Two, Three, or Four | Part 2

While visiting with many horse owners either by telephone or in person, I don’t look only at nutrition but also at nutrition management. Sometimes nutrition management can be the most...

Ancestral DNA Endures

Our DNA story has been developing since the beginning of time. While environmental conditions played a part in who we are today, the human race is one race, and we...

Here Comes The Sun

March is here and we are gearing up for a great year. I am so tired of hearing about 2020 being bad. A lot of great things happened to a...

Robbie Pruiett | March’s Bella Fella

Name: Robbie Christopher Pruiett Occupation: Owner/Operator of Aiken Brewing Company Side Hustle: They called me “White Chocolate” (basketball). Hunting, outdoorsman, downhill skiing is my passion since I was 3. My...

An Interview with Trip Buchanan: February’s Mr. Bella

Name: Robert Lee Buchanan III (Third - Triple - Trip) Occupation: Dentist First Job: Construction in the summer in High School Worst Job: I had a construction Job in downtown...

Thank God for Horses, Friends, and a Full Moon

It was July 1995. I was 31 years old and single. Had a horse, a truck, a trailer, and a rope. I was boarding at a family-owned ten stall barn...

An Interview with Zach McCabe | January’s Mr. Bella Fella

Zach McCabe moved to Augusta with his wife April a little over five years ago. Before they settled in Augusta, Zach had moved six times in the span of five...

Meet Robert Atkins

Artwork © Robert Atkins, used with permission. Sometimes we are unaware of the things that drive us to persevere and rise above our surroundings. When I sat down with Robert...

Horsemanship vs. Humanship

We are going to take a break this month from equine nutrition and focus on something that requires you to look at yourself in the mirror. Of course I have...

Embracing Our New Normal | Hope and Resilience versus Safetyism

Hope and Resilience versus Safetyism Recently, I was introduced to a new concept that caught my attention as I’ve been watching society around me react to the “new normal.” The...

The “Do You Know” Quiz

To the younger, cooler generation(s), from a Gen Xer (once younger, maybe not so cool): Have you ever wondered what your parents, aunts, uncles or grandparents were like when they...

Palmetto Bella: Letter from the Publisher

There is a scene in the 1981 Burt Reynolds movie Paternity in which he talks about watching a certain kid ride a bike along the top of a fence without...

Publisher’s Letter

“Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.” Cecelia Ahern The theme of this month’s Bella is expansion. You can find my partner’s editorial and perspective on the idea of...

Psychological Flexibility in the Age of COVID-19

Knowing what we control and what we don’t is a vital part of self-awareness. It has been nearly 3 months since social distancing policies were implemented for South Carolina, and...

A Mother’s Day Prayer

On this fine spring morning, Lord, an extra special prayer; It should be said on every morning for mothers everywhere, A prayer that You’ll keep filling them with blessings from...

Getting a Good’s Night Rest during a Pandemic

Sleep Despite Uncertainty There are few things as necessary to feeling good, but that can be so negatively impacted by daily stressors, as getting a good night of sleep. Sleep...

Horses Past and Horses Remembered

Wishing There Were More I have always loved animals. Always. The household in which I grew up was pet friendly, barely. Mom kept parakeets, but not for long. Most escaped...

Aiken’s Character Initiative Enthusiasm

The Aiken Characteristic of the month for March is Enthusiasm. Google defines enthusiasm as an intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval. It is a feeling of energetic interest in...

Bella Fella | Reboot: A Mike Thomas Story

The man enters the theater. Alone. Just like always. Soles smack on the sticky floor. Heavy ghosts of buttered popcorn haunt the aisles. He sits in the back corner. Just...

Aiken’s Character Initiative | Tolerance

The Aiken Characteristic of the Month for February is tolerance. What is tolerance? Why is important? Why would a person want to exhibit tolerance in his or her actions? Tolerance...

Celebrate Love | The History and Traditions of Valentine’s Day

Allow me to be among the many (hopefully for you it’s many) to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day. For those of you who have great Valentine traditions in place,...

Bella Fella | La ballade de Kelvin Jenkins

acte un Once upon a time, let’s say 1985, back when kids still played outside, A boy named Kelvin Jenkins could be seen ‘round town, out for a bike ride....

Discipline + Purpose

Discipline — what a great characteristic to start off the year 2020. Discipline is having the desire and will to execute actions with vision and purpose over all other options,...

Bella Fella | What’s up, Doc?

A Fan Fiction Interview I’ll bet Dr. Tiffany has more awards than your doctor. I don’t say that to put your doctor down, I’m just saying, the man has accolades....

Diving Into Wellness | Grin and Bear it

My feet moved to the edge. The air was cold, sharp in my throat. Scared eyes looked down; my heart raced. I knew I had to jump, but couldn’t believe...

Served: A Back and Forth between Matthew Wynn and Paige Rabon

M: A club? I don’t mean to be backhanded, but why go to a club? P: A club brings people together and provides an environment perfect for exercising and having...

Importance of Fitness | Resolve

The broken man awakens. His battered body rises from a shoddy bed and staggers to the opposite side of a one room log cabin. Coals glow in the fireplace but...

Healthy Goals | Resolute This…

Happy New Year! Now that Christmas is packed up for another year — well, at least the decorations — we can focus on another time-honored tradition. New Year’s Resolutions. For...

Generosity + Impact

The Aiken Characteristic for the month of December is generosity. Generosity is the quality of giving more than what is strictly necessary or expected. Why is being generous important? To...

A Story of Comfort | A Pawsitive Christmas

Peter’s daily nap took little effort on his part. The longer, cold nights combined with the shorter, slate gray days created a perfect environment for insomnia prevention. The regular sleeps,...