Happy New Year!
I, for one, hope that 2018 is at the very least a little less accident-prone than 2017. But when it comes down to it, we ended 2017 with 7 perfect rides in sunny weather, and it’s tough to top that. So I thought that rather than focusing on the negatives of the year (which included, but was not limited to; my FEI horse experiencing kidney failure, me breaking several ribs, a sales horse bruising his coffin bone and being out for the entire year, about a thousand or so vet calls for a myriad of relatively minor incidences, and so on), I would make a list of the positive things that happened.
- I have strengthened the bond I have with my veterinarian, my farrier, and every other veterinarian in the area – both small and large animal because I am equal opportunity every step of the way (okay, that one is mostly tongue-in-cheek).
- For the first time in my adult life (and really in my entire life), I was able to spend the year completely focused on my horses. I’ve spent so many years working as hard as possible in order to spend every dime I made on the horses. So to be able to step back and do the horses alone made 2017 a year I will never forget. The extra time with not only the equines, but much more importantly, my children and husband, was absolutely priceless. Resolution for 2018 is to take more pictures of the 4 of us together!
- Rasen BHS, FF Clintaro, FF Evita, and FF Bella, joined the Flying F Family. Need I say more? 4 incredible horses that I was so so lucky to acquire. A huge thank you to Sparling Rock Holsteiners, Bayhawk Stables, and Hengststation Haselau for all of the assistance, brilliant scouting, fabulous riding, and absolute top notch care of all of the horses before they come my way. I am blessed to work with such an amazing team of horsemen!
- My off-the-track Thoroughbred, William L, finished the year as the Zone IX Champion in the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers. My young mare, Cassiana SR (2010 Cassiano x Calando I), finished with the Zone IX 7yo YJC Championship. Thrilled to see the results given the months that I was out of the stirrups with broken ribs through the beginning of the show season.
- FF Clintaro went to a wonderful new home, which is the best I can wish for any of my sales horses. The moment his new owner sat on him I knew they were perfect together. She is one of the loveliest riders I have ever watched pilot a young horse around – soft and quiet and completely in sync with the horse. I cannot wait to see videos of the two cleaning up in the show ring this year!
- FF Evita surpassed all expectations and has matured into one of the most enjoyable horses I’ve ever had the chance to ride. We finished the year with Sadie riding her for the first couple of times and she agreed completely with that sentiment. At the beginning of 2017 I would have thought that she was too sensitive for a kid, but this smart young mare stepped it up in a big way. Sure looking forward to the 6yo YJC classes on her in Thermal! 1.20m is not too shabby of a place to be for a horse who was started under saddle exactly one year ago!
- My baby mare, Tori (2014 Castellan x Canturo), was finally started under saddle late this fall and has been an absolute super star. I was more anxious than I’ve ever been when we started our rides because of my [not-distant-enough] broken ribs. But Tori is on the schedule like one of the big horses now!
My other acquisition of the year (though certainly not part of the sales string) was our beautiful bouncing girl, RavenRidge Harley Quinn, “Harley,” the Bernese Mountain Dog. We’ve always had males, and it’s been a lot of fun experiencing the female side of the Berner. I’ve always been a mare person, and it turns out it’s no different with dogs! 
There were a slew of other positive happenings scattered throughout the year. So while there were a lot of challenges, I think it’s important to reflect upon the positives before chalking the year up as a total disaster (now I will take a deep breath and repeat those words again…and again…and again…)
Now in these first few weeks of the new year I’m preparing for our annual trek down to Thermal for 3 weeks of the HITS Coachella Desert Circuit (weeks 5, 6, and 7 for anyone interested in sitting on a horse down there!). I’ll make the trip with sales horses, FF Evita, FF Bella, Cassiana SR, and with-me-for-life horse, Billy.
And with that, bring on the success, joy, and positivity of 2018…Happy New Year from Flying F Sport Horses!!!