Things I Wish I Learned Sooner Part 5

I bought my first camera in 2011.

I started my business in 2013.

I went full-time in 2017.

…and there are so many things that I wish I figured out earlier!

This new summer blog series is going to explore a few of the lessons it took me entirely too long to learn. Want to catch up on the other parts of the series?

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Check the Tack

Once upon a time, I had to photoshop a curb chain onto 200 images. It had been removed (unknowingly to everyone) because someone thought it looked ugly…

Now I check that all of the tack appears CLEAN and COMPLETE. I make sure that every leather end is nicely tucked into its keeper.

No Loose Horses

Once upon a time I entered a pasture with loose horses in it because I was told “they won’t bother you”

That is a lie. That is always a lie. Horses are curious animals and want to come see what you are up to! I was literally hit and knocked to the ground by a galloping horse. Now I ensure every loose horse in a field is either removed, tied to a fence, or fed. I won’t enter a field with loose horses.

If It Shuts, Close It

Every arena door, stall door, or pasture gate: if it shuts I close and lock it. I have had way more animals get loose than I would care to admit so now I lock every single gate behind me if it has the ability to close.

Just last week I asked the client to shut the gate behind her and she said “we will be fine, I have the horse!” I went behind her and locked the gate. Not 10 minutes later her horse spooked, got away from her, and went running around the field.