2020 Goals/To-do list wrap-up

Well, Q3 was a bit of a bust and here were are close to the new year! My goals list pretty much turned into a detailed to-do list, but hey, we learned in 2020 that we have to roll with the punches!

I was thinking of 2021 goals, but not sure I'm ready to put words down for that yet! Anyone else a bit hesitant to plan for 2021?

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The most exciting thing for this year is that I rode again.  Guys, I actually sat on not one, but two different horses.  Woot! My friend leased Ivy this fall and told me point blank one day to "just get on her, you won't die!".  I couldn't really argue with her logic, so I jumped on, did about 15 mins w/t type stuff and it was so nice to be in the saddle.  

Not only did I ride Ivy, but I got on Fred. Twice!  The first time was with my friend holding the leadline.  The second time, no lead line, but we didn't do much but stand around. Fred hadn't quite pieced together the cues to move forward under saddle, despite many lead-line sessions, lunging, etc.  Oh well, it was still neat to actually get on him and sit there - since he is almost 17hh, it was quite the view from up there! 

And guess what? I have not one single picture of me on said horses, hence why I didn't bother blogging about it earlier.  #bloggerfail  Maybe next year I'll be better at pictures? 

Horses:

• earn Fred's ROM (AQHA register of merit - each time a horse hits 10 points in a discipline/level, you get a certificate) in halter - we need 1.5 points in open and I think 3.5 points in amateur  - shelved until 2021 due to covid-19
• show at a different venue/different club (I've shown at the same 2 places for 98% of past shows) - shelved until 2021 due to covid-19
• ride again - COMPLETED!!! Sept 2020. I got on Ivy and did some walk/trot! And, I sat on Fred twice!
• attend a clinic of some sort - shelved until 2021 due to covid-19
• find a mare for my friend to ride and maybe breed (added Q1) - COMPLETED! W00t!

Fred

• work as weather permits - we did a fair bit in Q3 - this is the best time of year around here
• continue under saddle work - COMPLETED
• work on showmanship and in hand trail - maybe show at a schooling show? shelved until 2021 due to covid-19
• find a bridle that fits his big head - COMPLETED for now with the world's ugliest bridle, found in a heap of old tack at the volunteer place
• get him more used to the bit and/or try a hackamore - COMPLETED, I gave up on a hackamore for now

Copper

• stay healthy! - Q1 - check! Q2 - check! Q3 - so-so.  He has some stifle issues that are affecting his mobility a bit Q4 - he has been on stall rest (to keep Spunky company) and he seems to be moving better.

Lucy (my friend's mare)

• get her confirmed in foal - Check! 45 day u/s done on 04/01 and all good!  Q2 - all good!  Q3 - all good!  She moved to her maternity barn and her due date is early January! Q4 - all good and we are down to under 30 days - OMG!!!!

 Ivy (added Q3)

• get her weight/body condition up - COMPLETED (and ongoing)! She is responding well to grain and some light work
• get her going under saddle - COMPLETED! She went to a trainer for 2 weeks back in August and although she got hurt, we were still able to get her going better. My friend has been leasing her and riding a decent amount until the cold and dark hit us.

Personal

• read 45 books - Q1 was great, Q2 not so much. Q3 - eesh.  Might still save it, but I'm ok with letting it go too
• back up and organize photos (my computer is dying, so this is urgent!) COMPLETED!
• volunteer somewhere horse-y  - COMPLETED-ish early this year.  The therapeutic riding centre is still closed to outsiders due to covid-19 so nothing further for this year.
• save $$ for foal hopefully coming in 2021- COMPLETED
• exercise program of some sort - ahhahaha!
• stick to a budget - COMPLETED, thanks to covid-19
• read/listen to some horse training material - podcasts, youtube, books etc - Q1 - I read lots, Q2, not so much Q3  -spent time doing, not reading, Q4 - considering this COMPLETED
• continue to declutter and sell unused tack - COMPLETED 
• attend QH Congress (as a spectator) in October (I've missed the past 2 years!) - sadly, I think this will have to be scratched.  Attend the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.  Canceled due to Covid. *sigh*
• use up products that are already in the house/barn (added Q2) - This is kind of completed. I don't buy or use much of this stuff past Q3 as it all freezes!

