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

Four Awards!

Well, I see that Cat has dropped the ball in announcing all of our news but you must forgive her. It's been a very hot, busy summer and she's been trying to keep all of the horses cool. First, I am so proud to announce that the book that was written about us, The Opium Equation, has now won FOUR book awards! Who knew we were such interesting people? Well, lots of people find my husband interesting, but the rest of us are pretty ordinary.

Back to the news! The Opium Equation is:
The winner of a silver medal for fiction from The Moms Choice Awards®
A silver medalist in the book category of the American Horse Publications awards
A silver medalist in the mystery category of the Independent Book Publisher’s Association’s Benjamin Franklin Awards (IBPA)
A finalist in the mystery category in the National Indie Excellence Awards

That's really exciting to all of us here on River Road! Also, I hear that our friend Lisa Wysocky is in the middle of documenting another of Cat's adventures, one that just wrapped up a few days ago. It's an exciting time at a horse show in Tennessee and most of the people in The Opium Equation will be back, but maybe not in the same way that you imagine. Can't say too much right now, other than that the next book is tentatively titled The Magnum Equation. Lisa showed us a mock up of a cover. Very dramatic!

Until next time,

Carole

Validation

Who knew my life was so interesting? The Opium Equation, the book that was just written about us, is up for a SECOND award! This one is from American Horse Publications, which is exceptional in my mind because I know some of the journalists and publications who belong that that great organization.

This is all so much validation for me. You might not realize it from reading the book, but I suffer from a teensy amount of low self esteem. All that breaking into my neighbor's houses is just a front. And my mouth, it's just my Irish temper getting the best of me. Inside I am still a motherless little girl lost in doubt. So these awards are especially nice. Nice too for the horsewoman who wrote about us, Lisa Wysocky. You should check her out, she's pretty cool.

In other news, we are headed to a bunch of horse shows. Bob, Gigi, Petey, and Sally Blue, along with a few new horses will travel in the trailer, while Jon, Agnes, Darcy, Hank, and I get the cab of the truck. Even with front and back seats it gets pretty crowded, especially when Agnes swivels around to hang her head out the window so she can wave her pom poms at passing cars. I keep telling her she's going to get us all arrested, but that's another story.

Until next time,

Cat Enright
Owner/trainer, Cat Enright Stables, Ashland City, Tenessee

Mud! (From Jon)

Wow, we have had rain and more rain here in Tennessee this winter. In fact, the entire property is one big slimy mass of mud. Have been rotating turnout in the indoor arena but I can't wait until the paddocks are dry enough to turn the horses out more regularly.

We have a few new horses in the barn, one of which shows a ton of promise, but I'll let Cat tell you about him. We also have an ebook! The Opium Equation, the book that was written about one of Cat's adventures is now in Kindle format. Hope you check it out.

Agnes has been around a lot lately. She is driving me crazy. On the other hand, we haven't seen enough of Darcy. She has a BOYFRIEND. I haven't seen enough of him to form an opinion. But rest assured. I will.

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

From Agnes

Oh my, a blog! Who knew such a thing ever existed! Cat told me about it. And Darcy helped me get these words to you. So much fun!

Guess what? Sally won another championship - I am so excited! She is just the best horse ever. I gave her a special treat, a bottle of Diet Coke. Plastic bottle, of course. Sally loves Diet Coke! But don't tell Cat. She has this no treat policy that no one else in the barn enforces. Well, Jon does most of the time, but he has been encouraged to look the other way from time to time.

And, thanks to all of you, Sally is famous now. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We are getting incredible reviews on the book that was written about us, The Opium Equation. Even the Library Journal wrote good things about us. And Horse South magazine! It is all so exciting!

Did you know that Sally's official color is Pantone Blue? Pierre, my hair stylist, had the worst time turning my hair into that exact shade. The dear boy finally achieved perfection, though. Getting the tint right in my glasses was much easier. I stop short, however of actually wearing that shade of blue in my clothing. Wouldn't want to go too far and have my admiration for Sally not taken seriously.

But I have to go now. I'm taking my dear husband Ira's ashes to his family's annual reunion. The reunion is being held in a hotel conference room, otherwise I'd have Cat load up the trailer and bring Sally. The hotel has a "no horses" policy. Poo. Someday I'll ignore all the silly rules we have in this world we live in. Now that will be fun!

From Cat

We've been so busy I haven't had time to post anything here. . . . Okay, Darcy pointed out that it had been a long time since I'd made an attempt to post. I am not the most computer literate person around. Anyway, we here at Cat Enright Stables are thrilled that our book, The Opium Equation, is doing so well. Odd to think so many people are interested in us!

It is a rainy morning here in our little corner of the world. Listening to Horses in the Morning while I type. Love Glenn and Jen and the rest of the crew on that show! But back to busy. Right now we're home for a few rare days between shows. I am going out to dinner and a movie with my boyfriend tonight. A real date night! Usually our dates consist of him bringing take-out Chinese food to the barn while we clean stalls or drag the arena.

News: Bubba has found an interest in leather working. We have to keep the tack room locked now to be sure he doesn't "tool" markings onto one of our show saddles. I appreciate the interest, just not the  enthusiasm. Gigi has hit a growth spurt; she's at that awkward "teenage" stage, all out of proportion with her butt up higher than her withers. And Sally? Sally has started repeatedly swinging her head and neck left and right. I have no idea what it means, but Agnes is sure it is important.

Until next time!

From Sally

Gigi is an idiot. I'm just saying. But that's beside the point. All of us horses here at Cat Enright Stables are so excited that the book that has been written about us will be available in a few days. Zowie! This is (almost) as exciting as my winning the world championship last fall.

Some humans think I "know" things, that I can sense the future. Maybe that's true, or, maybe it is just that we horses are smarter than humans. In any case, I predict that if you read The Opium Equation, that you will LOVE it. After all, I am a big part of the story.

In the meantime, I need my beauty sleep. No matter what anyone says, it is very tiring for a horse to type more than a few sentences. Later, y'all.

Sally Blue (the true heroine of the story)

From Gigi

Today was exciting. I got to see Doc Tucker! I love Doc Tucker! He looked in my mouth. He said I have pretty teeth! I love my teeth. I hope every horse gets to see Doc Tucker. But other horse’s teeth aren’t as pretty as mine. My teeth are the best, best, best! Doc said he’d be back in the fall to check on Sally and Bob. And me!

Now I get to go out and play. I love my paddock! Hank the beagle sometimes visits me. I love Hank! He brings me sticks. Then I run around and try to pick them up in my mouth as I whiz past. Jon doesn’t want me to play with sticks. He takes them away. He says sticks might hurt me. Sometimes I don’t love Jon.

Gigi (the yearling with the beautiful teeth!)