I am not the best at keeping up with my blog posts. 2020 has been a crazy year!
January: 2020 started off fairly normally.
February: My family started sharing articles and news about the Coronavirus in Wuhan, China. I attend my friend's 2 year old's birthday party (I have not seen them in person since due to Covid).
March: Travel blocked in the US from Europe and CDC recommends stopping all group gatherings of 50+ people. I get furloughed from my job on March 27th and begin my fight with unemployment. Groups and lessons stopped at the barn. Had my friend's birthday dinner reservation canceled due to lockdown procedures - had to do a small take-out gathering instead. I have also taken on the care of my mom's chickens. Everything shifts to Zoom.
April: I shave my head because I'm tired of my hair, need a change, and all salons are closed due to Covid. I start working at Lowe's until my work comes back - every day wearing a mask even though most people do not (yet). The chickens now follow me around and look for me for food. I start going on walks outside with friends to get some exercise and fresh air. Mask mandate in Maine goes into effect.
May: My furlough is extended but work continues my health insurance benefits (thank goodness!).
June: Out-of-state visitors have to quarantine for 14 days before coming into Maine. We start finalizing our plans to do our annual Girls' Weekend (7th year in a row!). Masks required at Lowe's.
July: I start work again at my old job on July 10th and begin full-time again at UCP on July 20th. Girls' Weekend we go to Rangeley July 24 - 26 and have a blast. Learn that Jill Schnedler's dogs (after their seizure in January) are still at shelters and in foster homes - they are in limbo due to Covid and reduced courts.
August: I start taking riding lessons on Yada with Judy Westlake and make AMAZING improvements! We both learn that she needs LOTS and LOTS of outside rein and my legs feel like they may fall off. A wedding in Millinocket causes cases to skyrocket across Maine.
September: We have to put my mom's pony, Stitch, down after a colic. Absolutely heartbreaking! Two days later it is my birthday and a small horse show - I ride Yada to keep myself distracted. My friends take me out for dinner to celebrate and really made my day complete. Masks required at work at UCP.
October: Masks now required in ALL public locations, even outdoors - cases continue to spike. We cancel our plans to do a corn maze due to Covid. I continue my lessons with Judy Westlake and Yada really begins to bend and get a collected, round, canter.
November: Cases rise incredibly high, based on previous cases in Maine. Recommended not to travel for the holiday season. I get two lessons with Gail McCormack from Infinity Farm after Judy Westlake returns to Florida. Yada gets chased into a fence by 2 new-comer mares and I spend the next SEVERAL weeks wrapping her leg, keeping it clean, and removing proud flesh so it can heal. I get antibiotics for Yada's leg so it can heal better after it begins to seep pus. Horses begin coming in at night as the nights cool down. With Yada's injury, I ride a friend's horse on Popham Beach and it is AMAZING! She is a 3-year old chestnut OTTB mare and just a doll. Discovered that she LOVES the water and would walk into it to splash around. She was so much fun! After Yada is healed, I plan to take her, too. Hopefully, she does well.
December: Yada's leg is mostly healed! I get the occasional lesson on Yada and she is great! I have started ulcer treatment on Yada - acts ulcer-y when asked to do more difficult things, especially since her antibiotics and being brought into her stall at night. After 2 weeks, she is already acting better and less cranky.
Yada and I have come leaps and bounds this year in our riding. She is becoming more round and listening so well. She has developed more muscles in her neck and topline and I could not be more thrilled. We have had some challenging and sweaty lessons but have grown so much! After Christmas, I plan to start regular riding lessons (as was my plan in November until she got injured) and continue our growth!
I will post again once I have more updates and/or get to ride Yada on the beach! <3
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