Hey Reader!

I hope you're getting the very most out of your long weekend! Maybe you have something horsey going on? 😃

Sometimes I look back on the most amazing horse experiences I've had and get a little sad ...reminiscing. 🥺

I've noticed over the years that many places with horses, that I've enjoyed being to, don't tend to be around when I return!

Land is always a commodity and people are often too happy to sell to someone looking for a bargain piece of land they can build on ...often making a ton of money in the process!

Before you know it that lovely place that held so many long ride memories is suddenly turned into residential upscale homes.

I experienced this when I went to revisit an old haunt, where I spent my youth while on vacation, and saw first hand the massively-developed residential lots with large paved roads up to the places I had taken long rides to get to!

My husband, knowing how much this place meant to me, humoured me and drove up the large paved roads as I looked from side to side to see the remnants of trails I had ridden on weave back and forth across the road. It was a sad thing for me 😥

Often we think we can go back and see things as if they'd be frozen in time but, most of all with horse things, this very rarely happens!

There was a prominent ranch in the city I'm close to, and I was so pleased when one of my sons moved into the neighbourhood. I actually thought his kids might one day learn from one of the greats in the industry!

Over the years, as I drove to and from his place, I watched the ranch property. It looked, for all the world, as though it was open.

There were horses in the pastures, all the signs with contact information were up, but I didn't see a lot of activity there.

I was concerned 😕

In the last year the horses suddenly disappeared, the ranch signs were removed, for sale signs went up, chain link fence was put in place, and it was clear that it had been sold as commercial property 🙁

In my mind I thought of all the horses that had been trained there, all the riders that had learned their craft there, and I was so sad to know that would not continue.

When horse places like this shut down, it's not as though they move somewhere else. 🤷🏻‍♀️ They are just gone. 💨

For this reason it's important to nurture people's love of horses and keep places like this going, so they will be able to nurture children's love of horses for generations to come. ❤️🐴❤️

The importance of horses in people's lives is, sadly, underrated!

People learn so much when they learn about horses, they gain confidence, they learn how to respect and treat others in their lives, ...and so much more! That's part of what drives me to keep going with my mission!

Have you had a favourite horse place disappear on you? Let me know and we can commiserate with one another!

If you have other thoughts about this, I'd love to hear from you!

...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 (searching for remnants) 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'.