How to make boring barn chores a total blast – Originally posted by Eventing Connect
By Sable Giesler – Jun 26, 2018 – Sponsored by MD Barnmaster
Horse people love what they do; there is no better way to spend time than being at the barn or better yet, on the back of a horse. But let’s be real, numerous unavoidable barn and riding tasks bore you out of your mind. For example, cross-country schooling is AWESOME but mucking stalls sucks. The majority of an average rider’s time at the barn is spent performing mindless tasks. These jobs are not awful, but after a while, they evoke high levels of boredom.
Audiobooks to the rescue
Escape the barn while you are performing repetitive tasks with your smartphone (If you don’t have a smartphone, join the 21st century and buy one!) and an audiobook app. I use Audible, you can try this app for free for the first 30-days, and I’m sure after you do you’ll be signing up as a member for the affordable price of $14.99 USD a month. With this app, you will look forward to long trot sets, mucking out the entire barn solo and braiding your trainer’s dozen horses for a show. Even clipping will suddenly become fun!
While you execute these monotonous tasks, you will get to listen to whichever book suits your fancy. Spy, romance, thriller, self-development, sci-fi, you name it, and the book title is likely available. Unfortunately, since equestrian books are not a hot seller, there are few available as audiobooks. Escaping to another realm by listening to an audiobook makes time fly. You should not perform all horse related jobs while listening to an audiobook but I do not recommend listening during a cross-country school. Although, these horsey tasks definitely call for audiobooks:
- Driving to horse shows
- Sweeping the barn
- Fitness work for your horse and/or yourself
- Braiding
- Stuffing hay nets
- Clipping
- Painting jumps
- Mane pulling
- Hand walking a horse
- Mucking stalls
- Working on a tractor
- Foal watch
So, what are you waiting for? Don’t waste a minute being bored, download an audiobook right now and immerse yourself in a world of intrigue, romance, humour or education!
Main photo: ©nyul – stock.adobe.com
