Keep On Truckin' but Slow Your Roll Please

Who killed the bunnies...?

Sunday warmed up a bit for us Ontario-in's. While the wind was lashing and tear inducing, the sun was making it's best effort to cast it's sun-shiney rays down upon us earthlings and heat this joint up.
Sun tanning anyone? I actually did get a little sun on my face, whoo.

Mich and I decided today was a must for trail riding. It has been almost four months since we were last out and now that Pal is beginning to really enjoy trails there was no excuse not to go.


After grooming our ponies and covering the barn floor in hair tumbleweeds which closely resembled the aftermath of coyotes in a rabbit pen, we set out.
Deciding that our usual fields were too mucky, we traveled down the road to a new field where the ground was a bit higher and still snow covered.

Of course today was Sunday so everyone and their uncle had to go for a drive. But yet... not the typically lolly gagging Sunday drivers. Nope. Apparently we missed the memo and it was moving truck and nascar trial day.

Pal has only been on the road once before and took everything with a grain of salt then but today she was faced with a giant diesel box van as her first challenge of the day. That combined with warm weather willies did not bode well for our ride.
Initially, she watched Thunder and attempted to dive for cover on his hind end. Then when the van approached and the engine got louder, she lost her marbles.
Now... I expect her to be a little spooky at vehicles for awhile and I can control her usual front end deaking, but today she decided to throw her haunches into the road threatening with all her might to boot the gas, er diesel, out of this poor unsuspecting van.

Thankfully and kindly, the van noticed our rampage and slowed to a stop allowing us to pass. I couldn't thank them enough but I did see them having a good laugh.


Unfortunately, other drivers were not so kind. Mind you that was the worst of our day's spooks but it surely did not help Pal's nerves when a couple other pick up trucks decided to blaze past us, giving us no extra berth or even hinting at slowing down to the roads 50km limit.
I broke and cursed. And... I might have given one or two of them a finger salute...
*tear, there goes my resolution*


Finally, we reached the drive for the trail. It was pretty rocky but our two sure footed part appy's manoeuvred the course with ease. Good ponies.
We had a little run in with some ice which generated a little meltdown initially... but on we went.

On our loop back, the ponies had some good deep snow and we decided to let them go for a 'trot'.
I nudged Pal forward, she happily obliged. Somehow I ended up with a tolt worthy trot.
*Where is my champagne glass when I need it...*
Mich... got a full out, but controlled, gallop response from Thunder, which Pal was not pleased with when he flew past her, so off we went too.
I don't think both Mich and I have laughed so much in a long time and both horses thoroughly enjoyed themselves too.


On our way back, we had another run in with a box van, this one parked mind you, but Pal was having none of it so we turned around to head back to the barn.
We did have one more run in with a car, that did slow down, thank you to that lady. This time I parked Pal in a ditch and made her watch the car go by. No spook this time. Progress!


All in all, great trail ride but with homework.


I do have to mention again to all those non-horse savvy people, who are not likely going to ever read this, slow your roll and show a little respect for the descendants of the equine's that once carried your ancestors.

Revisiting Ground Work - Gymnastic Lunging

Yesterday was a 'fun' day....
Something odd went on with the power in our area. With what started as power hiccups, (where electricity flicks off and then right back on), turned into rolling brown out's then full on power outages for eight hours.
While I don't love power outs, I don't usually complain either, things happen, I get it. But this one was weird.

The issues began mid-morning when the alarms for our UV water light and sump pump went off indicating power failure, the rest of the house flickered but came back on no problems. Then shortly after the furnace condensation pump kicked off, followed by the furnace itself. Lovely.
Immediatley I think, is this house cursing at us for selling in the only way a house can?
*Insert an unspoken curse word*


After DH having a bird, and me, the problem solver, calling around for two hours and dealing with some really crappy customer service to solve the 'problems' with the furnace and UV, which are thank goodness under warranty, we resolved to watching the HydroOne website for updates on the outage. This, by the way, is very difficult to do when you do not have data on your phone and you need power for the Wifi to work. Duh...

