Time to celebrate the New Year

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book.

Write a good one.

-Brad Paisley

With the new year coming in hot I just want to take a small amount of time to reflect and then I'm going to do something new! 

Everyone keeps say "I hope 2019 is better for you" … well you know what, 2018 was not a bad year. It was a great year, just not the best ending which I have come to accept. 2018 in a whole was amazing! I met new friends, completed goals and dreams, and then I got engaged! 

If you have been reading along with our blog since the beginning, you know about Charlotte. Her story and achievements on her road to Rebecca farms. If you are just joining us I encourage you to scroll back and read or skim read out story. You will not be disappointed. Its a story about a Clydesdale barely started under saddle whom would not stay in her pasture. She continued to jump out, so her owner (me) decided to try her hand at jumping this full bred Clydesdale and who knew it would turn into the story of a lifetime! A simple goal of wanting to compete at the Rebecca Farms eventing competition turned into "Charlotte the eventing Clydesdale, first full bred Clydesdale to complete a long format 3-day event for Novice level in the country" 

But this post isn't about Charlotte this time, its about her owner, Cortney. This year my goal is to be a little more transparent. I want you all to know Charlotte …. and Me! I want to share the struggles that I didn't bring to the light as much as I should during show season. The work, life, horse, sleep, eat, drink balance because let me tell you, there isn't one. Eventing is all about the horse I agree, but it takes a special someone to listen to that horse and you need to bring your "A" game, so I am hoping this will help you all get through it! Maybe we can even start interviewing a few people about there plans, goals and tricks of the trade. The best way to learn is to ask questions and actually listen and absorb the answer. Seek out help and new ideas to get you through the tough days.

 I personally listen to podcasts and love to read. Getting together with friends and fellow riders, discussing different opinions over sushi is one of my favorite ways to stay current! 

Alright, a little bit about the owner of Charlotte, well my name is Cortney! I feel like I am a fun, easy to talk with kind of person. I always try to find the positive in life. Sometime that is very hard, but when you realize how short life is you try to hang on to the good times as much as you can. I am currently 29 years old and truthfully I am still trying to find my way in life. Things come up that make you go HMMMMM ….. maybe I want to do that? Or maybe I want to change my goals and do that? What ever it is just always remember, your goals are just that, YOURS! You can change them and rearrange them, pause them and replay them as much as you want. 

Currently I am a 911 dispatcher for North king county in Washington state. I have been here just over 3 years and I am fully released to take 911 phone calls, dispatch police, fire, and medical. We chat with them on the radio and we also take care of one another during the tough calls and the successful calls. Some days are harder than others but it is very important to leave work at work. It is what you are all thinking, a difficult job, stressful at times and it is very thankless, however very rewarding all together. For the entire year of 2018 I worked 0100 - 1100, which means I sleep during the day. Try to imagine sleeping at 3 pm in the afternoon. Especially during the summer months when everyone is out playing in the sun. Thankfully starting next year I have my new schedule! 1700-0300 (5pm -3am) where I can sleep when its still dark out! One of the many reasons why I spend so much time at the barn is to decompress and relax. Shut off my brain and enjoy the outdoors with such a loving animal. 

Along with Charlotte, I rescued a draft mule whom we named Templeton. At the time he was at the kill pen in Yakima and when I saw that sad face I knew I had to rescue him. He was at least 500 lbs under weight with no mane or tail. His feet were years over grown and all I all I was told he was about 10 years old. After the vet checked him out and we came up with a plan to get him ready for his forever home I was told he was in his late 30s and we should focus on giving him the best summer of his life because he most likely wouldn't be with us very long. Whelp, 4 years later he is happy and now into his 40s retired in a pasture with his friend star. I still own him and visit as much as possible but he is such a happy little fat draft mule! 

If you read the last few blog post you will notice I talk about my two dogs Cooper and Mac. Cooper is the light of my life! My 10 year old pointer, lab, Dalmatian mix has been with me through all of my tough times and always by my side through the good times. Cooper was recently with in the last two weeks diagnosed with an enlarged heart, congestive heart failure and super ventricular tachycardia. His heart is failing and we are racing against time to get him on the right meds to help him be more comfortable. A word I am all too familiar with is "monitor". We will be monitoring him and keeping him comfortable. Cooper is my right hand man, he was here before Charlotte and he holds a very special place in my heart! 

Mac is our 3 year old tan dog haha. We don't know much about is breed he looks like a mix between a lab and a mastiff?? or maybe a breed called a black mouth cur. He is originally from Georgia and we rescued him as a puppy. Mac is the definition of spaz! He is always keeping us entertained. And then there is Mitten, out 6 year old white fluffy cat who also is a spaz. but we love them all! 

Back in June my long term boyfriend asked me to marry him. This February will be 5 years together and I love him to the moon and back. He has supported me on this journey not only in the horse world but also in my career through public safety as a first responder. He is also in the same field with me, he is a career firefighter. We have this running joke that myself as the dispatcher is technically the first, first responder haha! with out me answering the phone, they would not have a call to go to. On a serious not, I love him with all my heart. And I am excited to add wedding planning to my list of things to do this year. Don't worry I'll add in tips and tricks on how to do it all!

I love to keep myself busy. I can not sit on the couch and watch a movie. Drives my fiancé nuts, but then again it fun when your partner is always trying to find an adventure to go on. Trying new places and setting goals we are in this together. Fun fact, my fiancé is afraid of horses! I don't blame him too much when the first time he met Charlotte she stepped on his foot, but don't worry I am getting him use to them slowly. 

My goal this year is to open up to my readers not only about life with Charlotte and out journey to jump again but also a little bit about my personal life. I feel like I can open up and help other that be struggling as I have with balancing all categories. So I beg you guys, please send me questions and comments. I can add them to the next blog. Let me know if you have questions about how I do certain things? or how I personally balance my life. Maybe even how to plan a wedding, work a full time job, and still ride your horse 4-5 days a week while competing on the weekends? I am excited to embark on this new adventure with you guys!  

Please visit our Instagram instagram.com/eventing_clydesdale

Or send us an email with your thoughts and any questions you may have eventingclydesdale@gmail.com

Wishing you all peace, love and laughter!

…. And the adventure begins

*Happy New Year*