My mother on her brother's field hunter, Sis, near Ambler, PA, probably 1945-1947. Photo courtesy of Holly Covey.
This time of year, we’ve got less and less daylight to ride and be with our horses. Many eventers find this time of year is when we actually pay a bit more attention to our families and places we live (as in houses, apartments, bedrooms, etc.) A bit less barn time and bit more home time.
So, while you’re sitting around doing very little eventing, it might be time to do a little reflecting on your year, and taking time to sort through the photos on your phone, check out the professional photos online that depict you or your horses, or go through things at home that have stacked up.
Social media has a great way of reminding you what you did a few years ago. But there are only a couple of years available. (See the date on the photo I have of my mother riding in this blog — not available on social media!)
Right here I’d like to make a little plea: support your great professional photographers in eventing by making a purchase this month or next. Buy several photographs or videos. Send them as presents to those you love, or just keep them and put them somewhere safe.
In looking back through many of my professional photo purchases, I truly can say that they are the best possessions I have. They bring back wonderful memories and make me feel whole and connected to eventing and my horses. They are proof I did it.
Photos on phones and in computers don’t live forever. No matter how many protections you have, something unfortunate can happen and they are all gone. I’ve got thumb drives, floppy disks, and video cassettes … and the window is closing fast on the last two in terms of technology and I need to get them transferred onto something more timely and safe.
And with still photos, it’s best to have a printed copy that is safely framed and preserved. Even if you don’t plan on displaying every photo you buy, keep them safe and put them someplace where they won’t be affected by water, heat, light, mice, bugs, or annoying little brothers or sisters!
As for your own digital memories, sometime this holiday or winter season: TAKE THE TIME. Do backup your photos (memories) and get them saved somewhere safe. If you can’t remember how to do it, ask a friend or check out the instructions on your phone or device. Send them to friends or family, put them in a hard drive or on an external drive you can save, use a saving device, or get old fashioned and print them out.
Photos and images are the proof you did it, they are memories that belong to you that no one can take, so don’t neglect them. Get them where you may someday see them again in a year or two, and have a great laugh, or look at them next week, it doesn’t matter, but keep them.
