Leaving on a Horse Van, Don’t Know When They’ll be Back Again …

Bateman van leaving. Photo taken by Denny Emerson.

“Leaving on a Jet Plane” was written by John Denver back in 1966. Not to get overly sentimental or anything, but I’ve been a part of the Tamarack crew now for more than seven years, and every single time the van or trailers leave this farm, I can hear the song quietly playing in my head. I know you’re thinking to yourselves, “Awww, poor little Lila!”

Everyone always asks me towards the end of the summer, “Don’t you dread when the whole farm packs up and leaves you?” Or, “Aren’t you terribly lonesome when all your friends head south for the winter?” Or, my personal favorite, “Why aren’t you going to Southern Pines? Why would you WANT to stay here in the frozen tundra?”

I have this annoying persona that tricks myself into thinking that I am tougher and more heroic than I actually am. I lead on that I have a more rigid exterior than I actually have, probably because of my dry, sarcastic and somewhat cynical personality. I usually tell people I enjoy having the whole farm to myself, and I enjoy doing my own thing, and riding my horses whenever I want.

But truth be told, this is always a very depressing time of the year for me. It doesn’t really hit me until the horse van pulls out of Tamarack’s driveway. At that exact moment, every single year I feel a little sad and a little lonely (hence the Denver song playing in the back of my mind).

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t envious of most of my friends and their horses heading to warmer climates. I would definitely be lying if I said I was not jealous that most of my horse friends are going to be jumping outside, schooling cross country and gearing up for jumper shows and events come February.

All the while I am stuck in Vermont trying to avoid frostbite and keep my horses’ water from freezing. I would also by lying if I said I am totally and completely happy to stay up north all winter, every winter. It all boils down to the fact that I have a life here in Vermont and, quite honestly, I could never afford to pack up and ship my horses south for several months. That’s the truth of it.

However, it’s time for a swift kick in the pants. Time to be a grown up and take responsibility for me life. So, here it goes …

This is the time of the year where people all over the country are starting their “I am thankful for …” list. In other words, the holidays are coming up, and while most of the country, including myself, is thinking in terms of materialistic items to be exchanged, I would rather think about what I am truly thankful for.

Link and Wedge, our two mini dachshunds roasting themselves.

Instead of dwelling on the fact that I am not going to Southern Pines, Aiken or Wellington this winter, I would like to list off the things I am incredibly thankful for. I want to focus on the good and not dwell on what I do not have, because that would be incredibly selfish of me. So here we go:

I am thankful for …

1. My loving family

2. My generous and caring boyfriend

3. The Emersons, who have given me more than they will ever know

4. A dressage trainer who consistently pushes and encourages me

5. My healthy, happy and amazing horses

6. My dogs, who always make me smile no matter what mood I am in

7. A roof over my head

8. Creating and following through with my own business

9. A support team that constantly surrounds me

10. Great friends who inspire me

So, now it’s your turn. What do you have to be thankful for right now?

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