Welcome, 2021

I’ve got about a million and one equestrian things on my goal and to do lists, but everything feels so uncertain right now I feel like the best things for me to focus on in the next few months are keeping flexible, patient, and open minded.

My husband’s work shut down last March and hasn’t restarted. He’s thinking about just taking a very early retirement or maybe doing something new. I’m on the opposite side of the coin with lots of current opportunity. I’m also 10 years younger :) We’re both open to relocating. I don’t think either of us have really wrapped our heads around what that will look like yet. So, while I might very well be sitting here in the same place next year writing 2022 goals, I’m not feeling overly certain of that. Planning for 2021 feels difficult, especially when so much of my momentum in 2020 came from thinking locally and all the real estate investment, career planning, and equestrian goals that went along with that. 

Sums it up perfectly. From The Oatmeal

So, this might be a good time to just check in with the big picture horsey things:

- I very much want to ride upper level dressage. Not competitively, but I dream of one day having the knowledge and ability to take my (probably average) horse or pony to a show and put in a respectable test.

Sophie? Are you game for getting me closer to that goal? Time will tell!

-I do miss jumping. I absolutely loved the taste of eventing I had. While I in no way want to move up or be “serious” about it, taking Bridget to events and camps remain some of my favourite horsey weekends ever and something I’d love to do again with another horse or pony.

-I think long term I want to have the horses at home. There have been times where I’ve lived somewhere with great boarding and amenities and have been quite happy, but more often than not, I miss having them at home. Plus, I very much enjoy design and renovation so setting me loose on another acreage project would be my idea of heaven. 

I want a little white farmhouse somewhere in my future 

-I’d love a Bridget foal. 2020 travel restrictions meant I put that on hold, but I just love her and still want to try. The last couple of years she’s really come out of her shell and been that epic combination of super safe and fun all at once. While she’s not exceptional at anything, she’s sporty and game enough to try, and I like to imagine Future T out there with Bridget 2.0, doing all the things adequately and smiling the whole time. I even have this silly vision of Future Granny T living her best life with a Bridget 3.0...can I dream of being that lucky?

A lifetime supply of Bridgets, please

If we work backward from the big picture, there are lots of things I can do in 2021 to inch ever closer, even with global pandemics and personal uncertainty.

- Keep on riding, keep on learning as much as possible. Online shows if I have to. Keep putting small amounts of money aside every month for future lessons and shows, one day we’ll be back out there. 

- Start Sophie over small courses. While I’m not sure she’s brave enough (for me) to event or be a super all rounder, she’s been quite willing through the poles and grids we’ve set so far.

- if we’re moving, do my best research and go somewhere where we can align career/current assets and cost of living effectively. Horse friendly area obviously a must :) Otherwise, scale dreams appropriately and invest wisely in current town. 

- I’m already chatting to stallion owners (eek!) but obviously there is a bit more than that to organize this year if B is going to have a Mini B in Spring 2022. 

I just love this guy and have been a fan forever,  but decisions are hard and I haven’t quite committed yet.