Winter, for me, is a time of recovery and preparation. Winters here on the prairie will make you slow down whether you want to or not. I've always seen this season as a forced break I didn't want. But as I've gotten older and I'd like to say wiser, I've come to look forward and appreciate these cold, snowy months. It's a good mental and physical break for everyone.
Depending on the association you're a member of or the age of horse you are riding, your "2020 season" could have begun in the fall or winter of 2019. For me, my new season almost always begins after January 1st. This is why I look forward to it so much! My horses are all a year older, my older horses are starting out more seasoned, my younger horses are ready to start hauling, and I'm refreshed and ready for the challenges and excitement of the new year.
While I do not believe in, nor do I ever make New Years resolutions, I do look ahead in my calendar and set some goals. This year is different. I know I have another year of work and working ahead of me. I know there won't be a calandar full of big races planned. And for the first time, I'm really ok with that.
My most seasoned horse is Boldly. I've turned him over to Laramie for her main pole and barrel horse. She will be making most of his runs this year. Laynee is my next most seasoned horse. I still have quite a bit of finishing work with her, but plan to have Laramie ride her some too. I'll make most of her competitive runs but will have Laramie working with her behind the scenes.
This year my first group of babies we raised, will be 4 years old. My plan is lots of riding, hauling, and patterning of these 3. This is where my work will be focused. I'd like to have at least one ready for spring futurities but it will all be played by ear. We might be there, we might not, but that's why it's fun. This is not a career for me, it's a hobby. I'd like to run them, but if they aren't ready, that's ok too.
As mentioned above, horses are my hobby, my career is actually in nursing. And this will be, yet again, another working year. Lots of changes at my job may require me to work quite a bit more. I've worked on trying to get a good work/life balance. And it almost seems that the busier I am at work, the more I seem to get done at home. If I plan on making a few futurities in 2021, I'll need some extra entry and travel money so, I guess it's not all bad. It's an added obstacle and I love a good challenge.
Gabe and I are also looking in to getting a set up here at our house to be able to start training our horses on breakawaying cattle. Not only is it to help Laramie learn and improve her roping, it will be part of the training process with all of our horses. I actually very much enjoy breakaway roping, and wasn't terrible at it back in the day. It just hasn't been in my heart for the last several years. But having a set up at home might just be what I need to get fired up about it. Plus, I do think it's very important for all of my barrel horses to be roped of off.
So while I don't have any big exciting plans for 2020, I do look forward putting in the work needed for a more exciting 2021 and beyond. After all, it is about the journey not the destination. Cheers to the new year 🥂 and all that it will bring!
No comments:
Post a Comment