Hey Reader!

I hope this has been a good holiday season for you!

Personally, mine was good although I felt a little overwhelmed by everything Christmas this year! 😅

I wanted to get this out on Monday but, being the season for visiting, we had visitors so I simply waited until today.

...but I want to reflect on 2025. I had some goals but I always plan too much! I'll look at them later in this email and see what I accomplished.

I've heard from a lot of people that 2025 was simply a terrible year for them and they can't wait for it to be gone!

Personally, if I look at the good parts of 2025, it was actually a decent year for me!

Don't get me wrong... It began with my sister-in-law (who has been in my life since I was 2-years-old) passing away in Mexico (where she was vacationing) on my brother (her husband's) birthday 😞 That was not a good start!

It ended (sort of) with me breaking my hip and having to refocus my energy to healing and getting back on track with life and all my projects. (I'm still not there yet!)

If I looked at that and a few other bad things that happened, wow! ...I could really get depressed! 😓

Let's look at what didn't happen!

• There was no pandemic like in 2020 and 2021.
• I did not get COVID like what happened in 2022 (which turned into long COVID for me).
• I was not taken out by COVID 3 more times 😰 like I was in 2023.
• I did not need to have emergency cataract surgery for both eyes which is what happened to me in 2024!

So, overall, 2025 was good and productive for me!

My goals were:

• To share my love and knowledge of horses with as many people as possible by many means
• To attract an audience of horse lovers and people curious about horses so I could help them understand horses better
• To work with my young horse:
  • consistently, and progress further each time
  • to get her started under saddle (after so many years of not being able to work with her ...and I was thiiiis close!)
  • to load her into a trailer (I know I would have soon achieved that) because she was trusting me more and was being more comfortable with my 'asks'.

I feel good that:

• I set up this email broadcast system and sent daily emails for 6 and a half months before my accident!
• some of you replied back to emails and it was great to chat with you!
• I set up a YouTube channel where I posted 99 videos that received 99,355 views and resulted in 377 subscribers! 😇
  • I received such glowing comments, they were a tad embarrassing! ☺️

I do feel bad that I wasn't able to complete my first ride on my young mare although it would have happened within a week if I hadn't hurt myself. ...and I really need to load her and get her comfortable with the trailer.

How about you?
Did 2025 simply stink? 💩
...or were you able to salvage some good from the year?

I would love to hear about your year, horsey or not; sharing your wins and losses with others can be therapeutic!

If ever you want to chat about anything, just reply to this email and let me know!

...see you next year? 🤠

...and until I hear from you, stay well and take care...

Remember, if you’ve missed previous emails (the public ones, at least), you can go here to read them.​

-Sylvia (happily reflecting on 2025) Schneider

PS - Here are some handy links to information:

1. ​15 Ways Horses Can Improve Your Life​
2. ​15 Lessons Experienced Horse People Have Learned ...and Want to Help New Horse Lovers Understand!​
3. ​Are You Ready for Horse Ownership? (A Comprehensive Checklist)​

Need the 'Easy Button'? If you have a pressing concern regarding a horse or equine related matter, and you need help NOW, you might want to consult about it using this link as your 'Easy Button'.