I really don’t know what to do with 2018. We plan on moving at some point, but we’re not sure which month. I don’t know if I’ll move somewhere with an already established barn and arena or if we’ll be building them. I don’t even have a fully functioning equine to ride at the moment. I feel like show goals and even riding goals aren’t something I’ll be able to really work towards. That said, I do have some goals:
Read More
I already read a lot though I have been historically terrible at tracking that reading. I usually read 1-4 books a week depending on the book and the week. However, I also spend a lot of time just idly scrolling through the internet and social media. I’d like to spend more of my time reading real books. Graphic novels count (though I am making a concerted effort to get them from the library instead of paying for them). Audio books count. Due to politics giving me anxiety and the fact that I don’t like music, I have been avoiding the radio as much as possible and listening to books on tape instead. I get through 1 or 2 books a week doing that alone. I set my GoodReads goal at 75, but I hope to read 125+ books this year. The total number of books isn’t really my goal though; I just want to spend more time reading real books instead of wasting time online. This is also a goal that I can accomplish regardless of my equines’ varying abilities to stay sound.
Nilla Soundness
I bought Nilla is 2014. She was on stall rest for parts of 2015 and 2017. I know this because Facebook keeps sending me reminders about this picture from January 2016 when I was rehabbing Nilla from breaking her leg. Now I’m rehabbing her in January 2018 from a torn suspensory. It’d be cool if we could make it to 2019 without any more injuries. Seem unlikely though.
from 2016
Figure out what to do with Levi
When I adopted Levi, he wasn’t supposed to be a resale project in that I paid a stupid amount of money for him and I never expected to get that back, but he was also never intended to be a forever horse. I started really liking him though and thinking I might keep him, but then he hit a serious case of the *ssholes. After his behavior at Eventful Acres and Twin Rivers, I said I was selling him if he didn’t become enjoyable by Fresno. While I didn’t get eliminated or injured at Fresno, and he wasn’t really bad, I wouldn’t say it was an enjoyable weekend. Levi’s position is still up in the air. Hopefully by the end of the year either I’ll have found a way to enjoy him or found someone else to enjoy him.
More of this please
Stop buying shit
The vast majority of stuff I buy is horse related. And the vast majority of it is completely unnecessary. I’m not going to set a budget because I’m not eliminating buying things I do need – like a dressage saddle so I can stop doing dressage in my 20 year old close contact that doesn’t fit me. However, I need to stop buying crap I don’t need, like more saddle pads or new breeches. If something breaks and I need a new thing, I’m free to go ahead, but no more buying stuff just for fun.
Solid goals. I did a reading Challenge last year and enjoyed it. I got in 42 books and that was hard to scratch the time out to do. 125!? Hats off to you!
I don’t have kids though, so reading time is easy to come by for me.
I don’t have kids OR a job and I don’t read that much… and it’s not like I’m watching television all the time either!!
I watch a lot of TV. Well technically, I watch a lot of Netflex, HBO, Hulu, and Prime. But I watch them while I craft or read blogs so I get double the time.
great goals!! I love to read and LOVE audiobooks you can get them from the library and i also have a membership at audible. It is not cheap (15 a month) but i get a book a month at least and also other offers. I love it. Between that and the library I listen to more books than I read but that is okay it counts right? And the other goals are right on target for you!! I hope you find Levi either a good home or a place where he shines with you, I hope Nilla stays sound and I hope you stop buying crap (HA I do the same) Oh and the moving!! I hope that happens for you too!
I have audible and my library has audiobooks on two different apps so I can have them on my phone. I go through too many to just have audible, so I save the audible credit for when I want something the library doesn’t have.
I love that reading goal. I set out to simply “read more” in 2016 and have been on a roll ever since. It’s crazy how settled my brain gets from reading books/magazines/etc. that aren’t backlit or on a bright screen!
Best of luck with 2018 – sounds like big things are ahead.
I’ve been cutting off screens before bed for years and it really is better for my head.
