Old Town Riding School & Old Town Support Service

🌅🧡 Let’s talk about burnout…

Not the dramatic collapse.

The quiet exhaustion.

The kind where you’re still functioning.
Still showing up.
Still caring.
Still getting things done.

But everything feels heavier than it should.

Burnout often creeps in slowly.

When you’ve been strong for too long.
When you’ve been the reliable one.
When you’ve put everyone else’s needs before your own.

Burnout isn’t failure.
It’s not weakness.
It’s often a sign you’ve been carrying too much for too long.

This is something I’m not very good at 💭

This week I’ve had to listen to my body.
I’ve felt exhausted, emotionally drained, and if I’m honest, guilty for slowing down.

But I knew I had to.

Because if I don’t look after myself, I’m no good to anyone else 🧡

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is stop, rest, and accept that we can’t do it all.

So here’s your reminder 💭

🧡 Rest is productive.
🧡 Boundaries are healthy.
🧡 Looking after yourself matters too.

You don’t have to earn your rest.

You are allowed it 🌿✨

💛🌿 A couple of weeks ago I did a wellbeing session on gratitude.

And today, despite feeling completely exhausted, it’s what I’ve been thinking about 💭

This week has been a hot and busy half-term week ☀️🥵🐴

I’m grateful for my hardworking staff who have worked tirelessly through the heat 🫶

Today I’ve done very little. I’ve moved from the bed to the sofa, put some washing on, tackled a few household jobs, started a task, sat down for an hour, started again, then sat back down again 😅

My body aches. My mind feels emotionally drained. Anxiety has been a little louder than usual.

But even on days like this, there is still so much to be grateful for 💛

So if you’ve messaged, emailed, called or are waiting for a reply, I promise I’ll get back to you 💛

But today I needed to just be me. To just rest.

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is listen when our body tells us to slow down 🌿✨

Tomorrow is another day 💛

Funny how our young people call this place their “safe place”… but truthfully, it’s not just them — we as staff call it that too ❤️

This morning I woke up and just felt like I needed to be here. Now, at 8am, here I am, sat in the field watching the horses before the heat of the day takes hold. I’ve been here for half an hour already, just listening to the birds and the world slowly waking up around me.

It’s peaceful, grounding, a little bit magical🐴☀️🌿

🌅💛 Sometimes the best sessions happen without even realising… 💭🐴

Sometimes our children, young people, and staff will simply sit in the field together watching the horses graze, play, interact, and just be horses 🌿✨

No pressure.
No expectations.
Just quiet moments, fresh air, and space to breathe 🫶

And often… those are where the best conversations happen 💚

Watching the horses can help children and young people talk about their own feelings and emotions.

A nervous horse.
A playful horse.
A horse wanting space.
A horse looking for comfort from another horse 🐴💭

By observing the horses, we can often relate their behaviours back to ourselves and our own lives.

Sometimes it feels easier to talk about feelings through the horses first ✨

Nature, animals, connection, and calm spaces can make such a powerful difference 🌿💛

🌟 🩷 Friday Feeling

Another busy week done 🫶

Lots of laughs, learning, pony cuddles, teamwork, wellbeing sessions, and special moments along the way 🐴🐶💭

Time to slow down a little, breathe, and appreciate the little wins from the week ✨

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend 💛