I woke up before the sun and braved the chilly morning air for an hour-long drive to Union, KY. I needed some fuel for the long day ahead, so I made a quick stop at Waffle House for breakfast. Then, I headed straight to the barn, where I spent some time setting up a new workspace at Sandi's barn.
As I worked, memories flooded back from my '90s hay day, shoeing horses all over Northern KY. It was a bittersweet feeling since I had to move to Cincinnati for a better equestrian market. But, as fate would have it, the market has since collapsed, and I found myself longing to be back in the saddle of the Northern KY horse world.
The day was grueling, with 10 horses to trim and shoes to put on two of them. But what used to be a breeze for me now felt like a marathon. As I worked, the barn's foul smell mixed with my allergies, causing my nose to run and my eyes to water. Chickens, goats, and pigs roamed the barn freely, leaving their droppings everywhere. It wore on me.
By the time I wrapped up, the day had warmed up, and traffic on my way back was smooth. I had my sights set on Chipotle for dinner, but my cheese-loving heart was crushed when I found out they were out of cheese. But hey, life's all about second chances, and I found myself at my favorite Mexican restaurant. It was like a mini-vacation, a much-needed break after a long, hard day.
As I sit here now, working on some articles, I can't help but think how exhausting the day was. But I know in my heart that it was worth it, and that the Northern KY horse market might be where I belong once again.