Bored Horses, Bored Dogs, and a Country Writer’s Life
Feb 12, 2025
When horses, dogs, and a country living writer collide, there’s sometimes chaos . From trashed gates to muddy adventures, Cassandra L Shaw’s life is anything but boring. Dive into my world of vampires, dragons, seer cats, and her many pets
Welcome to my world, where horses have a flair for drama, dogs sigh like Shakespearean actors, and I, a country writer, am just trying to keep up. This week’s newsletter is a day late because my laptop charger decided to stage a rebellion. Cue a two-hour round trip to Mackay, Queensland, where I live, to replace it. Pro tip: when you live in the sticks, every trip to town is a time suck.
But let’s talk about the real stars of this week’s chaos: my horses and dogs. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when animals get bored, buckle up. It’s a wild ride.
When Horses Decide to Go Rogue
Horse ownership is like a box of chocolates—sometimes it’s sweet, and sometimes it’s a gate-trashing, fence-destroying, mud-splattered mess. This week, my horses, unable to cross to their lush day paddocks because of a flooded creek, decided they’d had enough of their cushy night paddock (complete with endless hay) and staged a jailbreak.
Two of them made a beeline for the side yard, where we’ve been nurturing a patch of grass like it’s the last slice of pizza. Spoiler: the grass is well gnawed. The other two? Oh no, they had bigger plans. They galloped down our 200-meter driveway and onto the country road, where drivers speed like they’re auditioning for Fast & Furious: Dragon Hoard Edition.
Enter my 22-year-old son and me, the dynamic duo of horse wrangling. Picture this: a sixty-year-old writer with back issues and an unfit gait, plus a barefoot son sprinting on asphalt hot enough to fry an egg. We managed to corral the escapees, but not without casualties. I slipped in a mud puddle and discovered muscles I didn’t know I had. My son? Blisters on the sole’s of his feet the size of small planets.
The horses, meanwhile, trotted home like they’d just returned from a spa day. And I’m pretty sure they think we were a tad overdramatic in our swearing as we did a dodge gate and fence repair.
Doggie Boredom: Deep Sighs and Tiled Floor Woes
While the horses were out causing mayhem, the dogs were perfecting their own brand of boredom. Note: My dogs hate wet feet. So after over two weeks of rain, there has been many deep sighs and long, soulful stares.
And the pièce de résistance: bringing me toys to throw inside the house. On tiled floors. Where every skid and slide could end in a vet bill.
Writing Vampires, Dragons, while enduring the Country Chaos
Amidst the animal antics, I’ve been diving back into my writing. Blood Secrets is almost ready for pre-order, and The Rise, the second book in my fifteen-book romantic action fantasy series, is coming along nicely. There’s something magical about escaping into a world of vampires, dragons, and otherworldly adventures—especially when your real world involves rogue horses and dramatic dogs.
This Week’s Pet Spotlight: Rhett the Dachshund
Meet Rhett, the second dachshund who joined our family in 2018. He’s an old soul in a seven-year-old body, content to sit quietly and avoid the chaos caused by his furry siblings. Rhett’s the kind of dog who makes you wonder if he’s secretly a wise old wizard in disguise
Book Recommendation: Deals with Demons series by Stacia Stark
I didn’t get much reading done this week (blame the animals), so here’s a throwback recommendation: Stacia Stark’s Deals with Demons series. It’s action-packed, and perfect for fans of paranormal fantasy.
Final Thoughts
Life in the country is never dull—especially when you share it with bored horses, dramatic dogs, and a laptop charger with a death wish. If you enjoyed this slice of my chaotic life, don’t forget to subscribe to my Substack newsletter. Also you can find me on TicTok, Instagram, facebook, and of course my website
Until next time, may your fences stay intact, and your reading time be long and filled with snacks and beverages.
Cassandra.