Happy New Year! On this blog it’s my tradition to start the new year with a recap of my equestrian highlights from the past 365 days. To be honest my 2023 was not as horse filled as previous years (college takes a lot of my time & energy these days.) However I was still able to enjoy several horse filled adventures.
For the beginning months of 2023, I got to enjoy an extra equine on the farm. My cousin boarded her sweet Missouri Fox Trotter mare, Mocha, on my family’s farm. Mocha fit right in with my herd and was a welcome addition. When she moved to her knew home with my cousin it inspired me to write a blog post about caring for and preventing loneliness when you have only one equine on your property (like my cousin & Mocha). You can read that post here.
Throughout 2023 I was able to enjoy many carriage rides & trail rides with Yukon. I am blessed to work with this beautiful and hard working girl through my family’s wedding venue, Pine Meadows Venue. We did carriage rides for several weddings, some parties, and a 2nd grade field trip. We were even able to give a carriage ride as a Christmas gift to a sweet older couple.
One highlight of 2023 was my mission trip to Uganda, Africa. The missionary couple I stayed with knew I loved horses so they arranged a horse safari ride. This part of Africa was not home to safari animals, but I was able to ride along the beautiful Nile River. On this horse ride I got to ride English for the first time. Living in Southern Missouri I ride western whereas Uganda was colonized by the British so they ride according to the English style. I really enjoyed trying an English saddle for the first time. It felt less secure, but I would be willing to try it again and to learn more about the English riding style.
The biggest highlight from the fall was being able to participant in this year’s Annual Sorghum Stomp. Yukon and I were invited to help press sorghum; You can read about this unique and Ozarkian adventure in this post.
Overall, 2023 holds many great horse centered memories for me. As we start 2024, I am excited for what adventures lay ahead. How about you? Did you have any equestrian adventures last year? Let me know in the comments.
Tails & trails,
Reese
So many interesting and fun horse adventures for you in 2023! I liked reading about them and seeing the pictures. Praying that 2024 will be another year of learning and growth for you, in and out of the saddle (or the carriage driver’s seat!).
Thank you! I hope and pray so for you & your herd as well.