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Monday, April 1, 2019

a slight change in plans

So you all know I'm a fairly goals-oriented individual. I like to have something to work toward, things on the calendar, ya know?

And, of course, I've written at great length previously about what my journey as a horsewoman and rider means to me. About how, to me, personally, a major fulfilling aspect of my horse habit is the act of learning, getting better, and improving my own skills.

For me, it's all about developing and growing. Facing new challenges even if they scare me. And learning, over time and with practice, how to refine and improve.

charlie's known how to strike a pose since day 1. no bad angle with this good lookin gelding!
With Charlie, this has manifested in my choice to bring him along myself, as his solo rider and trainer since his final race in Aug 2016.

Of course I've had the guidance and instruction of many, many, MANY professionals and trusted advisers along the way. But generally speaking, I'm the one in the irons. And the pace of our progress is and has been dictated in large part by my own abilities.

There's more than one way to skin a cat, however. And with horses, it sure seems like all roads lead to Rome, as far as I can tell.

Which.... Is another way of saying, "There's been a slight change in plans."

first introductions went well!!
You see... I've lamented recently about my difficulties in budgeting, and the expenses of what was promising to be a big blockbuster show season. Ya know, bc I wanted to move up, and show recognized, and maybe even earn some qualifying results.

Which.... currently all feel like majorly ambitious goals when accounting for my own limited abilities haha. To even just get that far, it was clearly going to take a huge investment in coaching and educational experiences, etc. Considering that getting me to ride even marginally better is akin to Sisyphus and his god forsaken rock... It would be no small task, and one big price tag!

The reality is, tho, that.... Well. I'm broke, yo. And I'm finally coming to accept the fact that the enormous cost of reaching those qualifications goals, the unfathomable speculation that is imagining myself as capable of riding even halfway decently... Well... Realistically it's gonna take way more resources than I currently have on hand.

charlie kept his cool at his first major international gig with Matt
Suddenly, tho, and basically out of nowhere, Charlie got his big break and I got my deus ex machina. You see, Charlie's always been a beautiful horse. Let's be real, half the reason I bought him in the first place was bc of his impeccable hair.

Turns out, tho, I wasn't the only one to notice this. A luxury modeling agency's talent scout happened to stumble across pictures of Charlie on a random google search (true story: she was casually searching "fail" horse memes and our George Morris critique popped up lol) and was immediately mesmerized by Charlie's tall, dark and handsome features.

In fact, she happens to represent international Australian model, dressage rider and Youtube sensation Matt Harnacke, and thought he and Charlie would be a perfect match.

to say i'm a little jealous of the bond they've developed would be an understatement!
Obviously, I was shocked when I got the call. And my immediate knee-jerk reaction was an emphatic, "No way, are you actually fucking crazy?!?" What sort of lunatic would I have to be to ship my horse all the way over to the Netherlands just for a couple photo shoots, when we're only just now getting ready for our own competition season?!? Are you guys really that strapped for good looking horses that you need to import my no-name OTTB??

But.... the more I thought about it, the more it made $en$e, even if I felt a little sad and bittersweet about it all. Realistically, the exposure is just so so good for Charlie's career. It would be selfish of me to deny him that.

And obviously the sponsorships were too hard to say no to, esp that Divosa spree!! Plus, Matt even generously volunteered to keep Charlie in work for me, so maybe the horse will come back as a supermodel AND dressage star?

So off Charlie went. Off to fame and glamour and luxury, off to earn his own benjamins (or whatever they call them in Europe haha), while I sit here twiddling my thumbs and waiting for his ad campaigns and agency contracts to run their courses.

It's all good, tho. Yes I still have goals. Yes I still want to do things and go places with Charlie too. But all in good time, right? It's only April 1, after all ;)



37 comments:

  1. You're like one of those pageant moms, but for a horse model. I expect your reality show contract will arrive in short order. ;-)

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    1. omgggg yesssss haha. our reality show would either be the most fun / "eccentric" ever, or the most boring ("... whelp he's lame again folks so let's just watch reruns, eh??") haha

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  2. Ahh, that explains why Matt emailed me and asked if I could take his Andalusian stallion for a couple months while he worked on this nw exciting project. 😁😉

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    1. oooooh! you're gonna have so much fun with Emporio ;P

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  3. I’m reading this and going what the heck?! She never mentioned anything about this! And then it hit me �� I’m still so brain dead from this weekend it took me a bit longer than normal. Pure genius though!

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    1. lol i've been wracking my brain on and off for the last few weeks trying to come up with an idea haha. naturally a couple days *after* april fools back when i first got charlie, i had an awesome idea for a post that would have worked, but it didn't make as much sense now that he's not so green and unknown.... but hey, model charlie works lol ;)

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  4. This is hilarious! Wouldn't it be fantastic if this actually happened?! Except, you know, they shoot here cause Charles ain't got time for traveling abroad.

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    1. i know, right?!? like i would totally be down for charlie starring in his own photo spread haha.. tho yea, the jet set lifestyle might be a bit much for this laid back dude ;)

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  5. You've got to prioritize Charlie's needs after all. It's what any good horse mom would do. Hopefully he still remembers little old you when he's done being famous!

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    1. you can't hold a good horse down, ya know. as much as it hurts, i have to let him go, release him to the wider world to share his handsome elegance with everyone!

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  6. I guess I seriously need some skepticism in my life. I just believed it all 'cause this day was made for me, lol.

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    1. haha but it's fun to imagine things like this ;) there has to be jussssst enough of those nuggets of truth and plausibility to make it believable!

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  7. OMG HA!!!! I seriously did a double take. Great job Charlie! :D

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    1. lol right?? he looks right at home with Matt hahahaha

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  8. Hahahahahahahahahaha I needed this laugh today! :-D

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    1. lol excellent, perfect fodder for a hazy monday morning haha

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  9. At least he'll have a few pony-frands at Matts!
    I expect Matt will convert his entire YT channel to hail Charles, as he should.

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    1. omggggg yasss i would 1,000% watch that hahaha. and charlie is already obsessed with all the shetlands at my farm, so i'm sure he'll be in love with the minis over seas ;)

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  10. HAHAHAH!!!! April Fools is my least favorite day of the year but bloggers have ti going on this year.

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    1. haha we gotta try, right?? lol can't be so serious all the time! ;)

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  11. hahahaha. Excellent. Congrats Charlie on the new gig! If they are looking for an older, distinguished red gentleman horse with a certain je ne sais quoi, send them my blog.

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    1. lololol i will certainly point them toward the ever majestic Cosmo!!

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  12. Honestly, I'm surprised Matt wanted to take him on. He makes Matt look so plain in comparison.

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    1. Lol if this were true I would totally tell Matt you said that ;)

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  13. Bahahahaha this is awesome! That photoshop job tho...LMAO

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    1. lol my ms paint skills are getting stronger by the hour :P

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  14. At first I was like "wut" and then remembered the date lol

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  15. It's the 2nd of April here already so there was a short stint there where I was 100% nonplussed as to what was going on.

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    1. Haha true - I added the date at the end since obvi these posts will go down in the archives of historical texts and I realized it needed jusssst a little more context haha

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  16. Hahahaha!! That's awesome! I love it LOL

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  17. I'll miss Charlie, but obvi fully support this plan. I mean, his majesticness MUST be shown to the world!!!
    ;)

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