Meet Lori Tankel | Author and Equestrian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lori Tankel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lori, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am a country girl from West Virginia, and I was exposed to horses at a very early age. My grandparents had a 40 acre farm outside of Pittsburgh, and there were always horses and ponies for me to ride. I was the only grandchild who never outgrew my love of horses and I have made sure that horses have always been a part of my life. I was fortunate to have grown up in a time before cell phones and social media, and being a barn brat was the norm for any horse crazy kid! I would be in the barn from sunup until sundown, and riding with my friends all over the township, not a care in the world! I had wonderful experienced mentors who were horsemen first and foremost. I learned how to properly care for my horse, not just how to ride. After my parents divorced and we moved to Florida, money was tight. I had to work from an early age to pay for my horse. I worked in the barn, exchanging barn chores for board. I rode my bike 6 miles to the barn every day after school to care for my horse. There was no money to pay somebody else to do it. If I wanted a horse, I had to do everything myself, and I loved it! Even after I became an adult and could afford to pay someone to care for my horses, I still did everything myself. I love being in the barn, doing chores and bonding with my horses. It’s a great workout and I am in the fresh air!
When both my daughters became involved with horses, I made sure that they had the same core horsemanship values I did. We became involved with the United States Pony Club, where horsemanship is a very important component of being a member. It was during this time that I began to blog about horse care. I was observing a decline of horsemanship, in both horse owners and stable managers. Unfortunately, like everything else in today’s society, it is all about instant gratification. People want to ride, but they don’t want to learn the reasons why they should be carrying themself on the horse. They don’t want to spend the time in the barn, grooming and tacking up their horse and they don’t want to learn how to properly cool out a horse, wrap legs, or be able to identify a sick horse. I wanted to write a book that would help educate anyone who loves horses and wants to learn more. I don’t want to see the values that I learned as a kid become extinct with the next generation of horse lovers! With social media being everywhere and animal welfare being addressed daily, it is more important than ever that we are producing a generation of horsemen, not just riders.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I began blogging Common Sense Horse Keeping in 2005 and about 10 years ago, someone commented that I should write a book, and so I began to do just that.
I overcame several challenges, that included taking years to find a publisher, then firing my first publisher when I realized they were not right for me. Eventually I found my way to Lilith House Press and finishing the manuscript and publishing became a reality. I learned that as an author, not every publisher is right for your book and you should research them before accepting a deal. My first go round with a publisher turned into a nightmare. I was left out of the loop on so many details, including font size and style, formatting, editing, and even the color of the paper. We were at odds over the cover and when I was told to dumb the book down, I realized that this person was not the right choice for my book. One of the compliments I hear over and over again about my blog and now my book, is that I keep it simple and easy to understand. I am by no means a technical person, and I want to be able to read something without having to use google. I want what I write to appeal to all ages. One of the biggest compliments I received was from my editor. She told me she wished that she had read something like my book when she was a horse crazy teenager. While she had to address my writing style, she loved how the manuscript flowed and was easy to understand. She told me she learned so much from editing my book!
Now that my book has been published, it is all about getting word about it to every equestrian! I hope to see my book used as a text book in universities that have equestrian studies, and I hope it becomes a go-to for organizations like the United States Pony Club and 4-H. There has not been an equestrian book this thorough in a long time. I cover so many important topics, and it was very important to me that I include chapters about Disaster Planning and Fire Prevention, two topics that I give talks about. It was equally important that I discuss the mental well-being of horses, as well as euthanasia, and recognizing abuse. I did something that was rather unique in that I asked on social media what qualities people think make a good stable manager, as well as what qualities make a good boarder, and I included the results in my book. I wanted my book to appeal to both the horse owner, whether they are boarding or keeping their horse at home, as well as the stable manager/owner. My book addresses not only how to successfully run a good boarding stable or private barn, while remembering that “It is all about the horse”, but also to educate the horse owner in finding the right boarding barn and being able to identify when their horse is not being properly cared for. I also weave personal stories throughout the book, mostly about my own personal boarding nightmares.
Other topics in my book include nutrition, health, recognizing signs of a sick horse, the first aid kit, how to read a hay analysis, properly storing hay and grain, the different types of hay, safety, worming protocols and pasture management. I also delve into contracts, rules, insurance, employees, amenities, fee structures, and services. This is just a portion of all that is covered in my book!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Well I need to give a shoutout to my husband and children for putting up with my horse obsession for all of these years! Having horses is not only a financial commitment, but they also take up a lot of your time. I don’t know how my husband tolerates me sometimes!
I would not be where I am without the mentorship of so many equestrians. Sadly, most are no longer alive, but I hope that they knew how much I appreciated their time and for them to share their vast knowledge with me.

Website: https://commonsensehorsekeeping.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commonsensehorsekeeping

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-tankel-70754651/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CommonSenseHorseKeeping

Other: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?LXoZZZSiUMqMdwO28NANvBV8GCbIkRXLEHSpKwfigUG

Image Credits
Images are the property of Lori E. Tankel