I know people who read cookbooks like they’re high-drama best sellers. I know people who fantasize wild lives of pirate adventure reading travel bloggers. It’s all good, just not for me. I like being in the barn.
Want to know a secret? I never had a dream to be a professional trainer. I wanted to be left in peace to abscess about my own horses. No, I don’t mean obsess. I only cared about my own self-absorbed riding. I wanted to be a forever student. But one lucky day, I got distracted by a herd of wayward weanlings. From there, it was like running downhill. It made all kinds of sense. If I trained, I could always be a student, but I’d have more horses. Yours.
All of this is to say I’m sitting in the San Francisco airport waiting for my flight to Auckland. I’ll be giving clinics and traveling in NZ and AU for the next six weeks. What an adventure! Not that Preacher Man, the corgi, didn’t try to trap me in the bathroom this morning.
So, this is the warning: I’ll be posting as usual but I’m so bad at math, there’s no telling when the usual Friday morning post will show up. You might have to start the coffee without me. Poems will still arrive somewhere near the vicinity of Monday. I’ll be posting more about the trip as I go, along with photos. If I’m not mistaken, I think the word for that is travel blogger. I won’t post everything to Facebook. I could end up taking pictures of food. Oh, jeez. Did I just say that?
Meanwhile, I’m simply amazed at the New Zealand clinic organizers: Bex and Karin and Lisa and Jane and Tracey and Kim– miracle workers (and Corey, catching me at the airport.) In Australia, Megan and Tony and Jane and Kris– you’re wonderful. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to come meet you and your (my) horses.
I will confess, typing away in an airport bar, I am simply gobsmacked. Life is a wild ride; the abrasion of sadness and loss trotting along right next to bright and shiny possibility. No idea where we’ll end up but the horses brought us this far. No reason to pick up the reins now.
Thanks, Everyone. Thanks for reading along and sharing the trail.
Have fun, Anna!
Thanks, Mary. See you soon!
Have fun, Anna!
What a wonderful adventure for you Anna! I am looking forward to reading your next posts from the other side of the earth!! Happy travels, Corinne
Thanks, Corinne. Hope you are well.
Awesome! Will look forward to hearing insights from around the world. Godspeed Anna!
So wildly curious about the horses I’ll meet.
Happy travels, take your shoes off and walk on some kiwi grass for me ( and you )…
I’ll be happy, very happy to wiggle toes for both of us. Thanks.
I love your newsletters, whenever they arrive. Enjoy Australia and New Zealand!
Thanks for the patience… So looking forward to this adventure.
I love your newsletters, whenever they arrive. Enjoy Australia and New Zealand!
Thanks for the patience… So looking forward to this adventure.
Are you coming to Western Australia Anna ?
Sorry… not this trip. I don’t have to tell you this, but huge country you have there. 🙂
Yes it is vast! Have fun in the Antipodes. We would love to welcome you in Western Australia. Hopefully you will be bitten by the bug and come back down again 🙂
I’d love to come, this adventure has been amazing and I just got here. Thanks, Melissa.
WOW YOU’RE IN THE AIR!! YIPPPEEEEE!!!!!!! Just want to add my 2 cents here about your N.Z. clinic organizers —– trust me they really ARE miracle workers. It is SOOOooooo incredibly difficult to pull off a clinic here. I did it for years and finally realized it was either go bald from ripping my hair out or stop trying to do it. I still have my hair……..
Aside from having to land in the middle of what they’re saying will be a powerful (but relatively brief) major storm, I hope you’ll love us here down under so much you’ll be booking your return airfare before your final clinic.
It’s been a long process but they are tenacious. A storm? Have I mentioned I’m not as good with airplanes as I am horses?? Ack. (See you in the morning, or two days from now. I can’t tell.)
Wow – what a wonderful trip! I always thought going to Australia and/or New Zealand would be the trip of a lifetime! How lucky you are – make sure you take advantage of everything you can – we can live vicariously thru you!!
Thanks, Maggie. Want to live vicariously through this long flight? Yikes! (yes, so very lucky.)
