As 2015 comes to an end, I can’t help but reflect on the triumphs and tribulations of the last year. So much happened in my personal and professional life that as made me grow and also sit back and realize just how short life is.
The positives of 2015 consisted of finally finding a permanent home for SL Barrel Horses to grow. I am grateful to my clients Heidi and Frank Eaker who are giving me the opportunity to train and teach at their new facility in San Juan Bautista, LoneStar Riding Academy. I won my first buckle on Rocket at the NBHA CA 12 distrcit finals.
Maegan Christopher and I both took our horses to the NBHA CA state finals in October. We both had a very successful weekend. Maegan ran her best times and improved greatly with her new mare Chic. Rocket and I ran our fastest times of the whole season and ended up placing well in the 4D average. No money was won that weekend, but the trip was a blast and quite an experience.
I have picked up several new students that will start after the first of the year. I finally have a place to ride my “colts” and get my prospects going so that I will be able to semi-retire my older gelding at the end of 2016.
Barrel racing and business wise 2015 was pretty good to me. However, personally 2015 came with much devastation and heartbreak. I lost my dad, my hero, the one person (other than my mom) who pushed me hard enough to believe in myself. Even though we didn’t see eye to eye most days, and I struggled hard to make him proud of the horsewoman I was trying to become. Cancer is so brutal. After a 5 month battle, he called up to be one of my guardian angels in July of 2015. He didn’t get to see me win my first buckle, he didn’t get to see us purchase and build the ranch, but I know he is watching over me and that having him gone gives me a greater push to do what I NEED to do because life is too short to take anything for granted.
2016 will be a year of many firsts for us at SL Barrel Horses and LoneStar Riding Academy. I have set some goals and will be running a few new horses as the year progresses. I finally have a big enough trailer (thanks to my mom for helping me purchase a bigger trailer), to haul my “colts” along with my good horse to races.
I will be building my lesson and training program up so that I can wean myself out of my retail job. I have started putting together my 2016 race schedule and once I figure out which horses I will be membering in which associations I will complete my race schedule and post is in the blog and on our Facebook page (SL Barrel Horses).
2016 will also be the year that I will be building my Aculife business, so if you have a horse that is in pain or needs training contact us!
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Looking for to working with everyone in 2016!
