Author Archives: Chris Brunson

All Of Us

“The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny – it is the light that guides your way.” Heraclitus

Working and writing, distilling life and listening, watching. Some people stand out because of their work, commitment to community. A stew of what is noticed, actions, choices, vision follows.

“Show me your horse and I will tell you who you are.”

Open Practice from 2016 story/video demonstrating skills and teamwork between horse and rider.

Connect and grow.

On the Coginchaug River, which flows northward through Middletown, Connecticut. Wild rice in the Meadows.

Ask most children what they want to be when they grow up, and the top answers usually include firefighter, pilot, teacher, veterinarian, photographer, reporter, writer, artist… and a human who can ride horses.

Gymkhana is a timed obstacle race on horseback, so practice, knowing your horse and your own skills combine. To watch is amazing because there is so much heart, teamwork, knowledge and conditioning involved.

“A good gymkhana horse must have the speed of a race horse, the turning quickness and agility of a cutting horse and the control and responsiveness of the stock horse.”

In recent years Gymkhana has been steadily gaining in popularity. New events have been designed for competition between riders which bring into play the abilities of the rider and the speed and handiness of the horse. A number of events such as Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, and the Arena Race, can be found at gymkhanas throughout the U.S. Think of it as field day for horse and rider.

Peter Latronica, co-owner of Lock, Stock & Barrel, at Goshen Stampede.

As for the origin of the word (etymology is fascinating), “gymkhana (n.) 1854, Anglo-Indian, said to be from Hindustani gend-khana, literally ‘ball house,'” said in Yule & Burnell's 1886 glossary of Anglo-Indian words to be ‘the name usually given in Hindu to an English racket-court.' The second element is from Middle Persian khan ‘house,' from Iranian *ahanam “seat,' from PIE *es- “to sit.' Altered in English by influence of gymnasium, etc.” — Etymonline.com

Editor's note: By the way, the details of the 2016 video; the set of equine ears seen swiveling in the foreground belong to Dunny, a Quarter horse gelding; friend Brianna Poissant is in the saddle.


Coming up, catching up. Elephants to Pratt Street. A pond, a place. Learning about a pandemonium of parrots. That pencil-like cupola seen on commutes emerging into the world and with an incredible mission, history, community.

West Factory, courtesy of Ian Basilone. Image is linked to learning more about the current adaptive use of the structure, land, history.

Pratt Brothers comb box. Image courtesy of Ian Basilone. “A comb box from the Pratt Brothers, about the size of a Zippo lighter. The combs that were once in it were made in the West Factory.”

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