Blimey, 2023 has been a whirlwind and a mixed bag. When I look back at my 2023 Goals, on paper we have achieved everything we set out to do. I wanted to do x3 pleasure rides on Tissy and complete Estrid's Novice qualifications, both a big fat tick!
In reality 2024 had some pretty high highs but was a mentally tough year for me. There is no concrete reason why I struggled with my mental health this year, nothing really big and bad happened, logically I had so much to be grateful for but my head really struggled to keep above the water. But, with support, I've come out the other side and looking back on 2023 I have grown and learnt so much.
We said goodbye to Roo at the start of Spring, financially a decision that needed to be made but he found a wonderful home and I am very grateful that I got the chance to know him and take him through his Novice qualifications.
I jumped out of my comfort zone professionally taking a role as medical lead for a few weeks in Las Vegas at the Air Force trials and Dan took excellent care of the horses while I was away.
I had been thinking about switching to a trailer and tow vehicle for a while to cut down the cost of paying for a lorry and a car but then the lorry decided to need a new engine the morning of Estrid's first 40km, so we never made it to the ride and the lorry went to the garage. I decided to repair the lorry and buy a tow vehicle, which so far has been a great decision.
We went on a horsey holiday and Estrid did her first cross country jumps and gallop on the beach. Estrid then made it to all her planned rides and despite concerns over making the final heart rate we passed every one and she upgraded to Open by the summer. I toyed with an end of season 80km but skin issues put a stop to riding altogether for August and September so she just had her yearly holiday a bit earlier than planned.
Tissy and I went to some great pleasure rides and the icing on the cake of 2023 was getting to go to Man V Horse and coming over the finish line in our first ever racing finish, we still didn't beat man despite our best efforts though.
We've branched out into other horsey activities with groundwork clinics, cross country hire, dressage and jumping practice and actually these have been the most fun I've had with my horses in a long time. My passion and my main focus will be Endurance for years to come I'm sure but I do also want to do more of this stuff, not put all my eggs in the endurance goals basket and just enjoy my time trying new things and having different experiences.
Негізгі бет Спорт The 2023 Round Up - Vlog 212 - Beth Endurance
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