Sayonara 2023!

The second half of 2023 was a whirlwind, and consequently even though I started the year out pretty strong with this blog, it came to a screeching halt halfway through the year right as things were heating up. I don’t usually set resolutions, but I do make a list of goals for the new year and beyond. Some goals I plan to accomplish within the year, some are just a continuance of existing long-term goals. 2023 was a year of virtually no goals, because I was expecting a baby in April, and two foals at the same time. 2023 was the year of surviving. There were some really great moments, like the addition of Offspring Numero Dos, but 2023 brought a lot of loss as well. I’m glad to say goodbye to 2023 and looking forward to the excitement 2024 holds.

I knew equestrian goals would be hard to accomplish with an infant, so I focused on getting back in the saddle, and planned on getting a few steps closer to my 8 hitch of ponies. Resounding success on both counts as I was in the saddle 11 days post-partum and spent most of the summer getting Johnny Cash ready to transition from Training level to 1^st Level in Dressage. I hitched my first team to my new wagon in Mid-June and took off from there. On December 31 I hitched the 4 in hand or 4-Up for the first time. I currently have 5 ponies of the 8 hitch trained, and plan to focus on training two ponies and our mini donkey, Burrito in 2024. I can’t think of anything more adorable than including a miniature donkey into the mix. I’m also saving for the remaining 2 sets of harness I need to complete the hitch.

If someone in 2022 would have told me that I would be asked to model equestrian clothing lines for the Salado Creek Tack Shop to market traditional “English” brands to Western riders, and not only would I accept at my heaviest because tacos/margaritas are life and I got a little lazy on those last few pounds of baby weight, and our photos would also be used by the designers in their social media ads, I would have called them a liar. Yet, we did several shoots using the neighbors’ bison and longhorns. I also ended up with some pretty awesome shots of my handsome little range rat.

In September of 2023, I was convinced to add a new 2023/2024 goal that may not have been my greatest decision. I adopted and entered a mustang competition. The animal had to be unhandled as of September 8 per competition rules, and I had until September of 2024 to prepare the animal to go Starter Level in Eventing or Novice in Working Equitation. The process started out well enough with me putting four rides on my new mare within 40 days of adoption, but that 5^th ride was the kicker or should I say bucker.

Now I in no way blame the animal for what happened. It was simply reacting the way a horse does when confused, frightened, or both. There were a few miscalculations on my part, and since we don’t start many animals, I was working with less than ideal facility conditions. I ended up being thrown into our steel corral panels, but more importantly landing awkwardly on very hard ground which resulted in a crushed wrist. So now I’m sporting three steel plates in my wrist and my range of motion is not the greatest.

Despite the set-backs and limited time due to Baby Sparkly’s (Offspring #1 gave her that name) arrival, I ended up getting two different pony teams out to three parades (two parades post wrist surgery) successfully, and took several lessons with a Gold Medal, Grand Prix level Dressage trainer. I managed to squeeze in more lessons with my regular Silver Medal Dressage trainer, and get Odessa out for the July 4^th parade and some cross country schooling which is her true passion.

Like every year, I’m looking forward to the experiences and challenges of a new year!