Evie's Blog May 2020

Life in lockdown; A real life thelwell 

Earlier this year, Spud the Shetland joined the Toombes family and has since been settling in and causing mayhem in the garden. Having him here has made lockdown a lot more entertaining for all of the family, but also a bit of hard work! He’s been breaking fences, chasing my brother up the garden, kicking the dog kennels and nibbling the electric fencing handles- it’s safe to say he’s feeling at home!

(I also imagine this is what having a toddler is like, especially with Spud being three years old.)

The best part for me is that whilst we’re sorting out all of the mayhem he causes and rectifying whatever he’s attacked he acts like an absolute angel. More recently, he’s taken to napping in the garden when the sun is shining and letting us cuddle him whilst he’s laying down asleep...all of a sudden I seem to forget he’s misbehaved!

Business as usual 

Some parts of my life have remained exactly the same. I still go to hospital 2-3 times a week for IV potassium infusions, these are essential as they keep my heart going so can’t be cancelled…however I never thought they’d be the reason I leave the house more than the rest of my family!

Weeks without Daisy

However some areas of life are dramatically different, with lockdown restrictions in place the full livery yard, Louis Stud, where Daisy (aka daisy the Dinosaur)and Apple, my two wonderful horses are based had to stop all owners visiting. Not being able to see Daisy has been pretty awful in a lot of ways, she’s usually my main reason to keep going and gritting my teeth through any health struggles..after all if they mean I’m well enough to ride her then it gives me a good focus.  But whilst I’ve been mourning the view of two chestnut ears whilst being at home, Daisy has been munching on grass in her beautiful paddock, getting a bit fat and enjoying being a horse- so it really isn’t all bad.

What I’ve learnt

I feel lucky in a sense that my health has meant I’ve always been able to appreciate how important the horses are to me and how much I do enjoy them long before this pandemic arrived. But having time away from the horses, riding and competing has not only strengthened that further, but made me realise that I was spending my time and living my life EXACTLY the way I want to. I can’t say I regret not doing many things, I juts miss what I was doing, being with Daisy, grasping every inch of freedom riding can give me, making all of my time in hospital worthwhile and meaningful because it meant I could be with the horses when I was at home.

Moving forwards

 So whilst we prepare for some parts of normality to resume in the future and find their way back to us, I think it’s important to note what we’re missing right now, and perhaps what we regret not doing before this. If all you want is to carry on what you were already doing, then maybe that’s confirmation that your doing something that fulfils you and is worthwhile. If you’re realising all of the things you wish you had done, perhaps its time to make some plans to do them when it’s safe to do so. All in all, life is far too short, but also too wonderful not to spend it with a smile on your face; and for me, with two chestnut ears nearby!