Four hours later, the power came back on and thank heaven, everything is working just perfectly.
So note to future self, everything in good time. Don't freak out. You don't have to solve everything in two point two. Not everything is in your control. Be patient.


Moving on...

After making a scrumpteous dinner of roast beef panini's on fresh crusty bread with carmelized onions and mushrooms, oh and cheese of course.... (can you tell it is almost lunch time?), I headed to the barn.
I had originally planned to ride and do some ground pole gymnastics, but I opted to lunge over poles instead. Giving Pal a little outlet for her willies, changing things up and giving her a chance to stretch and balance without a rider helping or restricting.

I took two poles and set them 10ft apart from each each, just off center of the arena, so they can be used for trot and canter, and then added two more right beside the original two to double up the length, making it easier for lunging.

I chose to use my bridle to lunge, removing the reins in case of a 'Pal tantrum', and I looped the lunge line through the side of the bit closet to me, (for that direction), up over her poll and clipped to the other loop of the bit. I don't see many people using this method anymore, everyone is all for cavesons or those things that connect the two sides of the bit under the horses chin. Does this mean I am old fashioned now....and *gulp* old....
To me I find this gives me optimum connection, control and I can still keep a feel of the bit through the lunge line. Regardless, Pal prefers this and it works. If it 'aint broke....


We worked on transitions and warming up and then I sent Pal over the trot poles. Initially, she couldn't figure out the poles without me up there dictating what she should do but she quickly and quietly figured them out in both trot and canter.
The poles worked exactly as I had planned and within a few minutes Pal was moving more freely from her shoulder and pushing from behind. It looked fabulous.


While I know I should be lunging and doing more groundwork rather than just riding, it is really nice to have the large gap in between the last time we did this as it becomes very evident that the work we have been doing together is actually working and transferring over to the horse using itself more correctly even without the assistance or instruction of the rider.


Much better end to a initially negative day.

Mishap Monday...

"Do not demand at the end of the lesson what the horse cannot do easily and happily yet! Always finish the lesson with something the horse is able to do easily and that he will thus perform happily, so that there is cause for praise and display of affection."

Peter Spohr

We all know I despise Mondays. I have attempted to come up with something to look forward to on Monday's but other than poutine and fried things, which are not healthy alternatives, I can't think of anything other than going for ride. Yesterday, even riding was questionable as a Monday pick me up.

I got to the barn a little later than normal and it was a chilly -7*c. (Honestly will this winter never end...). I arrived to find dear Palomis peaking out the stall and covered in dried mud from face to wither. Ugh.
Being a bit short on time, I curried with all my might and before I knew it, I could see white, well white-ish again.

I had set up a simple, or so I thought, cross rail- one stride - 2'6/2'9 square oxer. Aiming to work on our form and my posture over fences.

After a quick 15-20 minute warm up, we jumped into the line on a circle over the x as a warm up. Having no problems and thinking this gym was a simple one we gathered our canter and headed into the line. I felt... not a wobble per say but almost a weariness emanating from Pal but I also felt her lock on and take me into the line so I braced down into my seat and added a bit of leg as a precaution.

Am I ever glad I did....

For whatever reason, Paloma thought it was a better idea to make the one stride into a bounce and she took a flyer over the oxer. How I stayed put I am not sure but my body kicked in to my hidden eventer mode. Or maybe it was survival instinct, I can't be sure.
Thinking it was a fluke, we garnered up our lady bits again and headed for another shot. Foreseeing the possibility of this happening again, I half halted to say, 'take a stride' in there.

Nope. It happened again and I... again, did some semblance of eventer drop ditch posture thing.

Alright.

We went back to flatting, worked on some transitions, checked our half halt. Everything is still in place...

I gave Pal a break. Then after we circled into the 'X' again with pats to get her confidence back up and headed back. This time Pal was so transfixed on the oxer, she completely plowed into the 'X', finally seeing it but too late.

Yuaapp... I feel your pain fellow rider...
Glad to see it has happened to others.

