Setting the Stage for 2022

Now that we made it through New Year's Eve (and I even made it to midnight.... barely) it's officially a brand new year :) I've been thinking over some of the goals and plans we have for the farm and for ourselves and I thought it would be nice to share. Feel free to check in on us throughout the year and help us keep on track!

Horse Herd Goals:

- Maintain herd size. We're at the point where our herd numbers are about maxed out. We don't have any major purchases in mind for 2022 and are hoping to sell most, if not all, of our 2022 foals. That's a good place to be, as hard as it is to say goodbye to the youngsters!

- Improve our weaning rates. In 2021, we were expecting 15 foals. After one miscarriage and two foals lost early in life, we weaned 12 foals. Although we know that losing animals is an unfortunate reality of farming, I'd like to see this number improve in 2022

- Maintain high herd pregnancy rates while also moving the foaling season about 2-3 weeks earlier in the year to get out of summer foals

- Investigate our herd nutrition program and find ways to improve what and how we feed our critters

General Farm/Life Goals:

- Convert our recently purchased cropland to hay fields

- Intentionally pay down real estate debt

- Seek outside help to handle the additional workload of increased hay production and intensive herd management

- Relocate from our one-bedroom apartment to something with a little more space. It's still up in the air what exactly that will look like but it's time!

Customer Relations Goals: - Find ways to offer our boys to more of their fans, through creative collection options or leases

- Grow excitement for and involvement in the European Brabant Registry of America as we share our foals (and their parents) with breed enthusiasts

- Attend local horse events to network with the horse community and raise awareness about Gypsy Vanners and European Brabants

Thanks for being a part of our adventures and sharing in our successes as well as our failures. We look forward to growing relationships with friends new and old throughout the year. It's going to be a big one!