Hey Reader!

Before I get into today's email, I need to set the record straight with regard to the Horse Count date I mentioned yesterday.

I have a pretty good sense of time, you see, and hearing that the Horse Count Gary Millar instigated happened as late as 2011, just didn't make a lot of sense to me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I really thought it happened much, much earlier. 🤔

I heard today that Gary Millar actually set into motion three Horse Counts! The years they happened were 1998 (this is the one I was remembering), 2002, and 2011!

I just wanted to set the record straight.

Dusts hands off. ☺️

Now that I have that task taken care of, I thought I'd talk about a meeting I had last week about priorities and goals and what gets in our way of achieving them.

I was in an online meeting and it was mediated by a priority expert. The first thing she asked was,

There were many answers people gave but, after giving it some thought, I realised my ability to achieve things revolves around the weather. I live or die by what's going on with the weather!

Seriously, I look at the weather 2 weeks out and plot and plan around it, setting goals for what I truly feel I can accomplish.

Depending on what is happening with the weather, I might work with horses at one place over another ...there's better weather protection in one place.

If it's going to be windy, I will adjust my activities to accommodate because neither horses nor me like wind!

If it's just a little windy, there are things we can accomplish but if it's really windy, even working inside the arena (on one property) can be a harrowing experience with all the noisy flapping and banging!

The weather especially affects what I do in the winter! With weather in the ranges of -40 to -50 degrees Celcius, I can't do a thing with horses so I leave the country! ...not for a vacation but for a working get-away! Don't get me wrong, the work still revolves around horses ...just not physically with horses!

All this talk is leading up to today's frustration. 🙄

Back from a long time away, I was anxious to get back to working with my young mare. We were making so much progress before I left! 🤩

I checked the air quality and decided I could get away with working out in the wildfire smoke that was around.

I loaded up the truck with all the things that were removed before we left but, as I was working, my nose started to run and I began to cough 😳

I checked the air quality again and the pollution had increased significantly! I couldn't go through with my plans 😒 I was pretty grumpy!

Looking at the smoke forecast (which is very inaccurate!), this might be the way things go for the next couple of days 😕

Anyway, this expert left us with the thought of working backwards (a common strategy) and decide what goal we want to reach in the next 90 days, and work towards it by establishing the 3 milestones you have to get achieve this month, this week, and today.

Do you have a goal you want to achieve?

When do you want to achieve it by?

What gets in your way?

Maybe you can adopt the 90 day/3-milestones working-backwards strategy! 🤠

Whatever you want to achieve, I hope it helps you to know lots of people have roadblocks!

If you want to talk it over, I'd be happy to help you through your latest obstacle. Just give me a shout!

...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 (setting the record straight) 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'.