Luckily the poles just fell flat, so I came again and just used what was the 'X' as placing poles. I took every precaution and rode defensively but aggressively. No problems. Pal cantered over the poles and jumped the oxer with great power and scope. Actually, it felt much nicer than normal. It was lovely.
Came through once again, same thing, no problem. And I made a big deal of it to boost her confidence.

We attempted to change directions, leaving the poles for the 'X' down but Pal wasn't having any of it. The distance from the other end is shorter but doable and nothing new to her. Pal locked on, picked her spot, I felt everything in place, added leg just in case, annnnddd.... she SLAMMED into the brakes. This does not happen with Pal. She just doesn't stop if I ride correctly.... I was shocked.
Honestly, wide-mouth-gaping shocked!

Somewhere deep down, a little voice was telling me that she scared herself doing the 'bounces', so don't punish, growl to get over, yes, but don't punish.

We came again but she broke to trot. I let her. I stayed quiet and she jumped the oxer from a trot and cantered away calmly.  We came again in trot once more to make sure it was not a fluke and to let her know, 'ok, I hear you. Let's just trot this today'.


Overall... OK so we took five steps back and only two forward but I feel we re-established the trust and understanding Pal and I share.
Yeah, I was pretty upset about the ride but having slept on it and looking back now I realize... aren't all strong relationships built not just on the great moments but also on overcoming the bad?

Riding Paloma; The Cliff Notes Version

 

 

Friday I headed to the barn to meet Mish-mosh for a ride. After arriving, grooming and remarking at how much more hair we were wearing than the horses we headed into the freshly harrowed arena.
There is nothing like fresh powder...

Despite Mish and I having two very different horses we have both of them working at the same level so this makes coordinating the day's routine very easy.
Today, we decided it was time to loosen the ponies up with a set-up of five fanning trot poles and lateral work. One would assume bending through a set of poles would be easy... right.

Both horses had their own issue, both different as per usual. And yes, I checked the spacing several times so it was merely the difficulty with coordinating the poles, bending and the importance of staying centered.
Thunder thought it was fun to step on a pole here or there, Paloma came up with the bright idea to step high and prancy rather than reaching out. So this made for a little hop-skip over the last pole.

After working out our own kinks we both came back to a loose walk for a break and began recapping the issues we were having for the day.
I think this is partially why we both like riding together, having a sounding board that understands and can rationally comment, sorry hubby, is invaluable!

Mish and I are pretty well the same rider but from different disciplines and backgrounds but despite our similarities our horses are from completely different spectrum's when it comes to riding and working with them.
This sparked up another conversation and inspired this post.

 

If you had thirty seconds to explain to someone how to ride your horse, effectively, how would it go?

 

 

I don't think I would need thirty seconds...

Paloma's would go like this; inspire her brain, work with her not against, ask then tell, don't be a sissy, make it happen.

 

 

 



The Current Times, novella; Moving On Out....In?

"Even cowards can ensure hardship; only the brave can endure suspense" - Mignon McLaughlin

 

After keeping you all in the dark, your teeth chattering with suspense, it is time for the big reveal...

We sold our house and are building another new home!

 

 

 

I had previously mentioned back a few months ago that there was some big changes on the horizon so understandably I wasn't chomping on the bit to make any big new years resolutions or promises, with the exception of maintaining a more positive outlook and kyboshing the cursing. (unless added 'feeling' is required).
I used to make a ton of goals and plans months in advance but as I have learned life has it's own plan so best to make a choice on a desired 'path' and when you reach a fork or several forks in my case, choose again until a new fork presents itself. Otherwise, you are most likely to be left feeling disappointed by putting too emphasis onto one plate, sort of speak.

Last year in the winter of 2014 we had no plans to move out of the home we had built just a few months prior. And by 'we had built', I mean just that, we did pretty well everything with the exception of the foundation and framing so it meant three months of endless days, whilst still working 9am-5pm and trying maintain a good balance in my equine life but unfortunately skipping the show season all together due to time and financial constraints... All while living with my mother-in-law since we had sold our first house a little quicker than expected.
Thank goodness she is so motherly and had a big house for us to crash in. And crashing is what we did, every night after a 10:00pm dinner of cucumber sandwiches and fruit. Glamorous right?

