North of the City
March/April 2008
By: Christopher McKinnon
Growing up in Toronto, Annabel Begg dreamed of one day owning horses and living on a farm. Today, the forty-something King City resident and mother of four owns, with husband Jeffrey Begg, Windways Farm, which is renowned for producing several champion racehorses.
In addition to the demands of looking after the 40 horses on the property and taking care of her three dogs, Mrs. Begg is an active hockey and polo player both recreationally and in two organized leagues.
The workout routine: I like to be going somewhere or playing a game when I exercise. I don’t like machines. There are things I do every day: go to the barn, feed the horses, walk them to their different fields and then clean out the barn. We play a lot of hockey and polo and I usually take the dogs for a hike.
Fitness goals: I don’t really have one. It’s just something that makes me feel better. I think when you do something every day and then you don’t, you just feel kind of crummy. It’s a little like an addiction, but it’s not extreme. I don’t think I’d want to be a marathon runner, for example.
Overcoming obstacles: I’ve been injured quite a few times. Anytime I had one of those injuries, I still kept doing sports. When I broke my shoulder and couldn’t play hockey, I’d go out an hour before the others just to skate. When I broke my ankle, I’d get the crutches and go up and down the barn to keep my fitness level up. You can’t get depressed because you’re injured.
The clothes: I like all the sporty-looking clothing, but I’m not very into that. It’s usually not practical for me. I often go for a run wearing blue jeans if that’s what I’m wearing at the barn. By the time I get home and change into some sporty-looking running attire, I’ve wasted a lot of time.
Dieting: I don’t diet but I eat well. I never count calories. It’s just basically healthy eating — a lot of vegetables and fruit and I try to stay away from sugar. But I don’t make it a point to not eat certain things. I may not order french fries but I’ll have a couple of somebody else’s. Organic foods would be a great idea if I didn’t have so many people to feed in my house. With four kids, I can fill the car with groceries and it’s gone in two days. If you try that with organic stuff, it’s very difficult.
Motivation: I like being busy. I think by being busy all the time, it gives you a high-energy level. If you enjoy what you’re doing, it makes you happy. The alarm goes off at 6:15 a.m. even on the weekends because the barn is there every day. I could take a day off, but I would go anyway.
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