11/06/2026
❤️💔 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly 💔❤️
Firstly, thank you to everyone who has messaged and commented recently about the amazing run we seem to be having. Between the competition results, the lovely messages about Bodach and being announced as finalists for our business award, I’ve been completely overwhelmed by the support.
But I think it’s important to keep it real.
Social media is often a highlight reel, and whilst I’m incredibly proud of the highs, behind every photo of a rosette, every smiling selfie and every business achievement has been a whole lot of tears, stress, sleepless nights and moments where I’ve genuinely wondered how much more I can take.
In the last few months we’ve dealt with business challenges, legal battles, losing vehicles, huge unexpected bills, health worries, financial pressure and the general chaos that comes with running a small family business whilst still trying to keep our horses, customers and animals cared for every single day.
There have been tears, there have been sleepless nights, there have been moments where I’ve questioned everything… and there has also been the moment I looked at my life and realised that somewhere between legal battles, broken lorries and trying to keep a business afloat, I’d somehow acquired a reptile in a lay-by.
Because quite frankly, if my life was a book, nobody would believe half of it 🤣
And just when I think I’ve got a day planned — maybe even something as outrageous as actually riding my own horse — the horses have a different agenda.
“Actually mother, today we are playing vet emergency. Please cancel your plans.” - Frank today … 😭😂
Luckily the big fella is ok, we found him choking this morning and he’s running a temperature from a prolonged choke.
There have been mornings where I have sat in the lorry and cried before taking a deep breath, wiping away the tears, putting my competition jacket on, painting on a smile and walking into the ring like everything was okay.
There have been nights where I’ve laid awake at 3 a.m. staring at the ceiling wondering whether my business will survive this time, how I’m going to pay the next bill, or how I’m going to find a way through the latest challenge.
There have been 14-hour days on the road followed by washing out and disinfecting the lorry because biosecurity doesn’t stop when I’m tired, with emails, messages and enquiries piling up, knowing I’m only going to get four hours of sleep before getting up and doing it all again.
There have been days where I’ve celebrated a success whilst quietly knowing there is another problem waiting for me at home.
But perhaps that’s exactly why these moments mean so much.
Because every rosette, every happy customer, every horse safely delivered and every piece of recognition isn’t luck. It’s the result of showing up on the days you don’t feel like you can. It’s choosing to keep going when the easy option would be to walk away.
So here’s to keeping it real. The good. The bad. The ugly.
The wins are wonderful, but the battles behind them are what make them worth celebrating.
Thank you for being part of our journey — through all of it ❤️
Sam xx
Highland Equine Transportation & Services
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P.s photo of Frank this morning 🤎