Back to the original thought... Last winter we found a lot of land in a great location for cheap! Seeing all the development in the area we pounced on the chance and bought the lot which we thought would be the location of our next home in the following five years. Then... life happened...
Turns out several people in our area had been asking about our house... it is located in a wide open area, right on the corner of a major highway. Our realtor suggested selling and having learned that we missed the life of living in a small suburban community, the walks to the park and water and the walks to the local homemade ice cream shop, we listed the house and started plans to build on the new lot.

'Us' meets 'Fork'...

We located other wells in the area of the lot and plotted ours in an area where we expected no issues coming into contact with a water vein. Weeks of waiting for a break in the frigid temps, they started drilling after 'witching' the area to be sure.
A week later and 150ft down... our new well was 'dry' by well standards. We were well below the optimum flow rate and on top of that, the water we did get was salty. Which is odd since we live only a mile down the road and have GREAT well water. In areas of normally fresh water, this is most often caused by old glacier movement millions of years back and with the nature of ground water, it doesn't clear up for pretty much ever.
So rather than throwing good money at bad money, we decided to cap it and leave it in hope to fracture later or that town water will be available in near future. All our plans... gone.

'Us' meets 'Fork'...

Our house was on the market for four days and sold to the first people who came through. This deserved a big WHOOP since both my husband and I have major OCD about our home and cleanliness. But on the downside... we didn't know where to go.
We started hunting houses since our building mood was squandered by the lack of water on our other lot.

'Us' meets 'Fork'...

We searched and looked, and offered but having lived with certain things and having built our own home we couldn't live without our desired amenities, like a great kitchen for me! (<3 cooking) and we weren't willing to pay the big bucks to get what we wanted since we now know what we can build it for.

After offering on a new build home but not being able to meet in the middle price wise with the builder we noticed there was a building lot for sale a few houses down. Hmmm....

'Us' meets 'Fork'...

Hubby and I, well mostly hubby since I am a spender, oops, we worked out our numbers and though the lot cost pushed the pocket book, we came to an agreement with the seller. *insert relief*

While most people look at us like we are crazy when we say we are moving in with my mother-in-law for a few months, storing all our stuff and building a home by being the general contractor's, we think it is a pretty good gig.
I, get to pick everything and anything I want... after hubby has his say and squeezes my dreams back into a reality sized box AND hubby gets to exert all his pent up energy doing what he enjoys and excels at.


The downside...
Show season plans once again takes a dive.

While DH understands how much I want to go show this year and that it really isn't an option for me, he has obliged to allow me to attend a select few shows, with the condition that Mish-mosh must also be attending.
So this year, eventing it will be.

Pal has yet to experience eventing, I did get a few trials in last year with Thunder and enjoyed the lack of catty-ness, (sorry hunter folk, but you know what I mean), the abundance of support and overall I got to see real people having FUN with their horses. It wasn't about pinning a red or blue ribbon, it was about getting out, learning and bonding with your horse.
This reminded me of what I had all but forgotten as to why I got into horses.


Onward Jeeves!









Re-establishing Foundations

This is an example of the arena dust that graces my tack despite how much I clean.
Now we are shedding... I am admitting defeat.

I am so sorry everyone for being so inconsistent and boring with my posts as of late. Life has been, to say the least, interesting. But that is a story for another post.

Luckily, I have still been able to get my hiney to the barn just the same but I have found my motivation to be waning lately. Which is so odd since the weather is progressively getting better!
If I could curse this would be a good place for a 'what the **** comment', but I will not waiver from my resolution!


I will recap my rides as they went.

