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Revenge of the Cat Woman

May 28, 2024 | Ben Reach, Short Stories | Comments
Ben Reach had seen some strange rifts on the theme of inheritance greed since in 2011 “Portability” had come into the federal estate tax law.  Under “Portability, “a dying spouse could leave the surviving spouse his or her unused estate tax exemption, for the survivor to use against future gifts or bequests.  Because of “Portability,” some children were now encouraging single parents to marry poor (preferably penniless) candidates in questionable health in hopes of inheriting the benefits of their estate tax exemptions.  Read more

Field Trial Hall of Fame 2024

May 13, 2024 | Field Trial Hall of Fame | Comments
The HOF results for 2023 are now reported, and before campaigns begin for 2024 I want to name two givers to the sport who are most worthy. They are not wealthy for both were career teachers. But they gave, and gave, unselfishly and effectively, motivated by a love of the game.  They are Brad Harder and John Russell. Brad taught horsemanship and related skills at Hocking College. John taught engineering at Western Kentucky University.  Read more

Suspicion Unconfirmed

May 6, 2024 | Short Stories | Comments
Fred Barnes was a watcher. Little got by him. For the last two years he had been watching John Payne, a professional pointing dog handler, and his scout, Willie Blevins. Fred judged field trial’s a lot. Why? Because he had horses and a truck-trailer rig to haul them, and if he committed, he showed, and he appeared to be without favorites among handlers or owners, pointers or setters. He was pleasant enough, stayed sober in daylight hours. Accepted only gas money to judge. He watched constantly the dogs under judgment. Did not chat or gather wool while judging. Rode every brace at the same pace. Read more

Growing Our Own

April 29, 2024 | Poetry | Comments
Growing our own  Was vital to life When I was young But now lost in the fog Of history Like “putting up”  Meaning planting picking then  Shucking shelling snapping  And canning Read more

Should We?

March 30, 2024 | Short Stories | Comments
Hurricane Hattie had requalified with a third place in the last qualifier of the season. Should they enter her was the question occupying her owner, Sam Slade, and handler, Mack Bain. Both were ambivalent and unsure of their judgment on the issue.  Hattie was nine years old. She had won the National Championship as a four-year-old. Could she go the three hours now was the issue. Both Sam and Mack judged she could, but they worried about the toll it might take on her. Neither wanted to shorten her good years left. She had won four major all-age championships for them and the Purina All-Age Dog-of-the-Year Award the season she won the National. Why stress her? both asked.  Read more

Leaving the Circuit

March 25, 2024 | Short Stories | Comments
Harley had recognized he had a problem soon after he regained consciousness. Lying on his back, he felt first the warm breath of Chester, his favorite dog horse, on his face. Opening his eyes, he looked up into Chester’s big kind ones. Slowly, his mind cleared.  He had no memory of hitting the hard North Dakota prairie. Perhaps Chester had stumbled, but he seldom did. His ability to see and avoid holes of all kinds had endeared him to Harley all their decade together, that and his smooth gaits, flat walk,  running walk, fox trot, slow lope, canter. Chester had been a good—no, a great, dog horse.  Read more