Welcome, July!
I’ve decided it’s time to start a monthly newsletter. I want to share our accomplishments, goals, and even setbacks.
It’s a blessing that my Dad and my oldest are both doing better. We’ve had trouble getting back to see them. On our last trip, the truck’s brake line rusted through. Bob replaced it. He’s thrilled that the new brakes work better than ever!
Just when we planned to return, I caught a cold. Then Bob caught it. And, of course, Ben too. Daddy must avoid germs while he heals. We already tend to avoid visiting while sick. However, post-surgery recovery makes this more important.
I caught a cold the first part of June. The good news? It was quick! Just two days of coughing for me. I usually cough for weeks.
While sick, the smoke from Canadian wildfires filled the air. But there was good news. Galaxy started moving closer to me without any prompting. Treats or a pen would speed this up, but I’m not in a rush. He’s been curious but hesitant. So this was a sweet win for me. Maybe he felt sorry for this wheezing woman! Either way, I’ll take it. He should be ready for visitors soon!
Even after feeling better, I didn’t spend as much time outdoors as I’d hoped. The heat and humidity has kept me inside.
When we all felt better, I thought I’d go visit Dad. But Ben asked me to stay. He needed a CT scan with dye. We suspected he’d react to the dye since he has before. His Dad and sister also react to it. So I stayed home and Bob took the day off to be there too.
Ben was given allergy medicine and steroids before the scan. But it wasn’t enough. He became unresponsive and stopped breathing for a moment. The nurses thought it was a panic attack. I pointed out to the doctor that his neck was swollen and red. It was an allergic reaction. Quick action with steroids brought the swelling down. Within two hours, Ben was breathing freely and talking again.
The truck broke down again that day too. The exhaust rusted through. Bob did a creative patch job, but it will need replacing soon.
June’s Accomplishments
Bob fixed two barn windows. For two years, we used greenhouse plastic after the horses broke almost all the glass panes. We didn’t want new glass that might break again. Bob suggested boarding them up, but I love the natural light — and so do the horses!
First, we used plastic sheeting. The wind shredded it. I tried reinforcing it with duct tape and boards, but the wind still tore holes. We needed something sturdier.
Then I found clear polycarbonate panels on Temu. They were cheaper than the hardware store. Bob cut the panels to size and set them in the frames. They look fantastic! He hasn’t finished all of them yet, but I’m so proud of his creativity. We’ll see if they hold up to winter winds this year.
Bob and Ben also replaced the porch screen with a heavy-duty one. Our cats shredded the old screen last year. We welcomed Pepper (a cat) back home too. His adoptive family couldn’t keep him or his friend any longer. They’ll stay in the porch for a few weeks before meeting the rest of the cats.
I started moving my personal blog out of the Healing Horse Touch space. This should help our site rankings. Some pages have errors and unoptimized images. I’ll fix these eventually, but for now, removing the problem should help.
I finally updated our home page. It had out-dated information since we lost our horse coaches, Destiny and Chrissy, du to their passing.
I also improved our business plan after receiving feedback from a grant application submitted in May.
Introducing the Hoofbeats of Hope Community
For a long time, I’ve wanted to offer virtual courses. Losing Destiny and Chrissy made this a priority on my list. Many platforms exist, but most are costly. I want to offer some courses for free. I also needed a community feature. This lets you message me directly instead of using our glitchy contact form. I’ve also had trouble with email subscriptions. A community solves that too.
In early June, I found an affordable platform. It cost $50/month — half the price of others. I set up four courses and designed the platform. Just as I finished, I found an even better option. It cost $200 upfront, but it’s cheaper long-term. No monthly fees. So I started over again!
I’m happy to say it’s ready — sort of! It’s a skeleton version of my dream. I plan to add videos, images, more workbooks, and more courses. But, the basics are there and I hope to see you there too!
Learn more about the Hoofbeats of Hope Community
By the Numbers (for those who love data)
- We applied for 8 grants.
- We attended 6 Skip Instant Grant live sessions.
- We received a donation of two brand-new Tuff Rider helmets for our sessions and gift cards.
Monetary Donations: None for June
Followers
Facebook: 275
Instagram: 372
LinkedIn: 410
YouTube Views: 365
Search Engine Rankings:
33 keywords listed. 10 are in the top 30 results.
Goals for July
- Begin a monthly raffle to inspire people to join our community. Chipotle gift cards will be one of our first prizes! In upcoming months, you’ll also see essential oils, crystal heart pendants, and more.
- Create the next horsemanship course and workbook.
- Send 3 grant inquiry letters and apply for 7 grants; attend 6-8 Skip Instant Grant live sessions
- Set up new donor pages on three new platforms. Do you have a favorite you’d like to see us on?
- Start filling the shed with hay for the winter.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for standing beside us through each step, big or small. Your support keeps us moving forward, together.