Keeping horses at your own place can be a daunting task. Going out in freezing/hot and humid/pouring rain/ snow storm weather is not for everyone. Early mornings and late nights, staying home when others go out/on vacation/sleep in (occasionally) can be enough to keep most people far away from barn management. The work is physical and thankless and it MUST be done regardless of your mood or health condition, because the horses depend on it.
So, in contrast to all the negatives, here are a few positives that keep us going when everyone else is enjoying their leisure time.
8. Feeling the "bright and early" (in the dark of winter) crispy air freshness drag you out of your first-thing-in-the-morning-sluggishness before even the birds start chirping!
7. Hearing the soft, encouraging "Welcome! Now get our breakfast going" nickers as you walk in the barn.
6. Hanging on to the lead rope, speed-walking beside the bright-eyed, perky-eared, energetic horse on a mission to the paddock - every day is a new discovery!
5. Listening to contented munching sounds mixed with occasional heartfelt snorts as the horses start on their hay breakfasts.
4. Getting a chance to "read" the stalls to know how your horse spent the night and is feeling in the morning.
3. Knowing what is fed and when it is fed - no arguments/negotiations to deal with about the feed you want your horse to have!
2. Being at the barn at least twice a day makes for an easy "check" to make sure all is well with the horses, and a good excuse to ride since you're already there.
1. No gym membership needed - especially after moving the hay bales and mucking stalls (strength training), walking back and forth to and from the paddocks (cardio training), interspersed with wheelbarrow dumps (interval training). It's all covered each and every day!
What are other perks that you enjoy as a "keeper" of horses?
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