A Very Good Question

In the comments of the post below, Katie asked "what will you do when the girls are off to college?"

I wish there was an easy answer to that question. Long term plans here were to keep Classy as my trail horse, keep Gunner for S to use through high school along with Emmett and sell Dixie in a few years. With Emmett's problems our plans have changed.

Not just in the long term horse use age plans.

I am defeated. I have had more than my share of horse issues. Between Gunner's EPM, Keo with Lymes, and Emmett with his legs and now his brain deformities I have nothing left.

On top of that I have come to the realization that perhaps these dreams of mine have been thrust upon my children. The resentment I feel from loading trucks with tack because my children are busy with other things has begun to out weigh the enjoyment I get from taking them to shows.

This weekend I asked S if she would like to go on a trail ride with me. She said she would rather go and practice her volleyball. This from the girl who had thought she wanted to go to school for equine studies and then become a farrier. There was a show this Sunday where she was required to attend to be eligible for year end points and there was no point in the week when she showed interest in riding. For justice to the horse, I mentioned that perhaps we shouldn't go and run a horse after it hadn't been ridden all week and she agreed. In defense of S, she recently made the "A" 7th grade volleyball team and is psyched about that. Practice lasts until 5:15 each evening and then it's home to do homework. Friday night was her first Junior High dance, and so like many kids her age the interest has wained.

In an even stranger twist of fate, N is now contemplating becoming a large animal vet. In the last year she is the one who has gone from little interest in riding, to determination to excel with Gunner. She is now considering going to a college with a pre-vet program, one of them would allow her to bring her horse. My guess is being the overly studious, serious about studying, child she is, she will leave him at home, but it certainly opens the door to other possibilities with Gunner. He would make a nice little reiner, he has the athleticism, but perhaps not the breeding to compete at a college level. That doesn't mean she couldn't take him along to practice on. She, like her sister, is very active in tennis right now, and has little if no time to spend on her horse. In addition, the college level courses she is taking and the boys sniffing at the door keep her quite busy.

So, the question remains, what happens when the girls go to college? Classy and Gunner have forever homes here on our farm. It is my hope to find a local trail club to join and participate. Or perhaps a neighbor or friend who will like to hit the trails with me on occasion. I have no interest in competing, although at times I think team penning would be fun. Being in the saddle has GOT to be more fun that sorting cattle on the ground. I don't think cattle can kick that high!