We Survive, Maybe We Even Thrive

Autumn is my favorite season. BUT. Halloween.

I love the idea of all things Halloween, however, having horses at home in this particular part of the world on Halloween night can be an absolute nightmare. For a variety of historical reasons, it's our occasion for fireworks. More locally, our normally quiet and isolated semi rural neighbourhood is the place to be.

This year the weather had been absolutely horrible and I didn't see a ton on social media about neighbourhood parties beyond the odd person saying they might postpone due to weather. The horses had been fine the last couple of years even with some very close by firework displays, so I wasn't overly concerned for them.

No fancy pictures this week, but here's a shiny pony

However, the weather cleared last minute and things literally started with a bang with some guests of our neighbours lighting screechy firecrackers and pointing them to go off over the horse's paddocks. I was actually out cleaning paddocks and it felt like a near death experience, because there's a big difference with horses OK with fireworks nearby and firecrackers actually 'chasing' them and exploding above their heads.

The horses were super rattled and there wasn't much hope of coming back from it when the regular firework parties started. They exceeded all previous years, and then some. It was absolute insanity. Things didn't settle until about 3:30am, only to start up again the next day and night. My ears are still ringing days later and I most definitely had an overwhelmed/sleep deprived meltdown or two of my own. I can't imagine how the horses felt.

Silver linings of animals and fireworks is that after 2.5 years our grumpy kitty decided he could share 'his chair' with his baby 'brother'

Luckily they are all Best Ponies, and very polite, so me standing with them during the worst of it and and having a halter/lead on Reggie and walking him (he's the most reactive and the other two were feeding off it) was enough to curb the blind panic and impending fence/stall demolition. I just cannot with horses sometimes, why are they so incredibly trusting and kind?

I preemptively booked space at the therapeutic riding barn over at our club grounds for next year, and have a request in for sedatives from the vet, because there is no way I can handle or want the horses to handle anything like that again in this lifetime. 

In non Halloween news, the weather has been fairly horrendous and our upcoming mid month clinic is a no go, which is completely understandable. Winter came early and you'd have to be extremely dedicated to even think about riding outdoors in the wind and rain we've been having - it feels like we're constantly in some kind of weather warning, plus it's too dark to see much at about 4:30, yuck!!

Reggie is the only one who wants to leave his haynet and go outside in the rain, and even he's not sure some days

Outside of horses I'm making a change and feeling out moving to consulting/contract work. The security of my existing regional gov't job is hard to leave, so I'm doing both while I feel things out. That means I'm putting most of my 'real' life to the side to make career moves happen, but this does feel like the perfect timing for that. If I was going to do it I needed to do it now. 

Sophie is back longeing and getting riding pony ready, but if all goes well I think I'm going to send her on a lease.

And I did finish my cob shaped (aka barrel shaped) saddle stand one rainy day

There is a lot I feel like I should/could do with the horses now, but none of it is necessary and it will keep.  I'm very lucky to have G on my side, this wouldn't be doable if it was just me. He retired early (and is 10 years older than me if you're wondering about that math and me still wanting to work ;) and is doing morning pony chores most days. Plus everything else he does - he basically takes care of the house, the grocery shopping, the vehicles, the feed store trips, all those things that are so easy to take for granted but make everything so much easier.