Friday 3 January 2020

R and R (and some thoughts on where we're going)

I took this past week off from riding. My husband's work closed down at the last minute over Christmas, so he unexpectedly had time off! We never have the same days off, so instead of trying to get things done around the house and with the horses, I decided to just have some proper vacation time with him. He helps me so much with the horses in and around the million and one other commitments he normally has that it didn't feel right to fill up his vacation time with my horsey goals.
Out for a hike

We both like hiking so every morning we picked a new to us destination and went exploring. We're so lucky here to have a huge amount of backcountry to explore. Even growing up here, I've maybe explored 10% of it. 

I can see the top of this hill from our house, yet had no clue there was a trail to the top with such a nice view.

Of course, I couldn't help but scout the new to us trails for future riding opportunities. Sadly most of the ones we hiked had at least part that weren't horse friendly, but I did find a couple suitable for future adventures. Afternoons I mucked out the horses and did feeds and other chores, then evenings I was back at home for dinner and a movie with my husband. The weather was absolutely miserable the entire time, but we had a great week and honestly, the shorter hours and smaller to-do list at the barn were a nice change.

We found this Christmas tree in the middle of nowhere. So fun.

Anyway, I'm back at work now and normal life speed has resumed, so it's time to start planning 2020 vacation time and start thinking about what I'd like to do this year with the horses.

I've enjoyed not setting hard goals or deadlines the past couple of years, and I'm keeping with that this year. I like to check items off the list as much as anyone, but I'm also that person who beats myself up and gets anxious if things don't go to my plan. The only answer to that is to is not have very many firm plans ;)

Bridget has been kind of in and out of work all year and I can't see that changing in 2020. I have nothing I want to accomplish with her and my main goal is to just give her the happiest life I can. I'll keep her exercised as it keeps me exercised too and she likes getting out. I try to add in new and interesting things to keep it from being boring, but honestly there's nothing groundbreaking. I've been tossing around breeding her and even have a contact with a lovely Sec D stallion I can send her to, but haven't quite made a decision on the risk vs potential reward aspect of that.

Skeptical

Sophie....I'll keep picking away over the winter. I'd like to have solid W/T/C and hacking out short distances alone by mid spring, but we'll see. I still feel like she's very immature physically and mentally and so things might just take as long as they take. I'd like to aim for a local dressage show or two in my coach's town, with the possibility of lessons and training in the fall when my coach's competition season slows down. It's all very much open to change. The big picture goal is to get the basics established under saddle and get her out and about as much as I can while still keeping her happy and interested.
Did I mention it rained in December? and rained...and rained some more.

She's looking a lot more proportionate, but she's still got so much filling out to do.

It's kind of non exciting from a blogging point of view but I'm seeing 2021 as the year where I'd potentially have a proper dressage competition season and maybe try eventing again too.

On a personal level, I pretty much just want to do my best to stay happy and healthy. Riding ponies, there are some wishful numbers on the scale associated with some of my riding goals, but I'm more concerned with keeping a good mindset and just treating myself well overall.

Onward we go!



SHARE:

15 comments

  1. oohhh i want a bridget clone :) thanks..hahahahha I would love a welsh cross in real life one day ;) Love both your ponies and they make me even a bigger fan!!

    Glad you had some down time!! and enjoyed it with your man too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd love another Bridget too <3 The down time was well overdue and very much enjoyed. Happy New Year:)

      Delete
  2. Oh, would you be breeding Bridget for yourself? Or re-sale? Would you ever consider breeding her to a warmblood? It seems like the cob/warmblood crosses can be really nice (not that purebred cobs aren't nice).

    I'm looking forward to seeing where you end up with Sophie this year! She's looking gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Breeding for myself, because I love Bridget and just want another with her mind. But of course life happens so I have to keep resale in the back of my mind. I've been looking at purebred, but also some of the smaller Warmblood stallions. If I am going to go ahead with it this year I've chosen a Welsh D just because I can be more confident in what I'll get. I'm so anxious about something happening to her though that I keep hesitating on making the booking and start eyeing up some of those lovely crossbreds already on the ground. I enquired with Jessica W last year and she had some really once in a lifetime prospects!

      Delete
  3. oooh, a Bridget baby!!! That would be so cool... :-) Those pics are lovely - even with yucky weather, the hiking and scenery there is so gorgeous.

    Looking forward to seeing how your 2020 unfolds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're very lucky to have so many beautiful trails to use.

      Delete
  4. Staycations can be wonderful things. I’m glad you had a good one. I too want a Bridget.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I was worth millions I'd probably just clone her :)

      Delete
  5. The view from the top of that hill is spectacular. WOW! Looks like a painting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was one of those trail where you have no view where you're going (just trees!) and then you turn the corner and step out on to a cliff and it's amazing.

      Delete
  6. Thanks for the gorgeous images - that first one is "my home": )

    We enjoy watching a show called Grimm, a fantasy series. It's set in Portland's woods and the trees look the same as ours. In an interview with an actress, not being from the PNW, she said, "The trees are covered in this green stuff continually, like green snow." I thought that was an interesting interpretation. Yah, whenever we have to tie our horse to a tree, our leadrope is never the same. *lol*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ooh Grimm was one of my fave shows and the scenary is lovely......

      Delete
    2. I feel like half my stuff turns green here....definitely have a few green lead ropes that didn't start life that way! I need to watch that show, so many people have recommended it. Although sometimes it's distracting when I recognize places from real life in TV and movies pretending to be elsewhere :)

      Delete
  7. Being flexible is the most important part of goals - I am excited to see how the banana grows up this year

    ReplyDelete

BLOGGER TEMPLATE MADE BY pipdig