We Won!

Hi everyone, Cat here. I still can't fully believe it, but The Magnum Equation, the second book that our friend Lisa Wysocky has written about our adventures, was named Best Equine-related Book at the American Horse Publications Awards!

What an honor that is! So much so that my friends around the barn got pretty tired of me saying "I can't believe it!" over and over––and over. I eventually came down from Cloud 9, though, and asked them what they would have said.

Gigi (yearling filly): I won! Yippee,  I won, I WON!! ME!

Gigi is, obviously, still at that self-centered stage. Sigh.

Jon (barn manager): Why wouldn't the book win? Cat has been through a lot and she deserves this.

Hank (beagle mix): Yee-haw! What's the prize? Is it a stick? I could use a good stick. I chewed up my last one. Do you think Cat will let me bring the stick into the house? I love a good stick. Oh, what if the prize is two sticks! I'd better find Cat. I need a good stick.

Darcy (teenager with a trust fund): I'm like, wow! So this is for real then? Like the best book? That is wicked cool.

Petey (Darcy's Appaloosa gelding): Can I hold the award? I could hold it in my mouth. I wouldn't slobber on it much. I bet Cat would think I looked very handsome holding the award and she'd scratch me right there between my front legs. Yes, right there. Ooohhh, I can feel it now. Cat? Where's the award?

Agnes (Sally Blue's human mom): We love The Magnum Equation, yes we do! We love The Magnum Equation, how about you?

Agnes is seventy, but has never recovered from her high school cheer leading days.

Sally Blue (possibly psychic Appaloosa mare): I told Cat The Magnum Equation was going to win, but, as usual, she didn't understand. Frustrating, but then humans are so primitive in their communications. She is a good person, though, Cat is.

Bubba (neighboring juvenile delinquent): A book? About Cat? Did she get any money for it? I wonder what she did with the money. Not that I would take it. Not from Cat.

Bob and the other horses were too busy eating or sleeping to comment. My boyfriend Brent, and his brother, Martin, were fishing and I had no interest in talking to Bubba's dad, Hill Henley. I am sure that my neighbor Carole Carson would have had something interesting to say, but she is out on tour with her slew of kids and her hunky husband, country music superstar Keith Carson. The good news is I get to start giving Keith riding lessons for a secret project just as soon as he gets back from this leg of the tour!

As for the American Horse Publications award, huge thanks to that organization and to the judges for honoring us.  I still can't believe it!

Cat

A Brand New Adventure!

Our friend Lisa Wysocky just chronicled our latest in a new book called The Magnum Equation. I have to say that I am not completely comfortable in having one of my deep, dark secrets out on the open. I’m such a private guy, but if Cat thinks it’s okay, then I guess it is. Surprisingly, she’s very okay with my little surprise. I wasn’t sure that she would be.

I love working for Cat and I love the horses, but the predicaments that woman gets herself into, well, she’s making me old before my time. I don’t understand why Cat has to be the one to stumble over the dead bodies, or why she feels compelled to poke her nose into things that aren’t any of her business, but apparently that is just who she is. Women.

Anyway, our little adventure takes place at a championship all-breed horse show in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I don’t want to give away too many of the details, but in addition to one of my secrets coming out into the open, you’ll meet two of Cat’s dearest friends, and maybe come to understand why I don’t like one of them as much as she does.

Of course, Agnes is there, blue hair and all, and her cartwheel is a highlight of the story. In my opinion. Darcy is a big part of the adventure, too. Cat thinks that girl has grown up some in the past few months, but I don’t see it. Not yet at least. Hank the howling dog; and horses Petey, Bob, and Gigi came with us to the show, too, along with a few new equine friends.

I can’t forget Sally Blue. Agnes again says if we all just paid attention to that mare that Cat wouldn’t get so wrapped up in foul play. She may be right. Agnes swears the mare is psychic and I am beginning to think she is right. But, I’ll let you determine that part for yourself.

The kindle version of The Magnum Equation has been released. Paperback and other ebook formats publish September 24. Let us know what you think. I’d give you our email address, but realistically, we’re slow to answer here at the barn. Instead, email Lisa Wysocky. You can find her at lisainfo@comcast.net. Be sure to tell her I said hi.

Jon Gardner

Stable Manager, Cat Enright Stables

New Cat Enright Book Coming Soon!

Okay, I'm going to give. We've had a lot of interest in the second adventure that is being written about us. Like, I'm not supposed to tell but I think I can sneak a little info out without Cat finding out (so don't tell her).

First of all most of us are back, but not all of us. Then I think I can say that the book is set at an all-breed horse show on a university campus in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In addition to a hair-raising adventure you will find out something that might be interesting to you about Jon (it certainly was to me!), but what that is I have to keep mum about. Oh, and like, the cover of the book? It's red.

That's about all I can say, other than you will also meet several new horses and I am no longer living at home. Geez. I have to stop or I will give the whole thing away.

All I know about the publication date is "2013." Don't have a clue as to what that means.

Hope all of you are doing great this fall, I know I am!

Darcy

We Won a Mom's Choice Award!!

I am so stoked! The book that was written about us, The Opium Equation, has won a silver medal from the Mom's Choice Awards®!. This is far better than going to Verna's Mae's for dinner with Cat. No offense Cat, I'm just saying. Even though the book is mostly about you, the award is way cooler than you are.

Carole, Agnes, Jon, Robert and everyone else is so excited too. We are especially excited because the Mom's Choice Awards® only go to products that are exceptional and it is a huge honor to be recognized by them. Jon is even backing off on being mad at Cat for taking time away from the horses to solve the mystery. Who knew an award would bring harmony back to the barn?

Anyway, Agnes wants to throw a party for Cat. She even found pom poms, which, as you might know, caused her some consternation in the book. So I have to run. Don't tell Cat, though. We all want to make it a huge surprise. I'll report back later and let you know how it went!

Darcy, world's best youth kid

Happy Holidays from Cat

It has been a whirlwind year for all of us here at Cat Enright Stables. A murder, a kidnapping, lots of horse shows, several new national and world championships, and a book called The Opium Equation was even written about us!

This is the only time of year I take for down time, but it’s not really all that down. My barn manager, Jon, always takes off the last two weeks of December and the first week of January. I have no idea where he goes or who (if anyone) he sees during this time. I asked him once but he just gave me that look that means “don’t go there” so I never pushed it. Someday, maybe, he’ll tell, not that it’s any of my business, but still, we work together the other 49 weeks of the year. His vacation plans shouldn’t be a a huge secret.

Long story short, without Jon I am the only one feeding, turning horses out, cleaning stalls, doctoring scrapes, ordering supplies, and everything else involved with horse care. But you know what? I love it. I love the solitude of not talking to anyone else. I love the closeness I feel with the horses being the only human in the barn, and I especially love my post-lunch naps.

My boyfriend and I aren’t to the “sharing family time during the holidays” stage yet, but I am sure we will see each other at some point.

Farm news: I can’t wait for our yearling filly, Gigi, to turn two. Maybe then she’ll grow up some! Our young juvenile delinquent neighbor, Bubba, has taken up the trumpet and my other neighbor, Carole (wife of that very hunky country music star) tells me they can hear his “practices” all the way over to their house. My wonderful beagle mix, Hank, has found he loves running in figure eights. Not sure what that is all about. And despite what my lovely and brainy student Darcy might tell you, I typed and posted this all by myself!

Happy Holidays to all.

Cat