A few days ago, I wrote a short post on social media about owning/ running/ managing a farm. Reminded by another person who'd written of her trials and tribulations, I thought about it a little more.
It is "romantic" to own one's own farm- especially a horse farm. That seems to be every horse person's dream... to own their own pastures and a barn to keep their horses in. A place big enough to keep one's horse in one's own backyard. Yep- it sure is great. I have been fortunate enough to do this for a lifetime.
The first little place was 5 miles or so from my hometown. It was built on my parent's land...and was maybe 2-3 acres of woods and cleared land. My husband (now ex) and I worked like mad to build a little house for us, then a barn for my horses. A three-stall row barn for my Appaloosas, tack room and a place for hay/ bedding. A small turnout area I also used as a ring. It worked great! Up every morning at 7 or earlier in summer, trained my horses, cleaned their stalls, groomed, and towards 4 or so, taught students to ride. Eventually, it became a training barn with clients sending their worst ruined horses to be "fixed". I loved it and did pretty well. It wasn't long before I was showing at national levels w/ my personal horses, hauling trailers w/ students and horses to shows. Again, it was VERY small in land amounts, and very ummmmmm. rustic. It was Hard work too but not as hard as my future would become.
The second farm was much bigger. I covered all of the finances for this new pole barn and we worked our behinds off to get the stalls built. This one was almost 20 acres, with a 10 stall barn. Again- I loved the new farm. More hard work, and longer hours as I wanted to make it support itself. Many students now, and Percheron horses Bigger horses meant more hay, feed, more money going out for care, etc. I kept a few riding horses for lessons also. I was showing the drafters and teaching all types of folks to become better horse people. Again, I loved it. Many more stalls to clean, more hay to load into haylofts, more feed bags to dump into bins, up before dawn on some days and getting done by dark-thirty on some days too. Long hard, heavy hours in the intense heat and then freezing cold. Owning horses IS a 24/7 life and it was pretty much just me doing it. Occasionally there was a helper and oh boy, was it welcomed. The husband was supportive and helped when he could, but it was my choice to be living a life with horses.
During that time, I also worked and subsequently managed other barns. Some show barns, some breeding farm barns, and one or two training barns. I'd get home to my place and have to get those stalls cleaned, etc. and in time for the 4 o'clock rush of riding students arriving. During the summers, it was full-time students, driving, showing and summer pony camps. Again- up sometimes before dawn, and finishing in time to see the sunset. At shows, even longer days... WHEW! One time someone told me that the reason I worked so much was that I liked the money. Yep- the money was great, but I also loved what I was doing! There's a big difference.
That was when my back began falling apart. It hurt all of the time, and there was one time when I simply couldn't get things done thanks to incredibly horrid spasms and pain. One keeps going though, doesn't one? I did and injured my back more and more... falls, heavy lifting of feed bags, and heavy hay bales. Heck, one expects a little pain when one has done this all of one's life, right?
Move forward to Pennsylvania and this farm. By the time I was ready to leave Maryland, I was also ready to downsize a LOT. Instead, I ended up with a much bigger barn, more stalls, and a little more acreage for pastures... Of course, any horse person knows that if you have a big barn, it simply MUST be filled with horses, right? Hahahaaaaaaaaaaaa- so, eventually all of the stalls here were filled with happy, hungry ( and pooping- in one end, out the other ;) ) horses. Riding students, just a few driving students, a few clients sending their horses for training, and me traveling to other's small farms to train too. By this time I'm in my 50's and reaaaaally wanting to slow down. Constant back pain by now, joints that felt like they needed to be "oiled" some days, and still I had to trek to the barn to feed, do stalls daily. That's when I began having hip pain. Ugh- and it just got worse and worse... It got to the point of being unbearable over the two years I just dealt with it. I was no longer riding, thanks to a bad wreck back when I was in my mid 20's and damaged my knee. That had become arthritic and was my "weather predictor" by the time I was 35. Still, it was 24/7 work- no vacations as many folks had, and if a horse was sick, guess where I was? Yep- at the barn.
Finally, I was forced to get a total hip replacement and realize that folks I had trusted as friends expected me to be joyous and happy all of the time... Even when dealing with hip pain to the point of my hiding in the bathroom and crying. The over the counter pain pills did nothing to help, and I knew it was time to get something done. Those "friends" didn't deal with me being grumpy before my surgery- and some left my barn when I needed them the most. Thank the gods for a few who understood and stayed to help. Of course, I was grumpy- almost crippling pain, the frustration of feeling like someone who's been handicapped physically and being forced to realize that it was now the time I HAD to stop working like a mad woman for her horses. Forced march... and I hated it.
After the hip replacement (ended up a total job because I'd quite simply worn it out! Bone on bone, arthritis all thru it and now I was faced w/ learning to walk correctly again), I had to let everything heal, and once off those wicked pain drugs, it was discouraging and frustrating to me.... Eventually, things DID heal and there's no pain ( hahaaa- because it's all steel) in my hip. My back has crunched to the point where I'm 2" shorter and it still aches so badly. Back surgery is in my future, but not just now. There are way too many things I want to do, and having rods in my lower back doesn't come into the equation of life for me.
So all in all, if you still wistfully dream of owning your own farm for your animals, remember it is a LOT of work. Actually, I think caring for them is more work than having fun riding or whatever you do with your horse. (s) You have to get up earlier so your animals are fed and cared for before you leave for work. You have to schedule all of the many things needed from others for horse care. Farriers, veterinarians, equine dentists and who knows when an emergency will happen. No, wait- those happen when it's a holiday weekend coming up, or a planned time away from the barn, a get together with family, a date, just about anything important to you. It never seems to fail either. There are financial items needed to be paid monthly- feed, electric, fence repair and more. This is all before having time to ride off into the sunset on your horse, or gallop gaily across a field.
The work is strenuous, haybales keep getting heavier, as do those feed bags and water buckets. Freezing cold winter weather creates all sorts of troubles one hardly thinks of when just living in a house... Frozen water buckets, frozen water lines, ice in pastures, horses that want to do "horse things" but end up getting into some sort of trouble and the list goes on. During Summer, it's the heat and humidity (if you live in that type of climate as I do), bugs, flies, and more. I go to the barn now (and forever) knowing I am going to end up being soaked in sweat, covered in dirt of some kind or another and " stinkin' to high-heaven' !!
If you board? Oh my- when there is a blizzard in the making, I imagine it'd be nice to be able to sleep in or watching the snowfall. Knowing that those running/owning that boarding barn will care for your horse (at least I HOPE they are!!) But! If you have your horse in your backyard- guess where you 'll be during a blizzard? In the barn- caring for that horse. Shoveling that snow or plowing a path to just get to the barn is a feat in its self. Then getting your horse out to its pasture, where it will play for a few, do some poops, and then want to come in. (Some normal horses don't mind being outside in the snow, but there are those.........hehehee)
The rewards are wonderful though. Walking into my barn either seeing the summer horses out in their pastures or those in their stalls, welcoming me in the mornings or saying good night to them after evening chores are done is my life and has been since I was 12 years old. Sure it's damned hard work and it is constant but the memories I have are from a lifetime of being with horses. They have taught me so much and even though I've cried my heart out over losing each old horse, I don't think I'd change a thing. There have been times when I just wanted to be like a "city woman" for a week and enjoy life without needing to head to the barn to feed or care for a sick horse,
but all in all, I wonder "what would I DO???" <grins here>
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