It’s the weekend after Christmas. Guests are going home, and the house, if anything like mine, is full of things out of place, new items that need homes, and decorations staring at you waiting to be packed away for the next 11 months. Time to get back to ‘real’ life, and get ready to start a whole new year.

Yesterday the weather was so nice we spent some time training with the horses. We did some targeting with the fillies, and with Oliver, who absolutely loved it! You can check it out on the YouTube live I did yesterday. People often think R+ training is all about food. But what they don’t know is that after a while just working at all, is so rewarding to animals, that the food does not matter nearly as much. This is the case with Oliver, who gets so excited just for the attention and the opportunity, that he nickers in excitement for the opportunity just to touch and follow the target back and forth. Our goal is to teach all of them to not only touch a target, but to go and touch a target at a distance, so we can begin what R+ people call the reverse round pen. We are getting there. Natalia especially gets it.

Today I am grateful I woke up easily despite having a hard time getting to sleep last night. I am grateful it’s not blistering cold outside (although I read the winter weather is coming). I am grateful for my dogs. They are so precious to me. I am grateful for a close relationship with my kids and my mother. I am grateful for music, and now with my new Christmas present, a bluetooth speaker, I can listen to music in the barn when doing chores. And I am grateful I am not homeless or hungry anymore. I am very grateful for that.

Yesterday I learned that the rear end on our tractor went out. Oh boy. The front end went out last year and all the parts had to be replaced. Now this year, in the middle of winter, the rear end went out. It will take several thousand dollars in repairs, yikes. And until then, no tractor to move hay bales to feed the horses, or scrape the corral to keep the horses clean. So if supporting a worthy non profit is in your ability, would you be so kind as to help us? Our hay supply is getting alarmingly low as well. If you can help the link is here https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Resqranch

​Today I hope you are looking forward to a fun day filled with weekend festivities. Cleaning up. Resting. Hopefully enjoying some quality time with your family and pets. The holidays can be a stressful time. Don’t forget that it’s ok to sit on the couch and just rest sometimes when you need it. You deserve it. All is as it should be. And you are doing great just as you are, you Animal Loving Angel. Enjoy this beautiful day!

​Check out my YouTube channel for a daily "Good Morning!" from the rescues and lots of free tips and training resources. https://www.youtube.com/@the1drq