Learning By Doing

I may have mentioned in my last post how excited I was to quit my second job. As of last weekend, I worked my final shift and my last week of working 8 days a week. I'm going from 2 - 4 day a week jobs, (overlapping on one day a week - Thursdays were FUN, guys) to just the one, so not only do I get days off again, I get long weekends every week. While my finances will take a hit, my quality of life will be back to a 5* rating. Just not being tired all the time makes a world of difference in my outlook and energy levels.

I've been decompressing a little this week and spending time with my husband so I don't have any exciting riding progress to share with you all. 

I did manage to get my winter feeding and hay organized. It's probably overkill considering I own a Bridget who would likely thrive after the apocalypse, and a Sophie who's not overly fussy or complicated, but I like to sit down in the fall and look at the nutritional analysis for my winter hay and what's available  to fill any gaps.  Luckily, I got my questions easily sorted out with a chat with the vet who recommended the vitamin/mineral blend I already feed them. Easy peasy!

Thriving on weeds, a handful of hay, and a scoop of balancer. 

I recently impulse bought a pair of pretty blue stirrups and they arrived in the mail yesterday. Because...I don't know why. It's highly unlike me to impulse buy anything, especially something I don't need. But they were calling my name and on a super sale, and I was stressed and weak. They make me happy, maybe sometimes that's a good enough reason to spend $150.

Guess I have to start jumping again? :D

The delivery man also brought my first pair of clippers! I've previously paid to have my horses clipped when necessary, but there is no one here currently offering that service. Plus, it can't be so hard?

Wrong.

I'm on the fence about bothering to try to fix it. It's going to annoy me forever, but it's functional, and busy pony doesn't ever truly stand still. She's smart enough to know she'll get in trouble if she moves her feet around or moves into me while I'm there, but there are a million other ways a pony can fidget...the lead rope quickly becomes fascinating to twirl and catch, the barn needs to be licked...  So, maybe we just call it good enough considering it was the first clip for both of us.

Mud monster

In related antsy pony news, I had  a super busy day at work on Tuesday and so my wonderful husband offered to hold Sophie for the farrier. I don't know whether to laugh or cry because she was a complete jerk for my husband and despite me leaving her haltered in the round pen, no one could catch her. I guess now she looks positively angelic with me, lol. 

It's honestly a bit of a struggle some days. I know most barns and riders would find her pretty easy to deal with, but there are a lot of people newer to horses and/or casual riders here so she's got a bit of a bad, wild child label. I get a lot of unhelpful/hurtful commentary and opinions at times. 

B’s gone wild too!

Anyway, she'll be back to light work starting this weekend and I've got a plan to scale it up a bit for winter so she'll have a bit more to occupy her days. We'll probably all be happier with that.

Priorities

 Yesterday, I  wrote out a whole post on how I’ve been busy and stressed and sad and basically haven’t had a day off in weeks and have been tired and not been riding at all. 

So fun.

This morning, I read that post one more time prior to hitting publish, and was like “WTF, who is this person? I feel sad for her, but I don’t like her at all.” 

Today, I again had a bit of a busy day. Good busy. Stressful in a way, but oh so fun in others.

 I quit my part time early morning barn  job. The extra cash for horses was nice, but it’s not like I have a shortage of my own horsey chores to do on any given day If I really decide I need the money, I can just pick up an hour or two extra a week at my real job and (sad but true) make the same amount. Besides, I think I just have to face that I’m not ever going to be a morning person. 5am is not a happy time for me.

When hay is $706.20 a ton, you can’t blame me for thinking a second job made sense.

Next, I cancelled two weekend riding clinics for October. That sucked, but I’m sure some of you will have experienced the negative side of trying to organize and participate in such things. I’m sure I’ll be back at in the future, but for now I’m just going to look after myself and just figure out my own learning (thank you again for the remote lesson tips, everyone)

Then, I had a nice chat with the people who matter. I’m sad, I’m overwhelmed, and I’m scaling back all the extra stuff so I have time for the people and things I love. Such a simple concept, yet somehow so hard for me to execute - this isn’t the first time I’ve overdone it with commitments and promises and it probably won’t be the last.

Just 24 hours later, I feel so much better. I finished the day by cleaning tack and giving both girls a good grooming, so we’re ready to ride.

So, let me reintroduce myself: Hi, I’m T. I work 40 hours a week at a job I enjoy. My husband is my best friend. I’m incredibly lucky.  I also have two lovely ponies, and I enjoy riding them. I have some dressage goals, but I might go eventing again some time, too.  

I’m looking forward to getting out again, especially on these gorgeous fall evenings and weekends.