My Paradox

I briefly mentioned in my last post that my saddle has arrived, and that it fits my horse.

It's also incredibly comfortable...the leather is so, so soft and grippy - way more so than expected!  My legs, like, don't move around all the time when I ride in it!  Which, unfortunately, has only happened twice since Friday - this afternoon schooling Leo, and this evening in a jumping lesson on a horse that my saddle also happened to fit.

new irons and matching leathers are on their way!

An incredibly annoying paradox has arisen in my life, which has made riding in the new saddle extremely difficult.  As I briefly mentioned, I have taken on the position of interim barn manager while Barn BFF E is out with her neck injury.  Unfortunately, due to some staffing issues and college students going on winter break and people being generally unreliable, this has led to my working 30+ hours a week at the barn - on top of my 40 hour a week full-time job. 

Basically, I got my saddle on Thursday while I was sick AF, managed to make a group lesson happen on Friday night because Leo NEEDED to be worked, and then literally did not have time to ride my horse or use my saddle again until, well, today.  And from Saturday - now, I've spent 27.5 hours at the barn (and probably only like, 20 hours sleeping).  So, the job that I took on so that I would be able to afford my horse is turning in to a job that is preventing me from spending time with said horse.  -_-

Fluffy chubby bb pony

Thankfully, plans are in action to make my schedule more reasonable - although unfortunately the biggest changes likely won't occur for another month.  Better late than never, though.  Unless I burn out completely by then...which hopefully won't happen.  The only saving grace is that I really do ~like~ working at the barn - I just don't like working this much.  On top of overnights.  Without any days off.  (it should be noted that no one thinks this workload okay, and plans to cut back my hours are fully supported on all sides.  it was never by intention that I ended up working this much; it sort of just crept up gradually until I suddenly realized that I was drowning in it.)

I should mention, briefly, that while Leo was in training, this wasn't as much of an issue because I only had to worry about working him 3 days a week.  Unfortunately, Trainer K has just had a pretty major surgery on her arm, and is one-handed for an indefinite amount of time, which makes having training horses pretty impossible for the time being.

Also, my halter plate and complementary saddle plate came!

Also, winter has arrived, and I am less than thrilled about it - although the lack of bugs is deeply appreciated.  And the barn has an indoor.  <3 indoors. 

Seriously considering doing a 'winter barn apparel' post - getting the number of layers exactly right is something of an art form, just sayin.

Have you ever taken on a barn-related job and then accidentally gotten in over your head?  Has winter reached you yet?