"Time flies when you're having fun."--Everyone Ever
Whelp, it's officially been 1 WHOLE YEAR since I arrived at Knox Farm. So far, my experience has been a bit like what C.S. Lewis once said, "Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different." It kind of feels like I do the same thing most days... Wake up, play with Helga, drink some hot beverage, put on lots of warm clothes, feed horses, clean stalls, listen to various podcasts, ride horses, feed horses, enjoy the cabin and guitar/violin/books/warm shower and go to bed. But then again, SO much more has happened than that! Duh. Then again, I look back on how I used to ride compared to how I ride now, and EVERYTHING is different! My thoughts, my attitude, my evaluations, my focus, my tools, my position, my horse... All for the better mind you. I did have a pretty intense lesson on Andy the other day and realized I STILL can't sit the trot (ok, I can, but not when the back isn't swinging and the mostly thoroughbred cross hasn't been ridden even remotely consistently in the last 2 months, and got switched to alfalfa, and isn't on Nupafeed anymore...) but thats ok! Because, riding is a lifelong pusuit that can't really ever be completely perfected which is why it is eternally slightly frustrating and even more constantly motivating in my opinion. But, even though I haven't probably made as much progress riding as I would've liked, you can only learn so much I suppose. So, what HAVE I learned living in the middle of nowhere in the past year on a horse farm??
1. If it isn't perfect, it isn't clean. Or finished for that matter.
2. Double check EVERYTHING. Always and forever. Just like in math. Oh yeah, I didn't check the latch on the gate that one time? And I drive in the next morning to see the gate to the stallion's now empty field wide open? Thats one of those moments that makes you want to puke your guts out. Yup, every time I double/triple check every gate always. Neurotically. And magically, no more loose horses!
3. I will never get tired of working with horses. If I can be a happy camper while chipping horse poop out of the dirt in negative temperatures with my hands freezing off, multiple days in a row, just because I will get to ride later that day, preeeeeeetty sure I am not going to get tired of riding.
4. People of Chesterfield are some of the most unforgettable characters I know. Also the most useful! Whether it be a fire about to destroy our neighbors house and farm and the volunteer fire department saving the day, or if it is the whole town showing up to pump feet of water out of the Knox's basement through an entire night, these people are pretty much badasses. But that's another post for another day...
5. I have the a freaking amazing job, and I am grateful/thanksful/blessed/stoked/happy/excited about it every day! Except for the days when everyone is stressed out about a show or something...but even then! That means we are traveling, so thats cool too!
Here is to another year of learning all kinds of weird stuff, if I had a fancy shiny glass of clinking champagne I would toast my pony Bindi and my most amazing boss and mentor Chris! I would also give a toast to mysleep talking dog Helga because we all know I would go a little more nutso without her in this slightly haunted cabin.
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