Wow – what a wonderful trip! I always thought going to Australia and/or New Zealand would be the trip of a lifetime! How lucky you are – make sure you take advantage of everything you can – we can live vicariously thru you!!
Thanks, Maggie. Want to live vicariously through this long flight? Yikes! (yes, so very lucky.)
Have a fabulous adventure in your travels! Lucky, lucky NZ and AU! I will be faithfully checking my email for your posts and poems. They are always a highlight of my week.
Thanks, Barbara.
Isn’t it also amazing how traveling feels heartwrenching and exciting at the same time? That you can’t wait for the experiences and you rather be nowhere else but home? I hope New Zealand appreciates how lucky they are….
Ever seen a bad photo of NZ? Lucky might be a habit for them. Thanks, Max.
No worries. We are all tagging along. ? ÷) Deb
Yay. Nice to have you along.
No worries. We are all tagging along. ? ÷) Deb
The sadness and loss of leaving along with the opportunity of going .. that doesn’t get easier with the years you’ve lived. That’s my observation.
Agreed. It’s a bittersweet tug o’ war.
The sadness and loss of leaving along with the opportunity of going .. that doesn’t get easier with the years you’ve lived. That’s my observation.
Dear Anna
I hear you with not wanting to leave the barn….it is my ultimate happy place and somewhere I lose time in the most fabulous way. But this particular horse crazy girl is so glad you are coming to town ? Pretty sure my horse is excited too, I’ve been telling Lucy all about you, especially the bits about me understanding her better. Thank you for leaving your barn and fur family. To Preacher Man and Edgar Rice Burro – we thank them for sharing you.
Just curious – have you ever published your poems in a book? They are perfect. You clearly observe and experience the human condition intently, acutely. And then the wonderous talent to articulate all you see and feel in the most superb way. I laugh, I cry, I think, I feel. Thank you.
See you in March! Travel safe, enjoy the ride (of a different variety).
Kellie and Lucy
Brisbane, Australia
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
see you in South Australia
see you in South Australia
Wonderful!
Can’t wait to read your writings, whenever you write, from wherever you are! LOVE!
Thanks for mentioning Edgar and Preach, they are the ones paying for this adventure. I’ll look forward to meeting both of you. (and I’m finishing up the poetry book design on this trip. Thanks for the kind words, Kellie. And a scratch for Lucy.
Can’t wait to read your writings, whenever you write, from wherever you are! LOVE!
Have fun Anna. I am looking forward to reading and seeing pictures. Hello to all.
Thanks, Judy.
Have fun Anna. I am looking forward to reading and seeing pictures. Hello to all.
Thanks, Judy.
‘No idea where we’ll end up but the horses brought us this far. No reason to pick up the reins now.’
Oh! I love this!! It tastes of utter freedom. Have the best time Anna. We’ll be watching out for all the news. ?
Thank you, so grateful for the opportunity to travel there.
Trusting the long flight won’t be too dramatic, and you’ll have a great time in NZ, Really hoping we can eventually catch up in SA – still not heard from organiser….but it won’t be quite as green as NZ, that’s for sure 🙂
Ack. Did you find it on FB? I’d hate to miss you after all these years. Good luck.
Sorry don’t do FB. Know location and date so maybe I’ll just rock up -:)
That should work.
Trusting the long flight won’t be too dramatic, and you’ll have a great time in NZ, Really hoping we can eventually catch up in SA – still not heard from organiser….but it won’t be quite as green as NZ, that’s for sure 🙂
Hey, Anna. I turned up the volume on my computer so you won’t have to shout to be heard from such a long distance! Quoting from your last post, “You must be consistent. You must change things up.” Is this what you had in mind?
I must have… Not that I’d know without hindsight. Thanks, Lynell.
So excited for you!! I hope your trial run as an international coach when you came to Canada this fall was a good learning curve for your overseas adventure! All the people you meet down there will be so lucky to have you !! I will be following your travels… and p.s … the kittens are permanent residents now- they send their cute little kitten purrs to you!!
