Worst week of my life...

This will not be horse related!

So Monday while I was driving to school, my dad called me... My grandma passed away that morning... I had to pull over, not being able to continue, I just started crying... Not just crying, I was falling apart. I never thought she would go that soon! She would be 88 next month, alright that is a nice age, but you never want them to go...
So my dad picked me up at school and we went to see her, she was so peaceful, almost sleeping... But me, my sister, my brother and my dad, we all fell apart... She meant a lot to us! We are a very close family, so the pain is even bigger... I didn't want to leave, that would make it official, like she was really gone...
The days went by in a haze, having a headache, tummy aches and so on... Crying everyday, I never knew a human could cry so much...

And today, it was her funeral...
I didn't want this day to come, it would be the last time she would be 'with' us... First we did the greeting, so someone was talking about how she left us and so on, I couldn't keep it dry, not at all...
And then my dad spoke some words, and then it was my turn. Normally the lady that works there would do it, but change of plans. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, everyone said I did great, but it was still difficult! I am the youngest grandchild, so it was kind of special that I read something.

After a couple of hours, she was cremated and the ashes were to be spread. It was the final part of the day, but it made it more difficult because the strong woman I knew, was just an urn full of ashes... It's so final, you know? You know at that moment it's all real, you can't say she's in her room or she'll great you when you come in... No, she's gone, and it's final, or more denying...

So yeah, she's gone, I'm going to miss her a lot! But she is back with my grandpa, probably nagging at him! But she will be remembered as the strong, independent but small woman she was!
She would always say: "You 'stinkers'*, you'll give me green hair instead of gray!"
Forever in our hearts!

*'stinkers' is a dutch word, but if I translate it, it would lose his power...

School.

So in less than two weeks I myself have to go back to school...
Not that I mind it, I kind off miss it. Only downside, new school aka college.
I don't know anybody, but what I do know already is that I'm going to like the lessons.
I'm going to study animalcare, but I also see a lot of information about the grasses, the ground, soil and so on!

To those already back in school, good luck!

Lots of Love!

Blisters and shit...

Or manure, or droppings, whichever term you like most.

So today I decided to clean the paddock. Since my horses are at home, we only have a little amount of space and there is no more grass, henceforth the paddock. But my horses they don't do their business in one spot, no all over the place! So I raked it all together and had around seven big piles of sh... You know what. It took me two hours too clean it all!

But after all the raking, I got a reward! Blisters!! Not cool. Each hand has at least three huge blisters and one is open! It kind off hurts but it's ignorable.

The result though, that isn't ignorable, my paddock is spotless! For now at least... I promised myself I will do it more often starting now!

Lots of love!

Vacation!

Finally summer vacation!
I graduated high school so now the fun can begin!

Only fun... It's a heatstroke! I hate it, it's like 35° Celsius! Way too hot for me, but certainly too hot for my horses! They have enough water, they have shelter(where it is hotter inside...) and in the afternoon we lay a wet towel on their backs to cool down a bit.

Luckily next week we'll have normal temperatures, where the nights are also cooler.
But first! Storms!!! There is a huge risk right now at night for the Belgium summer storms, but I do love those.

Until next time y'all.

My favorite Country singer.

So okay, the first time I heard country it was Trace Adkins I listened to.
After some time I started listening to Tim Mcgraw. All good music, but now I have my all time favorite.
Second place is also taken, by Florida Georgia Lines, but the first place... That one is reserved for someone very awesome, amazing and talented! And that is: ...

Luke Bryan!!
I love him so much! His first song I ever heard was 'That's my kind of night'. Amazing song, and I was hooked.
I started listening to all his songs and now I just adore his music. That man is amazing!
He  just brought out a new single, 'Kick the Dust up', amazing song, like always!!

If you like Country, go listen to him!

Lots of love.

Equestrians.

For me, there are 2 types of  equestrians.
The fakes and the real ones.

First of all the fakes:
These are the people who claim to 'know' horses, because they ride one every week at their riding school. But some of these people don't even know how to saddle up a horse, or how to lead them correctly. They think they can ride difficult horses because they rode one who bucked once in his life...
They ride with whips and spurs, pull the reins to hard and don't even have a bond. Sometimes they evolve to the real equestrians, but most of them stay the same and don't understand horses at all.

Secondly, the real ones:
These people have at least ridden 10 different horses and at least a couple of troubled ones. They have been around horses all of their lives and know more than one discipline.
They know a lot of sicknesses and how to give first medical aid. They mostly have a closer bond to the horse or have their own horse.

BUT: not all of the real equestrians are good, some only want to win and achieve high goals, these are not the ones I support. I support the ones that know natural horsemanship, those that know that the horse doesn't need you. You need them, and if you're lucky, one day, they will 'need' you.

This is purely my opinion, and I don't claim to be either of them, I am my own type of equestrian, I make mistakes and I'm still learning, after 15 years of experience.

This is not to offend anyone! Just my opinion on the horse world :)
Lots of Love

OMG!! London here I come!

Starting from tomorrow I'll be making the streets of London unsafe XD
Haha no, I'm just kidding. But I'm going to London for sure :)
We leave tomorrow at fucking 5.30 AM!! Way too early! And we are back this Friday at 11.45 PM!
Like OMG! Normal hours please? I'll be going with my school, all the seniors are going :)
We're going to visit two museums per day! awesome isn't it?
When I come back I'll make sure to upload photos and videos okay?

Till then!! Kissies Els xx