OPEN HOUSE- April 3

Hello Peeps!!! Here are some additional pics I just loaded in from our open house..... Enjoy. Remember we are soon closing in on the LONG LINING CLASS FOR BEGINERS. The weeks are just flying by so hurry and register as the spots are filing up. We need all full 6 spaces to be filled. Register today to reserve a spot for you. Grab a friend, fellow equestrian and enjoy a day filled with new ideas and solutions with easy to understand steps!! See you soon Meghan

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WHY YOUR HORSE NEEDS A SAVINGS ACOUNT

Ok folks this article is about why your horse or dog or whatever needs its own personal savings acount! Im not joking either. We all encounter challenges and lif comes at us a million miles an hour so when someone in the family gets laid off, the fuel bill is way more than you expected, your child is asking for a car and the registraion is now due on the horse trailer....... the last thing you you need is an odd lameness that sinks you further in the hole with a myriad of tests, lameness exams, Xrays and more!

Take it from someone who has been there and can speak from experience there is a way to do it! Everyone should have a savings acount implemented specifically just for their beloved pet and it is so easy, even on a restricted budget. In the past I have seen spending on emergencies justified like this: "we'll just use the house savings acount", or "I'll put it on my credit card" or "I will just pay from my checking acount" . Here are the reasons you should not. Your savings is there for a reason.... it is for saving- emergencies with the house, kids, spouse, retirement. Your checking is there for paying bills, tangible money for spending, and your monthly budget.

If you take from these accounts it may deplete very important already designated money for your already very important investments.

If we put careful planning into the welfare of our animals like we do our family and home we will all be better off in the long run and better prepared the "unlikely" event of an injury or illness.

Here are some simple ways to save for your best fury friends and they will love you for it!

Start by opening up a real live savings acount this week in you or your horse or pets name. Dont put it off any longer just do it. Now each week deposit what you can possibly afford. Here is a break down of what you will have saved in a year according to what you stash each time you make a very $worthy$ investment deposit:

If you deposit:
$5 a week in 12 months you will have saved $260
$10 a week in 12 months you will have saved $520
$15 a week in 12 months you will have saved $780
$20 a week in 12 months you will have saved $1040
$50 a week in 12 months you will have saved $2600

If you already have an emergency fund in place congratulations!!!! Job well done! Now keep it growing by adding to it each week. Whether you are just starting a savings acount for your fur friends or adding to an existing account, know you are doing the best thing possible for your animals and you are alleviating additional stress on you and your family "if" an emergency strikes. When you have a little savings built up, make sure to treat you and your pet to a massage or accupunture treatment, i'm sure they will thank you for it.

Happy Saving!!!

CHANGE = LEARNING

Rather than reflect on 2009 and what we did, what happened etc, lets focus on what we learned and apply it moving forward in 2010.
We always benefit from what we learn. We all had challenges in 2009, but what we learned from those challenges is what we shall apply to the new year.

Change is proof of learning: Whether it is a change that is only visible within our self or one the whole world can see, when we learn something it changes us and how we do things.
Think about teaching: A student hasn't learned how to post the trot, once they have their "ah-Ha" moment- its like flipping the switch that totally changes how they ride.
Learning changes everything. It has the beautiful ability to flip the switch from bouncy and difficult to smooth and rhythmical.

*What did you learn over the last year (or decade) that flipped your switch? How did it change your life?

We are constantly learning and applying newly acquired knowledge to everyday practices. Try to go with the flow and allow it to be simple. I often say "take something positive from a negative situation". You CAN from every challenge that cross' our paths.

Ex. Young man working as a groom for well respected hunter jumper facility. When asked to assist with grooming & cleaning at a regional show he was compensated for his time and accommodations. Upon arrival home young man realizes he lost money on this last trip. WHY- Because he realizes he was compensated for his time "at the show", and hotel was paid for. He also is know realizing that he was not compensated for fuel in his own vehicle, tolls, or the 6 hours of time total driving to and from the show. Realizing he actually lost money..... (all that was earned was spent on fuel, food, and tolls)..... He has a choice in the way he chooses to move forward with what he learned. He could choose to be bitter about the whole endeavor, or...... he could choose to take what was learned and apply it moving forward in his young life.

Examples like this happen all the time in our everyday lives.... at the hair salon- hair cut cost more than we expected, etc..... and we are left feeling a loss, or what happened scenario. So what is the positive from this situation? What changed that made us learn something? We were left in the end scratching our heads thinning we did the right thing but still got something messed up. What is it? What is the thing that got messed up?? What is the lesson learned?

Here it is........CLARITY. We did not think of everything the first time. We did not foresee there would be other costs. Happens all the time. Don't dwell on it, take the positive part of the lesson and move forward applying it to the future. Next time you are asked to do a job, ask more details. Or the next time you show up for a hair appt and the receptionist mentions kindly your 15 mins late when your confident your appt was at the correct time- make a mental note to start calling ahead. Your time and money is so much more valuable than we give it credit. And no one likes feeling "taken" afterwards.

Look at all the changes made and learn something from it. Look at everything on the sunny side and watch how you will glow with optimism!!!!

Meghan