Happy New Year everyone! Last January, I started the year with a recap of my equestrian adventures in 2021. As we move into the new year and as I recap 2022 in this post, I was reminded that this blog not only inspires, informs, and connects equestrians from all over, but it also serves as my journal to record my horse related exploits. Thanks for following along with my adventures throughout the year; here is a recap of 2022:
Throughout the spring I spent a lot of time training my team of Haflingers to drive. By now many of you know Rosemary and Jasmine, and have followed their progress. For over a year, my sister Quinn and I have been training them. These pictures are from some of our drives early in 2022, we are still working on building their confidence with pulling and working as a team. Their training will continue into 2023.
I am thankful for Quinn’s help throughout the year with the halfies. This has been a learning experience for the horses as well as us humans training them. Despite the trials and stress that sometimes accompany working with horses, these little horses never cease to bring smiles and joy all year long.
More horsey posts: My Equestrian Recap of 2021
In June, I got my senior photos taken. My horse Phoenix rocked this photo shoot.; I am so blessed to have a beautiful, curious horse for a best friend. He really made my senior photos a memorable experience.
In September, we welcomed a new horse to our herd. Yukon is a four year old Clydesdale and an excellent driving horse, perfect for giving wedding day carriage rides at my families wedding venue: Pine Meadows Venue. You can read more about Yukon in this post: Fall Update & a Clydesdale.
In October, Yukon put her pulling skills to the test when we participated in a Sorghum Stomp. It took hours of pulling to press all the sorghum cane so it could be boiled down into sorghum. The press we used was from from the 1800’s. My friends own the press, grew the sorghum, and invited Yukon & I to press it. This Sorghum Stomp, complete with a pot luck and folk dancing, was truly an Ozarks Hills experience.
Yukon and I participated in a local Christmas parade in December. It was my first time driving in a parade, and Yukon’s first parade experience. This local parade had a short route, and was on a small scale. Nevertheless, it had all the lights, noise, and holiday cheer. Yukon did a wonderful job at the parade, and I enjoyed the experience despite all the stress and pressure of driving a horse in something as loud and populated as a parade route.
The year wrapped up with a Christmas photo shoot for Pine Meadows Venue. Yukon got to model the horse and carriage while I sat in the drivers seat throughout the pictures. I love how these pictures turned out and am happy to share them with you.
2022 was a busy, but exciting year with ups as well as downs. I look forward to 2023 and blogging about more horsey adventures. As always, my goal for this blog is to inspire, inform, and connect equestrians. Comment below some topics or questions you would like me to write about this year👇 Or tell me some equestrian goals you have for 2023? Thanks again for following along with my adventures!
Tails & trails,
Reese
I enjoyed seeing your recap! You shared some great photos, and I loved reading about the Sorghum Stomp. Praying a happy new year for you and yours!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed this post. Happy New Year’s to you as well!
Loved reading your 2022 recap!
How fun was that sorghum stomp! I got to go to one of those too, way back in the 1950’s when I was a kid. The press was just like the one in your picture and I got to ride the mule that turned it for a while.
Afterwards, of course, we had “dinner on the ground” (a potluck picnic) and music & singing.
Happy trails,
Cova
Hello Cova. Our annual sorghum stomp is a very fun time. Sounds like you have some wonderful memories!