Moving On From Old Dreams

I know I'm not the only one who spent most of their horsey life without a trailer.

Having one (and a tow vehicle to pull it) is a huge expense the majority of horse people just can't swing. So, like everyone else, I had to beg and borrow rides with other people. I had to cross fingers that people were going to the shows I wanted to go to so I'd have a way to get there. I spent many a horse show on the trailer's schedule; getting there hours before my class or waiting hours after I finished.

It's a rough life, I tell ya :P

Pre repairs. And pre-bath :P

In 2017 I got lucky. The stars aligned and I got a super deal on my dream trailer. This was the boat that was going to take Runkle and me up and down the East Coast. She spent most of the winter undergoing some known and well needed repairs, and she came home just in time for the spring season.

A month or so later, Runkle passed away. He hadn't even set foot in it yet. But that's okay!!! Because I got Indy. And suddenly I had this very super-sized horse that would fit comfortably in my very super sized trailer.

I was so excited

Guys, it was glorious.

Then Sara and I got in a horrific car accident. Without going into too much detail, it is really a fucking wonder we are still alive. I'm not a religious person, but I felt like the hand of the universe miraculously kept us safe. While I was physically fine, mentally I have never felt the same about driving. I probably never will. It's been over two years and I still sweat when I get behind the wheel. I've had to do a lot of work to quiet the fear and stop the flashbacks to that night, and the feeling only amplified a thousandfold when I got behind a much bigger wheel, with my best friend behind me.

My sweet nugget.

I successfully hauled Spicy a few times. They were all problem-free trips. As much as he gets anxious about loading, he is totally fine once he is on the trailer. The thought of getting behind the wheel made me nauseous, and usually the night before a trip I would lay awake sweating. I'm nothing if not stubborn though. I refused to let the stranger who hit us crush my dreams. I waited decades to get my own ride, and this was my dream trailer, and I was going to LIVE MY DREAM, DAMMIT.

This spring, Emma and I had planned to finally (FINALLY) do a ride together. We were going to meet at a farm sort of equidistant to both of us, an easy drive for me that I had done before. But leading up to the trip, Charles was having some Charles-y moments. I quickly offered to postpone, and Emma waved me off saying we'd be fine for a trail ride. And we probably would be.

The day before our trip I was having my BO's husband (aka The Barn Dad) check the air pressure in my tires. Tire pressure was fine, but as I went to move the trailer out of the driveway the brakes on my truck went alllllll the way to the floor to stop. I had recently redone the front brake lines but I figured the back ones had just gone.

Instead of feeling upset that I couldn't go meet up with Emma, I felt relieved. That relief was disappointing and even a little shameful to me. Why the hell did I have this huge rig if I was afraid to drive it? What was the point if I actively avoided going anywhere?

If I wasn't comfortable driving my current setup, as dreamy as it may be, I needed to make a change. I took the summer to sell my dream truck and trailer, and I got something smaller.


My first unloaded trip I was extremely jumpy and nervous. But the second went better. An unfamiliar feeling comes over me when I think about the new trailer. It isn't sweaty-palm nausea. It's butterfly-stomach excitement.

It feels good, after so much fear and anxiety, to be excited.

Comments

  1. I'm so glad that you ended up with something you're more comfortable with 🙂 you're 💯 right, what's the point of having a dream set up if towing it makes you so nervous?? You and spicy are going to have so many cool adventures with the new rig!!!!

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    1. I KNOW I'm so excited. If only we lived closer. Or were neighbors.

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  2. Badass- do what's comfy for you and will get you going places! I haul so much. Besides, with a normal size rig, you don't have to worry so much about what gas stations you can fit into (#firstworldproblems)

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    1. omg KC... would you believe that never crossed my mind... I've never had to drive so far I needed to fuel up while I was hooked up but the idea of it just made me a little green. So thank you for that.

      A problem I am super thankful I WILL NEVER HAVE.

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  3. That's a great new feeling to have! I know the insomnia-level anxiety and it. is. the. worst. I'm so excited for you that you were able to take steps to find some excitement and ease with traveling again with your horse! =) It's supposed to be FUN after all.

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    1. It's amazing how many changes I've made in the quest to make sure I'm still having FUN with all of this. Compass doesn't point north... should point to fun!!

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  4. Definitely a better trade to get something you will feel comfortable using!

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    1. ME TOO :D and thanks to you (and everyone else...) for listening to me go on and on about trailers for about forty years.

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  6. After I lost my horse I became incredibly anxious driving the trailer. It took so much emotional effort that it was exhausting. With time and with good experiences it has come under control. I don't fool myself that it wouldn't recur but I feel that I have some tools to help me.

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    1. I hit return too soon. I am glad that you have found a set up that is more comfortable for you. And I admire your bravery- it's hard to do something that makes you anxious.

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    2. somehow horses always get me to overcome my anxiety. Or they make me really REALLY want to.

      It's very true what you said about having tools. If you can figure out what works it makes the whole thing seem less daunting.

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  7. So, full disclosure, I'm kinda feeling this way about my new, bigger rig. But for me there's no real reason, other than that it's new. And once I get around to actually going somewhere I'm sure it will be fine.
    Totally different for you though, after such a terrifying incident! I'm so glad you were both ok, but I'm also so sorry it's left you so (understandably) anxious. Good for you for being persistent and working through it, and finding a solution to help you do just that. Congrats on the new rig!

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  8. yaassssssss :D also we need to reschedule our planned ride!!! preferably with no charlie moments this time haha

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