I’m Not Crazy, Right?

Hey guys, as usual it has been a while since my last blog. I live the crazy life of eventer, trying to balance a job outside of horses, a relationship, teaching, riding my own horses, riding horses for other people, and a social life. My social life is what suffers the most, but this is a choice I have made. I give everything to this sport.

I work as an ophthalmic technician 3 to 4 days a week and a lot of those days are 10-12 hour days. I love my job; I have the best boss I could ever ask for. He allows me to be flexible so I can travel with my horses and do what I need to with them.

My workdays start at 5 or 5:30 a.m. I feed the horses and do a couple stalls. Then I shower and get ready to leave for work at 7. Sometimes when I’m really busy I get up at 4 to get a horse or two ridden before work, or I’ll try to get my run in for the day. After I’m done with work I get home around 6ish (give or take, depending on the day). I try to get one horse ridden, teach a lesson or two, then ride a couple more. I am usually done around 10 p.m. in the barn. I head into the house and grab something quick to eat and get to bed to start it all over again. On Thursdays I usually don’t have to work at the hospital so I try to leave that day open to ride all of my guys and get my training rides in for other people. I try to get done at a decent time so that I have time to go out to dinner or something.

I know I’m not the only eventer that lives this way, and people ask all the time why do you do it? And it’s as simple as: I love it! I’m not sure what I would do if I got off work and didn’t teach or ride. Would I go inside and watch TV? Become one of those people who get addicted to TV shows (nothing wrong with this) and learn how to cook? I think I would rather be riding. I work at the hospital for horses, I teach lessons for horses, I do training rides for horses, I work out with a personal trainer for horses, I sacrifice a social life for horses, and I wouldn’t change a thing. People say all the time “you’re crazy!” and I say yes, yes I am.

We eventers are a unique breed for sure, but we are also some of the most responsible, happy, hardworking, and for the most part unselfish group of people you will ever come in contact with. Well that’s all for now, I need to go ride another horse!

Until next time, safe rides!

Megan