07/02/2026
It's tourist season guys π
One of the things we do for every group is make sure children and adults (that want them) have helmets, get a chance to try each horse, and are safe to take out. Most parents appreciate it when we ensure the safety and survival of their children. At this time we have no interest in helping parents file life insurance on their children so we must ensure they can at least follow our instructions as we go. More people means more time to get out but it's nice when the weather has time to cool off so we aren't actively air frying as we ride. Unfortunately the age range of children that require extra supervision is wider than it use to be. Neuro spicy happens, so we do our best to work with everyone. We don't just cut the clock and tell them to get over it. Sorry. One of our most critical compliments was that we took too long trying to ensure safety ππππ If you want to book out your ride so nobody else can potentially ride with you, there are 8 horses available at this time. 12 this fall. Due to weather and holidays we cannot always guarantee private rides.
Additionally, it has been wet. At some point our creek flooded so one of the jobs this week is finding where our water gate went so it can be mounted back to our fence.
The priority of work that gets done is as follows
1. Feeding and caring for our stock
This is going to be our feed, hay, water, and at some point when we are able to cut loose we need to shop for it. Additionally, we research it. There's more to know about feed now than there was 5 years ago
2. Ensuring stock remains where it supposed to instead of highways, railroad, neighbor's yards, or meeting us at the back door. This occurs via fencing repairs, upgrades, new fences, and removing trees. We have had 5 larger trees come down with all of the storms. Happens. Creek bank washes out when there's excess water coming through
3. Reservations. If you don't like π»natureπ» I don't know what to tell you about the outdoors. There's plants, insects, weather, and wildlife. It has been unusually wet so we aren't tearing up our pasture because a handful of people don't like any of the above. We have more wildflowers and wildlife than usual and have no desire to burn our grass up by cutting everything short. Even in our worst droughts following wet seasons we have still had grass under areas we let grow up in the shade so we weren't having to double or triple our prices to bring hay in early on years where it was scarce. I won't be too upset if the neighbors we have given permission bring us deer, pick berries, enjoy the pond, or get to enjoy it just being here when they're not riding.
4. Cleanup. It is a constant process however the annoying part is when we clean/repair up one area we have to move trash and debris somewhere until steps 1-4 are complete for the day. We are doing house renovations as it is almost 80 years old.
5?? Somewhere in here I think we remember we need groceries and food. Sometimes we have generous neighbors offer food or Gatorades when 6 days into a run of rides we run out clean laundry and groceries π
So if this is a problem I'm not sure you'll be happy anywhere.