Its not all lovely and fluffy having animals...horses. Days are not always filled with sunshine, meadows, tweed jackets, Pimms and gymkhanas. I am sorry if people think that all our "problems" are a bit first world and middle class but we work hard and make sacrifices for what we have. We know how lucky we are, truly, and that is what drives us to want to make the best of everything we have.
This all takes some juggling and we often find ourselves with too many projects to handle. Momentum had taken over recently and we were finding ourselves rather out of control with too many pans on the boil, one of the reasons we did not bid on the extra land and barn I mentioned in an earlier post; A new project, distraction or a well timed solution.
We have a new house that needs renovating, both of us work full time (you could say Woody's job is 24/7 during the week) and we are currently living in the craziest of situations, independently from each other and any family. Except from work we both live quite isolated lives. Maybe that's why the three dogs and horses are so important to us, but with that comes responsibilities to ensure of their welfare with animals fed, watered, exercised and that the land is fenced, harrowed, stone picked, weeds controlled. Then there's fitting in the fun stuff, "what we do it all for stuff"; competing, running, tinkering with tractors...
When it all starts to become a chore and every weekend is a desperate attempt to catch up, to catch your breath, you have to stop. Think. Evaluate what is important. Be brave enough to throw the towel in and think of a better way forward.
We took the difficult decision to sell Frank and Frosty as neither was being used to their full potential. Frank is one, if not the nicest horses I have ever ridden giving a very powerful but safe feeling. I had planned a diary of training and events for us and I was becoming very fond of him but with one horse already out competing the sums of time and money did not add up. Woody also decided to sell his beloved Mk1 Ford Escort rally car, maybe just a machine but something that meant an awful lot to us all.
Frosty found her calling in life and is now the best friend to an 8 year old girl. Frank gave me a last glorious week with fantastic hacks in Wentwood and last ride through Cirencester Park before going to his new home as an endurance horse. We miss them but we know they are in lovely new homes.
We sat down and looked at all aspects of our life, many of which we can not do anything about (for the moment). Those we could change had huge emotional attachment; reduce the number of animals and sell large, time consuming assets.
Adverts were placed, answered, homes found and deliveries made before we could think too much about it and change our minds.
A few weeks on with just Easter and Tan and time is seeping back into life. Long put off jobs are getting done I can plan the winter forage order with more certainty. Last year we went through 23 large haylage, 6 large hay and 15 small bales of hay....about £750. This year I am hoping this will be at least half.
Easter and I are out competing and training every week, Woody has several big projects on the boil and there are planning consultations taking place at home and at the land, so the pace has not faltered.....it's just been able to continue. Yes we are bonkers, you must have known that already by now?!
