Q2 Wrap-up

Things have certainly being challenging thus far in 2020!  I went back to re-read my Q1 goals post and I had a chuckle at my optimism that things would pick up for shows and things around here.

Note: I’m having internet and blogger issues so I can’t seem to add any more photos. Sigh. #firstworldproblems

Needless to say, I've bit the bullet and totally scrapped most of my horse goals for this year and made some modifications.  I have done ok on the barn/pasture stuff, but need to really focus on the house in Q3 before things totally get away from me.

I think Charlie Mackesy summed up how I feel with this post on Instagram:

I'm also sad that attending QH Congress in Columbus is 95% out - who knows what the travel restrictions will be like by then (the border is closed until late July at least), the US dollar exchange rate is horrendous and I honestly don't know if I want to be around large amounts of people for a few more months. 

My plan B for a big horse show/shopping event was the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in November, but it was canceled on June 25th, so that plan is toast as well.  I guess I should really just focus on saving money so next year can be a good one (fingers crossed!).

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 - might still pull this off
• 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 
• continue under saddle work - leaving this on in case I'm inspired to try him under saddle again
• 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

Copper

• stay healthy! - Q1 - check! Q2 - check!

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!

Personal

• read 45 books - Q1 was great, Q2 not so much.  There is still time to save this goal!
• 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- this is going well, thanks to covid-19
• exercise program of some sort - ahhahaha!
• stick to a budget - doing ok here in Q2, thanks to covid-19
• read/listen to some horse training material - podcasts, youtube, books etc - Q1 - I read lots, Q2, not so much
• continue to declutter and sell unused tack - ongoing - more work to be done here!
• attend QH Congress (as a spectator) in October (I've missed the past 2 years!) - sadly, I think this will have to be scratched.  
• use up products that are already in the house/barn (added Q2) - Ongoing - I'm on a mission here to use up as much stuff and not buy anything new unless urgent - like fly spray or something.

House/property

• complete some minor house renos/décor updates - nothing in Q2
• stay on top of yard/flowerbeds/fenceline - fencline 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 - ongoing, with more motivation now that there is a riding horse here!
• repaint jump poles 
• 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

Favourites - blog hop from Raincost Rider

Thanks to Raincoast Rider for sharing this hop. Having material to create posts is really helpful!  I've had this post started for a while now and just had the genius idea (lol) to publish it while I'm away.


1. Favourite show venue:

I’m going with the QH Congress.  Favourite place to watch shows and major bucket list item to show there.

From my first trip to Congress in 2013

2. Favourite discipline:

All of them? I can’t really pick one, but if I had to narrow it down, I love western disciplines – trail, ranch riding, reining, roping, penning etc.  I also have a secret Dressage obsession.


3. Favourite horse colour:

I love bucksins.  Not sure why even.  And a bright bay.  And a loud Appaloosa with a blanket.  A good horse is always the right colour, right?  Says the person who owns two sorrels.  Sigh.

4. Favourite tack store:

Does the entire QH Congress count? It is basically a giant tack store.  I don’t have a favourite local shop – I go to a chain tack shop for necessities, as it is close to work.  I tend to order from the US for most of my stuff – Schneiders, Rods, Stateline Tack, Derby House in the UK.

 5. Favourite breed:

I love my quarter horses. So versatile, so different.  However, I’ll let you in on a secret – my all time favourite breed is the Lippizaner.  Those horses make me swoon.  Maybe someday I’ll buy one or ride one.  Or at least visit Austria and see the Spanish riding school and the Piber stud farm.  My friend in Sweden has bred/trained Lipizzaners, so I would consult her heavily if I ever thought of buying one. 


6. Favourite place to ride:

Err…I want to say the trails I had at home as a kid.  Creeks, hills, corn fields, etc.  Nothing has compared to that since and likely never will. 

7. Favourite piece of riding apparel:

 A good pair of boots that don't hurt my feet, cowboy or otherwise. 

8. Favourite horse related web site:

I don’t think I have one anymore!  Websites have changed and the amount/type of content that is posted no longer interests me.  Most of my horse-related websites besides blogs are for online shopping!

9. Favourite piece of tack:

A fancy show halter - dark oil and silver! 

Wish list - Kathy's sterling overlay...

10. Favourite horse book:

I have read a lot of horse books. I think the one that stands out recently is:  Mark Rashid - A Good Horse is Never the Wrong Color.

11. Favorite horse movie:

Hidalgo?  Not sure on this one.

Feel free to share and add/delete questions as you wish.