Jumping on this train. I have two lesson recaps to write up, but it’s been FOREVER since there has been a good blog hop, so let’s thank Alberta Equest and hop into it. 🙂
What’s the best thing that happened to you in 2020?
Personal: The transition to working from home and working East Coast hours while living in a West Coast time zone has honestly been a game changer. Is it wildly hard to get up that early in the morning? Yes. But it means that I am “free” when the sun is still up, so I will take it.
Horsey: Finding a great new barn in California. While it was hard to leave my barn, training, and friends in KY, everyone here has been so awesome. It’s only been a few months, but both of us are already so settled and happy.
What’s the worst thing that happened to you in 2020?
Personal: There were a lot of really terrible things that happened to me, personally, in 2020. Part of me is terrified to write the “worst” thing in 2020 because there are still days left in this awful year. But hands down, the worst thing was losing our dog. It was sudden and awful and traumatic and my heart still hurts from it.
Horsey: I mean, horse wise, it was a pretty good year. I guess the pandemic putting a huge dent in our planned show season and taking us off track for the Novice move up. If not moving up is my biggest problem, I will take it. (Let’s not talk about how I joked about how making plans in 2020 feels “a bit like slamming my face repeatedly against a brick wall”. If only I knew…)
What was your biggest purchase in 2020?
Personal: A house in Cali! I miss KY property taxes haha.
Horsey: I bought both my current saddles in 2020. The county conquest, a search that started with Holly lending me her saddle. And then an Albion Platinum Ultima saddle that I found on fire sale. Both needed a ton of work (flocking, billets, etc) but I have a great saddle fitter/repair person in KY that got them in awesome shape.
What was your biggest accomplishment in 2020?
Personal: Oh I never really talk about work, but they are all at work. Successfully launched a bunch of new stuff and navigated some pretty complex legal entity transitions. Makes me sad to think how different this section would be without COVID.
Horsey: For sure our performance at IEA. It was my first recognized even where we didn’t have any rails come down in SJ. 100% proud of that. Going out fox hunting was pretty amazing too!
What do you feel COVID robbed you of in 2020?
Personal: Oh I really got into going to the gym right before COVID hit. Finally going 3 days a week, including 2 days a week before work. I could see changes in my body and feel them when I was riding. Hoping to find a great gym out here in the future.
Horsey: Show season. My Novice move up. I did show in the pandemic, but I won’t out here until cases slow down and ICU beds open back up.
Were you subject to any COVID Impulse Buys in 2020?
Personal: I am pretty sure my car was a COVID related impulse buy haha. Original plan was to get a mid sized SUV that was a bit more economical from a pricing standpoint. Instead, I got a fun sports car. 0 regrets though.
Horsey: I can’t remember the last time I bought anything that I didn’t need. I did get a new girth from Mary’s tack, which was a super fun trip, but that wasn’t really an impulse buy.
Hell yeah Subaru sports car.
It’s sooooo fun 🙂