‘no more buying stuff for fun’ is a lame goal 😛
and i wish i could steal levi. he can really jump. but i dont need any more turd baby horses in my life i guess…
But this would be a different turd baby horse in your life…
Great goals! Even though a lot of things are uncertain, I think all the ones you have are very easily attainable. I love the reading one, but recently I haven’t been able to get into books as much as I’d like. I either hate them after 2 chapters, get far enough before disliking them that I still read to the end, or if I actually find one I like, then it’s super short. I can’t win. But it’s kind of good because now I’m actually reading through all of the 2,000+ books I have on my caliber/nook/phone and can delete ones I won’t read/finish. Which then means I can get more, right? NO haha.
When I’m too distracted for a full book, I’ll often read graphic novels. The books on tape also help because I listen to them while driving so unless the reader is bad, I just keep on going.
seems like it could be a huge upcoming year, esp with the move! hopefully Nilla stays sound, and i hope you figure out the best path forward with Levi. totally get not wanting to waste a lot of time on a horse that isn’t fun for you. esp considering it doesn’t seem like it should be very difficult to sell him considering all the experience you’ve given him.
I think his sidebone might make selling him more difficult, but I’d probably have my husband and Kate run him around Novice before a sale and that should help.
Stop buying shit is on my list as well. Do I need yet another brush that’s identical to all the other ones I own even though it’s a different shade of purple than the purple I already own? NO. I DO NOT. #theworst
But it’s a different shade of purple! I might need that brush. This is how it goes.
I found you an awesome horse property in the Northeast! Are you on FB? I’ll send you the ML listing if you’re interested!
I am on facebook. Definitely send it to me.
I sent it to your Blogger FB page. Let me know if you have trouble getting it!
Solid goals… except for that last one. That sounds boring 😉 (I’m joking, it’s stupid to waste money on things we don’t need… but I like new stuff!)
Me too. Me too. But I feel like I’m going to have to sell so much of it when we move that it’s stupid to spend the money on it now.
I totally commiserate on the saddle pad accumulation problem. I am an addict. The worst part is….I don’t even own ONE horse.
Outside of shows I only ever use one pad per horse so they’re all overkill.
Those goals sound so mature and adult-like. :0) Too many saddle pads is definitely NOT A THING (IcangivethemupanytimeIwant). i can how being in limbo makes it difficult for definite horse goals. I am curious to see if the new shoes help Levi be less of a PITA. It could be discomfort was causing some of his issues.
While possible, his attitude right now during rehab is not leading me to think that lack of pain will make him enjoyable any time soon.
T and I were talking and if I dedicated the time I use to read and comment on blogs (also newspaper and magazine articles) to actually read books I’d actually get a shit ton of reading done. So I feel less bad about my reading goals, I just don’t read as many actual books anymore.
I’m fine with all the time I spend on actual blog reading. That’s legit reading to me. The wasted time is when I scroll through Instagram, fb, or pinterest for no purpose…
Love your goals, seems totally reasonable to leave everything with the horses flexible at this point. I hope you find the right place for Levi and Nilla gets operational.
I read 40 books last year and it was my most ever – I friggin love books but am a very slow reader, and don’t have any commute time for audiobooks. But I know I could fit at least a few more in if I spent less time on Instagram.
I’m with you on the shopping. Being new to horses (returning after a long time away) the start-up purchases have been significant, but I’m trying to convince myself that I have everything I need for now (at least until the next RW 20% off sale).
p.s. I totally want a brand-embroidered saddle pad now. Thanks a lot.
I want a pad for myself too. I got the ones for my husband for his birthday a few years ago.
Ugh, I have such a weakness for saddle pads.
I know. It’s a serious problem. I’m already justifying how I need a new show pad for Levi because I accidentally turned his white pad pink.
Love reading this blog! Just wondering
– – which equines are you planning to take with you when you move?
– – what is the current status of Shasta? is she ridable?
– – will you and your husband need to get new jobs when you move?
Hope you will be able to realize all your 2018 goals!
All 4 that we own are coming with us. Shasta is doing well out in her retirement pasture. My husband is hoping to get to ride her again when we move. She’s still ridable, but she needs regular work or pasture to move around in and she wasn’t getting that here. My husband will keep his job. I’ll most likely have to quit mine, but we might buy a boarding stable and I’ll take that on as my job.
We need to be goodread friends. And I feel ya on the “what to do with this horse” conundrum. My current ride is supposed to be temporary. When does their time run out?
Yes definitely on Goodreads. I’ll email you.