Oh, yippee, the kittens got to stay! Yes, Canada was a great starter. Customs took even longer here, but I remembered you, the only one left in the airport. Wow, can I make people wait at airports! Thank you, Annette.
Sounds exciting, hope you have a wonderful time. I’m sure there are many people waiting with excitement to meet you too. 🙂
Hope so, I’m excited to meet them!
Sounds exciting, hope you have a wonderful time. I’m sure there are many people waiting with excitement to meet you too. 🙂
Hope so, I’m excited to meet them!
Safe travels!
Thanks, Lori
I love your blog post and I’m so excited for your travels and looking forward to your updates whenever you can get them to us. My mind whirls with the thoughts of the cool people and the exceptional horses you are going to meet and they are all going to fall in love with you! I wish you a beautiful trip and I do hope for photos – even food – haha!
It is mind-boggling. Thanks, Celeste.
Have a great time in these great places. You will find friendly people – which horse people usually are. That is especially true of ones who want to make a difference to their horses and attend your clinics. You will also find the most amazing wildlife. I know you will miss all at Infinity Farm, but this will be a great adventure. Can’t wait to hear how it goes. I’ll be thinking of you. (If you can get a wombat into your suitcase, bring me one. 🙂 )
HAVE FUN!
Thanks, Jean, you are too kind dude. Of course I’ll bring you a wombat.
Have a great time in these great places. You will find friendly people – which horse people usually are. That is especially true of ones who want to make a difference to their horses and attend your clinics. You will also find the most amazing wildlife. I know you will miss all at Infinity Farm, but this will be a great adventure. Can’t wait to hear how it goes. I’ll be thinking of you. (If you can get a wombat into your suitcase, bring me one. 🙂 )
HAVE FUN!
Enjoy your travels, Anna. This will be the second virtual/vicarious trek down to New Zealand since Christmas. Another blogger I follow (Cecilia Mary Gunther at The Kitchens Garden blog) was down to visit family and took all of us followers along for the ride (via blog posts and photos). I think you’ll find it interesting. The horses will be a bit of an anchor, horses are horses and can be counted on to be their honest selves. When ever you post will be fine. Have fun.
Enjoy your travels, Anna. This will be the second virtual/vicarious trek down to New Zealand since Christmas. Another blogger I follow (Cecilia Mary Gunther at The Kitchens Garden blog) was down to visit family and took all of us followers along for the ride (via blog posts and photos). I think you’ll find it interesting. The horses will be a bit of an anchor, horses are horses and can be counted on to be their honest selves. When ever you post will be fine. Have fun.
Horses are always a good sanity anchor. Don’t tell, they are the reason I wanted to come Thank you, Aquila.
Horses are always a good sanity anchor. Don’t tell, they are the reason I wanted to come Thank you, Aquila.
Hope your flights weren’t too taxing. Looking forward to meeting you soon 🙂
I had a great flight, and a rest day at a wonderful farm. I’m settled and ready for the first clinic tomorrow. Thanks Sally.
Hope your flights weren’t too taxing. Looking forward to meeting you soon 🙂
I had a great flight, and a rest day at a wonderful farm. I’m settled and ready for the first clinic tomorrow. Thanks Sally.
Have a wonderful trip, Anna.
Greetings from Colorado,
Tanja
Thanks, Tanya. I actually know now how far away that is.
Travel well and be safe.
I will, thanks, Helga-Liz
Happy travels, Anna! (And love the abrasion of sadness next to the bright and shiny sentence:)
Thanks, Mary Ann.
Happy travels, Anna! (And love the abrasion of sadness next to the bright and shiny sentence:)
Thanks, Mary Ann.
I know it will be (already is) an amazing trip. I’ll be riding along with you (metaphorically speaking 🙂
Thanks, it’s been great so far. You might like it here, Carolyn!
I know it will be (already is) an amazing trip. I’ll be riding along with you (metaphorically speaking 🙂
I hope you’ll have a wonderful time. I will look forward to more of your travel, ANA. Keep safe.
Thanks, Pat. It was an amazing trip!