Ringing in 2025
Welcome Home, Etbauer’s Secret!
It’s been a while (well, a few months to be honest) since I posted on here. To be honest, towards the end of 2024, I was feeling bored and uninspired and didn’t want that energy to translate over to this blog. However, my November took a quick and very exciting turn and I am beyond excited and grateful to be welcoming my new (and oh! so handsome) horse, Etbauer’s Secret (“E.T.”), into my life! With the help and support of a lovely group of ladies I’ve built friendships with in the northern Virginia area, I found E.T. through a fantastic program called New Vocations which focuses on providing off-the-track Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds with fantastic homes and second careers off of the racetrack.
E.T. arrived here in the first week of December from Louisiana, and we spent the entirety of December together bonding through copious amounts of cuddles and treats, lots of hand-grazing, and many groundwork sessions. I am slowly easing him into his new life and home, and am looking forward to beginning riding him again once all of this snow here in Virginia melts!
Getting back into horseback riding last year set my heart on fire and re-ignited the passion in horses that defined my childhood and teenage years. It’s brought a level of joy into my life that I can’t truly describe but feel so much gratitude for.
What’s in Store for 2025
In other news, home renovations are still proceeding (slow as ever, admittedly) and am excited to wrap up many house projects in the coming months. While we don’t have any travel plans for the year, I must admit I am excited to be entering a slower pace of life where we can spend more time at home and continue to explore and enjoy all that Virginia has to offer. I’m anxious to continuing checking out new wineries, and am eagerly counting down to many of the equestrian events that this state has to offer, including the Upperville Horse Show. My re-entrance into the horse world has also afforded me with the opportunity to build lovely new friendships with like-minded ladies, and I can’t wait to see those relationships flourish this coming year!
Memories from the Past Few Months
From left:
Enjoying one of the last warm days of autumn with Otto and Adler
Admiring E.T.’s strength, athleticism, and beauty after his first workout since arriving in Virginia
Christmas dinner, featuring beef tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, roast Brussels sprouts, and a tossed green salad — complete with champagne for good measure!
