Some Exciting Opportunities!

by PonyUP! Kentucky blogger Kendra Loring

In order to keep my focus on my business, I have been looking for a way to teach riding lessons in my down time. Since my move, I’ve had quite a few people ask to come down for lessons, but they don’t understand the kind of place I work at. They think it’s a similar to a dude ranch with riding horses! When in actuality, it’s a multi-million dollar, training facility and show barn. So, I have been on a mission to find a place and a horse to teach on. I have some possibilities on the horizon but it’s a work in progress. I figured it can’t hurt to start to build my reputation while I am here. I am also trying to get involved with the local 4-H clubs. I am determined to be a part of this community since I am going to be here for a while. I can’t stand to be bored, I’d rather spread myself thin.  That’s just who I am!

I’ve been thinking of finding a horse so I can teach riding lessons in my downtime. Driving to work one morning, I spotted a field of horses eating the bark off the trees in their “pasture.” I watched them for a few days to see if any food appeared, sadly none did. I had to make a call to the local livestock authorities. They found out that the woman was without a way to feed them and was going to sell them at the local sale barn. So, one of my co-workers and I purchased some hay and brought it over to her. She was very nice and appreciative! She even offered me the horses if I wanted any of them; she had 10 including a donkey. She told me they were all riding horses, good for trail riding. I told her I would love to take them off of her hands, but I had no place to keep them or to teach riding lessons yet. I thought about this for a few days, it seemed like a fantastic offer, free horses to start my small business with. It seemed like something I shouldn’t turn down, but I had no means to make it work right now. I am hoping that once I get involved with 4-H again,  I might find some teaching opportunities. My neighbor, who has an off the track Thoroughbred that  he no longer rides, offered the horse to me also. He said I would just have to pay the rent at the stable where he is kept and go clean up after him. I am not financially in a place where I am able to commit to that either. I am hoping to find someone with a backyard horse who would not mind me riding or using their horse to teach lessons on someday soon!

It has taken me a few months to settle into my new life, but I have done just that. I have a wealth of opportunity at my fingertips.  I get to write for PonyUP!  Kentucky still and now I am getting my writing published in a magazine! I get to ride incredible horses, any chance I get! I work with an amazing team of people, whom I learn from every day. I get to play with the cutest foals you’ve ever seen. I feel like my past, my present and my dreams have come together to give me this marvelous life.  I wake up every morning wondering what new adventure the day holds for me.

Til next time… (Which I promise will be soon! I have so much fun stuff to tell you!)

Book of the Month: The Soul of a Horse; Life Lessons from the Herd by Joe Camp.  Mr. Camp is the Creator of Benji, but this book is about how he and his wife learned how to be natural horse-people. It is quite an inspiring story!