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Horses are therapeutic in many ways. Today I decided to spend some time in my barn and with my horses. The last couple of weeks have been kinda crazy. My oldest daughter is graduating high school this year and decided that she would like to go to college. I am very happy about this decision, but I am past my limit of touring colleges. I believe we have finally made a choice and we are sticking to it!

My horses needs have been met the last couple of months, but they really haven’t received any special attention. And by that I mean brushing and attention. Sometimes I wonder if the brushing is really worth the time and effort, because a soon as I turn them out they roll! Or if I give them a little saddle time and then turn them out, they roll! Well, at least my arms got a good work out.

Today started out a little rainy, and we are already covered up with mud due to the amount of snow we got a few weeks ago. So I decided I needed some horse therapy. No better way to get that then to be next to a horse brushing them and singing along to the radio! I started with our geldings since they are the oldest of the herd. As soon as I had one brushed and mane and tail braided, I turned them out. After the boys were done I tackled the girls. That was not quite as peaceful because they were upset that the boys were out and they were still in the barn.

Each one of my horses have their own unique character or personality. I think I can safely say that most equine people would agree with me. While some horses may like to be alone in a pasture, most are social and like to be in a herd. I have 4 geldings(one is a pony) and 3 mares. After numerous groupings and pairings, I have finally found what works for us and the horses. We do pasture rotation throughout the summer to extend our season. But I also rotate 2 groups of horses instead of all 7 being on the same pasture. I put my geldings together, and my mares together. I do have one gelding who prefers to be alone, so sometimes I will put him in a small pasture and he is never upset about that!

My horses give me joy when I need it, a listening ear when I have so much to say, and they never turn away from my love and attention. Without them in my life….I would probably be a mess!

A year has passed since I started this blog. Full of hopeful dreams and aspirations, but also with disappointments and heartache. I have owned a horse or horses for 37 years. Looking back over the years brings many good and wonderful memories. Different highs and lows that have come with all the different equine jobs that I have done over the years. But there is always setbacks or disappointments that always come when you live a life trying to blend your equine passions with your JOB.

I have come to the conclusion that life is really not going to get any easier. This comes through honest reflection that my job, which funds my passion and joy, many times gets in the way of that said joy. Horses always come with a cost attached to them, some more than others. Unfortunately there is no way to check the price before you purchase them, “inherit” them, or just decide to be gifted with them. Taking care of horses means that you give them the best life possible so that you can reap the many rewards of owning a horse.

My current job at the moment as a General Manager is time consuming and stressful for the most part. I enjoy what I do and I love making the community happy, but I have discovered that I do not like to be around people as much as I like to be around my horses. I find my peace and sanity just cleaning the stalls in my barn or brushing my horses. I can talk to them about my day and they give me their whole attention and love just for my simple interaction with them. I can ride around the fields or take them for a trail ride to ease my stress and relax my thoughts. Or I can let them gallop into the sunset with the reins dropped, my arms extended wide and my eyes closed as my heartbeat paces with the pounding of the hooves…..

Welcome to The Stalled Life! My name is Amy Pitarro and I am a wife, mother, and General Manager of a very fast paced Dominos Pizza here in East Tennessee. I have always loved horses!! I even went to a University that had an equestrian program, thinking one day that I would use my education. 30 some years later and I am still stuck in the blue collar world. But I am determined that the year 2024 is going to be a life changer for me and my family.

Intro to my Life

Blogging is going to be an adventure and a challenge for me. I am a reader. Sitting down and spending hours in a good book is so relaxing for me! Writing tends to be a little more tedious. Although I must confess, many of my highest graded essays in school were almost always written the night before they were due. I guess I think best when under pressure. My life has definitely been a pressure cooker lately!

Dylan, my oldest child graduated last spring and moved out on his own this past fall. Emalee, my second child is 15 and driving me crazy sometimes with her drama filled life. Allyson, my youngest daughter is a portrait of my self at her age. She is with me every time we tackle the farm chores every day. Dominic, my husband is the reason I can give my kids a good life and is helping me teach them the tools they need for living on their own. Together we make a blended family with highs and lows every day on this journey we call life.

Goals

My goal for blogging is to share our trials and successes on this 26 acre farm that we call home. Life in the real world has been getting crazier and we have decided to learn how to live and survive off the land that we have. We are going to turn our farm into self sustaining as much as we can. No, we are not preppers!! We just have decided to live off the land that God has blessed us with so that we can be healthier, happier, and able to bless others with our abundance.

Let the adventure begin…