The details are getting done around the barn.
My tack is getting wiped down after every ride. He's getting actual baths once a week now, and I'm able to spend a few minutes picking out his tail before each ride instead of a monster marathon detangling session a few times a year. I don't feel like I have to rush home anymore, so the details get done.
Sometimes I go out to the barn and I don't ride.
When he was 37 miles/49 minutes away, going out and not riding felt like a waste of gas.
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| Katlyn holding Connor for his bath at NDPC. PC: my momma |
I can actually catch him in the field now.
More on this in another post, but yeah, this is a thing now.
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| Lot less of this going on these days. |
I'm able to meet my farrier.
My old barn charged $10 to hold horses for the farrier, which, since the farrier came on Monday mornings and it would have cost me almost $10 in gas to get up there anyway, I always cheerfully paid. Now, my farrier comes over my lunch break and I can actually hold my own damn horse for his trim. Feels good.
He's happier.
The grazing muzzle is a pain in both of our asses, but I don't think I could ever drylot him again. He's so happy going out in the group and grazing, even if he's still as much of a loner as he's always been.
I have more time for other things.
There was a moment recently when I was painting some trim, and as I wrapped up to head to my lesson (45 minutes before my lesson time!), I realized I had an extra hour of trim painting that I wouldn't have had if he was still at my old barn. You don't notice things like that unless you make an effort to notice them, but when you do, you're grateful.
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| Like tiling my freaking backsplash which only took me two years to work up the nerve to do. (This room was a bedroom when we bought this house) |
I have to actually make a riding plan for each week.
When you can't get out to the barn every day, that sort of takes care of the week's riding routine for you. When you can ride every day, you really have to plan out what the week looks like. This has been a fun new challenge for me, but it's also one of the biggest changes.
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| Variation: we like it. |
I'm so excited for you -- sounds like less of a commute to see Connor is turning out to be just as awesome as you hoped! 😁
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful, I have zero regrets about moving, except that I should have done it sooner!
DeleteThe lack of a commute is one of the best things we've got going, even if it means fewer fancy facilities.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's nice to feel like I have the best of both worlds, having him practically walking distance from home and also good facilities.
DeleteSo glad that it's working out so well, and your kitchen is looking amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I am so proud of that kitchen, we literally laid it out ourselves with masking tape on a carpeted bedroom floor after Googling kitchen cabinet sizes and choose everything ourselves. #amateurs
DeleteI moved to a barn substantially closer to my house a couple years back and it added an extra hour+ to my life every day. I get through audio books more slowly now, but the difference in terms of stress and free time is amazing.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. I would not have kept my sanity with as nuts as this job got and that drive.
Deletelol i just reversed this whole thing for myself - going from 15 minutes to 35-40. we'll see how it goes! glad you're enjoying the proximity tho, it's definitely a great thing!
ReplyDeleteI did think it was funny you and I posted these basically on the same day, lol. Sounds like we both made the right but very opposite decisions.
DeleteI love this so much! I'm likely going to be moving closer to the barn once my time at my grandma's house is done. Unfortunately it will add to my work commute but it will make it easier to get to the barn since she'll be about 5 minutes away :)
ReplyDeleteIt's such a hard give and take. When I had to choose, I chose to live close to work rather than the barn since I go there more often and earlier in the morning.
DeleteI've felt very similar things as well having an easier commute to the barn ;D
ReplyDeleteYES you and I did the same thing this year! It feels good, doesn't it?
DeleteI'm so glad things are positive! Also jeez your Kitchen is GORGEOUS. I can see the pros in having the longer commute if only because I was better at carving out time to go ride. Now that my kids are in the back yard it's way too easy to say "tomorrow, I'll ride tomorrow" but I think I probably have weird problems.
ReplyDeleteThank you! We are so proud of designing that kitchen ourselves. I get that feeling too, having had them at home growing up. I imagine now it'd be like me trying to sit on my computer knowing the dirty dishes are in the sink. No riding until all the chores are done, and the chores never end on a farm!
DeleteI'm so glad you get more pony time AND more down time. Would love to read a post about how you plan and what you plan for weekly rides. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll do that, although I feel like I am very much still making that part up as I go along.
DeleteYeah!! Love this. Also, hoping you share your magical riding planning skillz with us soon too
ReplyDeleteSo true! I bet life just seems like endless free time now. Ok, well maybe not, but I bet it's an awfully nice change!
ReplyDeleteI love this and I'm just thrilled for you guys!! ...this is also the part where I shamelessly invite myself over for a barn tour/cookie dispensing/media making session sometime in the near future. Pretty pleaseeeee?
ReplyDeleteHappy for you. I noticed similar things downsizing from my big farm to my tiny one. It makes a huge difference when you think of all the things that add up.
ReplyDeleteThis has been such a great move for you! So happy for you!
ReplyDeleteHaving that time back is literally priceless! Glad it is working out so well for you two.
ReplyDelete