the sport are incredible.

Here is the cover of the issue my article is in. Young Rider is geared towards readers ages 8-15. It’s a great publication for young horse enthusiasts in any discipline.

Young Rider Cover

Hey, that’s me! Well, not in the photo, but the whole “By Julia Arnold” thing.

Page 1 of YR article

In the meantime, find more of my publications, photos, and links on my Facebook page.

~Julia

3 Female Equestrian Entrepreneurs

March 29, 2017 ~ Julia Arnold ~ Leave a comment

I’m passionate about a lot in life. Two of those are horses and entrepreneurship, especially when we are talking about female-led companies. Because, yes, I’m also a big fan of supporting my fellow females.

I recently had the chance to interview and write about three awesome women who have made names for themselves in the equestrian world as business-owners. Not only that, the piece was published in Horse Illustrated, one of my favorite publications.

April 2017 HI Cover

You can pick up at copy of the April 2017 issue at your local bookstore.

I don’t know who loved this article more– the awesome ladies I wrote about, or me, simply because I got to write about them!

Many thanks goes out to the business-owners: Christy Weflan of St. Croix Saddlery and Legal Horsepower, Julie Browning Bova of her eponymous interior design business, and Laurie Sharma, who started equestrian apparel brand Equine Couture as a one-woman venture with a single sewing machine.

Talk about GIRL POWER!

Until next time,

Julia

Calico Magic

February 6, 2017 ~ Julia Arnold ~ Leave a comment

Someone recently told me there is something magical about calicos. I’m pretty sure I agree.

We recently convinced my husband to let us bring a cat into our home. Within just a few weeks, we are in love with her– our little barn cat-turned-house cat.

Allow me to introduce you. Meet Pikachu.

My husband says I’m obsessed. (He’s right).

Peek-a-Choo!

A little blurry, but I wanted you to see her in motion. She prances with her soft lil’ paws.

Whoa now. Gotta love cat eyes. #creepycool

Bye!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Julia

The Horse Lover’s Holiday Gift Guide

December 8, 2016 ~ Julia Arnold ~ Leave a comment

Christmas is in a few weeks. A few WEEKS! But it’s not to late to find a fun horse-themed gift for the horse fan in your life.

Here are four of my favorites.

For the little horse lovers, I think this Melissa & Doug Stamp Set makes a great gift (Amazon).

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Equine Enthusiasts of any age would love this beautiful coffee table book (The Horse, Parragon Books, Amazon).

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I’m obsessed with the elegant equine-inspired products from Julie Browning Bova Design (find this dish, as well as equestrian-themed phone covers, socks, blankets, and more online at JBB Design).

View More: http://gabriellecheikh.pass.us/juliebrowningbovadesign

Last but not least, I love this soft, loose tank by Little Atoms so much I bought one for myself and my riding instructor (find yours on Etsy).

riding-tshirt

What are you shopping for this season?

~Julia

Find me on Facebook.

HorseWyse Magazine

November 11, 2016November 9, 2016 ~ Julia Arnold ~ Leave a comment

YEEHAW!

I’m excited to share a peek at the article I wrote that was recently published by the Australian equestrian magazine, HorseWyse.

Here is the cover!

fullsizerender-29 — “Be a Horse Crazy Kid” is my piece.

fullsizerender-28 — Last but not least, another happy image of Ellen when she was younger, as well as my daughter in the upper right, being led by Alyssa Wick at Hardwood Creek.

I’ve always wanted to visit Australia. Maybe this is a sign I get to go soon!

🙂

Thank you for reading.

~Julia

My Daughter: A Little Rider

October 30, 2016October 30, 2016 ~ Julia Arnold ~ Leave a comment

Recently, for an Australian magazine that is printing one of my articles, I took some photos of my 4 year-old daughter riding.

She’s a natural, in my opinion ;).

Below you’ll find a few of my favorites!

Here she is! Riding Leader at Hardwood Creek Farm, in Minnesota.

You have to love this sweet, patient Morgan horse: he must be wondering if anyone is even on him!

First she wanted to avoid puddles, but soon she decided she wanted to go in “ALL THE PUDDLES!”

Here is Alyssa Wick, trainer at Hardwood Creek, leading Elizabeth.

Alyssa is basically Elizabeth’s idol!

Last but not least…

I love this shot; it naturally captures the joy she is feeling and the beauty of childhood (and horses!).

Thank you for stopping by!

~Julia

First Horse Show

July 13, 2016July 13, 2016 ~ Julia Arnold ~ 1 Comment

I took part in my first horse show last weekend. It was nerve-wracking, scary, and lots of fun! I rode an adorable Morgan horse named Gemini, trained by the Wick family over at Hardwood Creek Farm in Minnesota.

I was the one riding, of course, so my husband gets the credit for the following photos. He didn’t do half-bad, considering he was also keeping our two little ones in check!

Plus, arenas are notoriously bad for photos– poor lighting, lots of photo bombs, fast-moving, etc.– but I wanted to share them with you anyway. Enjoy!