House/property

• complete some minor house renos/décor updates - COMPLETED - we got a new used couch, rearranged all the furniture and confused the husband and the pets!!!
• stay on top of yard/flowerbeds/fenceline - fenceline yes, flowerbeds, uh hells no.  LOL
• keep barn tidy
• clean and organize my hay storage area - DONE Q2
• fix and bury fence ground wires - DONE! Q1
• check pasture fence and come up with a plan to have fence fixed by mid-May DONE Q2
• source some 2nd cut hay - DONE Q2
• clean and organize tack - DONE
• repaint jump poles - Deferred to 2021
• organize electric fence supplies/spare parts - added and DONE Q2
• clean and put away winter blankets DONE Q2
• put away the trough heater and extension cord DONE Q2
• clean the tack room DONE Q2
• daydream about tack room renos/updates DONE - LOL
• clean cobwebs/windows/shelves DONE Q2
• look into and start a plan/budget for some barn renos - eavestrough, upgrade lighting/wiring and maybe refinish the tack room - Q2 - made a spreadsheet with materials list, pricing

Blog Hop: 2020 Summary; Covid Edition

Thanks to Alaina at Alberta Equest for this blog hop. I was in dire need of some motivation for content!

What’s the best thing that happened to you in 2020?

Personal:  I got to spend a lot of time with the hubby this year, which was especially nice during the summer. 

Horsey: Breeding my friend’s mare! She is due mid-January, so we are in the final stretch now!

a maple old fashioned (or two) by the fire with the hubby

What's the worst thing that happened to you in 2020?

Personal:  This is a toss up between the hubby’s job lay-off and work. Actually, I’m going to go with work, as the hubby got a new, even better job in October.  Work has continued to suck since, oh, about May?  It is the first time in 16 years that I’ve considered leaving the organization I work for. It makes me a bit sad, but hey, c’est la vie. 

Horsey: Hmmm – I think the worst horse-related thing this year is the hay shortage.  We had a drought in June/July and it seriously affected the hay supply. It has been very hard to find enough decent hay. I think I’m ok now for the winter, but just barely.

I may have yelled out the window: Hay! It's for eating, not sleeping! There's a shortage! They didn't answer.  Lol

What was your biggest purchase in 2020?

Personal:  Once the hubby got his new job, we decided a new tv was in order, since we are home more and not going out (at all!).  A 65” smart tv was what the hubby went with!

Horsey:  Ivy!!  A new horse counts as a big purchase, even though she was not all that pricey.

What was your biggest accomplishment in 2020?

Personal: Oh, this one is easy! I have taught Archie to give me a high five!  Trainable cats are the best. Our next trick will be to ring a bell for a treat!

Horsey:   I got on not one, but two different horses this year.  Being out of the saddle had me a bit nervous about riding again, but a good friend encouraged me to get on for a short stretch this fall and I did not die!  (Also did not blog about it!)

He offers the high five a lot now. Sooo cute!

What do you feel covid robbed you of in 2020?

Personal:  Family time. 100% My family lives far away and I don’t see them as much as I’d like in a good year.  This year, we canceled our Easter visit and now Christmas.  Boo.

Horsey:  Robbed? Well I don’t really feel robbed on the horse front this year.  I didn’t get to show, but I’m ok with that, really. 

Were you subject to any covid impulse buys in 2020?

Personal: Does the tv count? It wasn’t really an impulse though and it was really the hubby’s purchase.

Horsey:  Does Ivy count?  My friend and I allllmost bought a cute TB mare, but decided against it due to the hay shortage and stupid winter. Lol

Unexpected silver linings in 2020?

Personal:  With all of the job lay-offs and Covid related stuff, I was prompted to get my finances in better order.  We had a great person at our bank help us get everything sorted out and updated.  I feel waaaay less stressed about that now.

Horsey:  An acquaintance of mine bought a small farm with an indoor arena.  She was looking for some clients to build her business of boarding and training.  I happened to have a big red horse that was in need of training.  We made a deal for a very good price, I might add, for Fred to go to her place for the winter and further his under saddle training!

Blurry screen cap of Fred under saddle!

I'm planning to go see Fred over the holidays, so I'll get more pics of him and an update, hopefully!

I hope everyone has as good of a holiday as possible, what with the shitshow that is 2020!