Welcome...
J.L. Orchard has been an avid horsewoman all her life, riding horses regularly since age nine.
Orchard began riding western on her sister's horse, who she later took ownership over and switched to English. In the past she has volunteered with therapeutic riding programs such as H.A.T.S. Niagara, and continues to compete in hunter and jumper.
Orchard is a graduate of a Jerry B. Jenkins Writing Course and has placed in notable national writing contests. Apart from writing for Cinch Magazine, Orchard has had pieces published on other websites and has written and directed community plays.
Orchard resides with her family at their farm in Southern Ontario.
Sample Work
Winter Wonderland
There's a feeling of nostalgia when you step outside into that frosty
world. Snow is sprinkling from the ceiling of the earth like powdered sugar
through a sieve. Ice forms under your nose and the birds hop on tiny feet
around the feeder. And while you drag yourself and two water pails through
another foot of thick refrigerated flour you think to yourself, "I've done
this before."
Why didn't I learn last year to install an underground hose and tap from
barn to paddock? Why didn't I remind myself five months before the buckets
froze over and save myself the hassle of marching water twenty feet back
and forth to the horses? Why?
But there's that peaceful still. Utter silence while the snow floats, like
those fairy lights that shimmer in Rivendell. The sun caresses a garden of
diamond glitter across the snow capped, sleeping earth. And those birds, oh
how those birds twitter! It's a winter wonderland.
Unless of course you're the one stuck hauling buckets back and forth each
year. But the horses! Bundled in coats of fluff with white eyeliner
icicles. Snowflakes sprinkle their mane and face. And they nicker, oh how
they love it. A chill blast of freedom. Their energy is sparked and they
waltz about, kicking their heels and enjoying the extended holidays!
This time of year is for them. A break from the exertion of the show
season. Time to loosen up and run wild. The cold air makes their heart leap
and they want to be free and play. And when my work is done, they may leave
me to my snow angels because I am much too content to watch a horse enjoy
winter, then to exhaust myself wondering "why" I possibly can't.
Quote of the Moment
"A horse can lend his rider the speed or strength he lacks; but the rider who is wise remembers it is no more than a loan."
-P. Brown
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