85 Horses and Counting

So it's been two weeks since I got here and yesterday was my second day off. I can already tell you that I've learned more in two weeks than I assumed I would learn in the 6 months I planned to be here. The internships/apprenticeships are all similar except you get to choose which aspects of the facility you want to focus on, and in my case then I chose to learn everything this place has to offer. For those of you who still don't know where I'm at then I am working on a Friesian breeding and training farm named Friesians of Majesty. In a single day it is most likely given I get to participate and help with semen collection, artificial insemination, embryo flushes and transfers, and ultrasounds. In terms of the chores we rotate who feeds and cleans upper barn, lower barn, frontline, and backline. These chores consist of cleaning stalls, feeding hay, feeding grain, cleaning and filling water buckets and tubs, emptying trash, and sweeping. Handling the horses has been ranging from lunging, grooming, bathing, medicating scratches, riding lessons, drill practice, driving lessons, harness lessons, and handling lessons. Other things that occur but not as often include foaling, night barn, putting up hay, worm medications, and sidework chores. Also, from May until October is their show season so we will host shows throughout those 6 months then buses of people will visit and enjoy the farm and watch a 2 hour performance. There is approximately 87 horses are the farm currently and that means something is always needing to be done and so I stay very busy! I am still getting comfortable with my routine and beginning to be more confident, but I still always have to ask for advice and tips and I imagine I will be the entire time I am here. Always making progress and gaining knowledge are my goals, though. That is a quick and not very detailed outline of what my days look like, and I hope to get into specifics as the weeks go by! In terms of contacting me then my phone works but I can only text or call around lunch and dinner. I did make a Skype account and y'all should definitely try to Skype me on Fridays when I visit the town next to me. Hopefully the farm gets better internet service soon (fingers crossed)! My Skype username is Lauren.Ownby for anyone that is curious. I love it when I come in from work and get a text, snapchat, or email from someone so keep them coming!

 

*Side note, I apparently have a southern accent and I didn't realize it was noticeable. Also, I have been told I don't hide my emotions or facial expressions well. Lastly, I was informed I am the girliest one here. Not sure what to think of these descriptions of me so far, I hope these are all good things... What do y'all think? Ha.