Last Thursday.... Pretty sad that it has taken me a week to blog this...
Michelle joined me at the barn for a little jump school after Pal and my fail last Tuesday over the oxer. I am bound and determined to school oxers more now that we have painted a true picture of what happens when you don't practice. Eep!
The ride went very well. Pal, again, was sticky off my leg, so I came packing a dressage whip today. You know the saying... when you march into battle don't forget your sword!
The little tune-up was well worth the discomfort I feel holding a whip in my left hand. I honestly do not know what it is but swapping the whip right to left when we swap directions is the most uncomfortable thing! I never have issues navigating it or holding the whip in my right but left... all coordination is out the window and my hand cramps.
Anyways... Pal was nice and loose after this and was really sitting which was great. Today, the oxer posed no problems, though I did notice I was doing something a little funky with my hands over the fence.
I am partial to crest releases for Pal, and typically long at that. I just feel it invites her to use her neck more. With the slight pressure of my hands resting on her neck and the slack on the rein, it is great for horses who like to jump flat. Thankfully, it is starting to really help now that we are on to larger fences. But for some reason this day, I felt the need to lift my hands and keep a connection with her mouth in my release. I don't know how it looked but it felt I was doing this...
Ah well... just add it to the never ending list of 'equi-fix it's'.





I know this person is grabbing mane, but this is what my hands
were doing. Ugh.

Sunday...
After going to my niece's 1st birthday party and watching her shampoo her body in cake. (Exhibit 1256 as to why I am never having children.) Ha. I headed to the barn by my lonesome, :(, and decided to work on my leg over poles and teensy x's sans stirrups. I was dedicating today's workout to me, while Pal got to lumber along tolerating. Good pony.
After warming up over poles and the small x's I realized another addition to my 'equi fix it's' list. Pal is really relying on me for proper hoof placement through canter poles. I have to half halt and hand pick the spots otherwise she picks long and breaks through the poles.

Dropping my stirrups and running through the small fences proved my leg isn't lacking as much as I thought. I am guessing my few days of lower leg swinging must have been from soreness or lack of circulation with the cold weather. Or at least I hope it is over...
While I was a bit sore and didn't love enduring her canter without stirrups, I found my leg was quite tight and secure. None the less, I am going to make it my goal to do more without stirrups and closing my eyes to develop more feel.



Tuesday...
Last night was a pretty fun ride.
I really didn't have much motivation, yet again... but this was quickly changed with a funny 'Pal moment'.
Now that the time has changed when I ride about 5-6pm the sun is setting at the back of the arena just past the paddocks which encircle the arena. This causes shadows to be cast on the tarp arena walls.
Today, the cooky arab, which is in the paddock right outside the arena, decided it was dinner time and spent 20 minutes spooking and sprinting back and forth. Of course, Pal can hear her... although she is used to her crazy ways but the addition of the freaky giant worthy horse shadow into the mix was just too much for her brain to process. So we spent those twenty minutes spooking but if we were spooking, it was going to be on my terms. Though, I have to say, any excuse Pal gives me that she is stiff and cannot figure out her hooves is proven to be a joke now.  She can half pass, shoulder-in, haunches in/out with the best of them. I enjoyed this a bit too much I think.

After our beans were exhausted, we had a pretty good ride and are really starting to have some good canter moments and canter-walk transitions. Woot!
One thing I have to take away from this ride though, I really have to work on keeping my eyes UP! and not allowing my body to cave forwards.
While we were working on shoulder in's and transitions within the gate, I felt we were having some trouble so I made a point to look up to where I wanted to be, instantly problem solved. After nit-picking the differences, I came to the conclusion that since I have been riding alone so long, I have a habit of watching Pal's reactions rather than feeling them. This has been causing my shoulders/body to drop forward and put more weight on her front end, making it THAT much harder to lift her own shoulders. Total ah-hah moment of a bad habit. *sigh*

By the end of the ride, Pal was so soft and round it was heaven to ride her. My position felt so natural rather than fighting a tide. I proclaimed to myself that 'this' is what I am striving for in my rides. Anyone else ever have these feelings?

Dots Defying Gravity

 

Last night I went for a ride in this wonderful 5*c weather, it might as well be summer! Whoo.
It is so gratifying to be able to change for the barn in five minutes and to be able to skip the abomidable snow-woman worthy layers of fleece. I swear I always have to pee right after I zip that final layer. Frig.

Anywho, DH joined me at the barn which is a first in months. He is a warm weather child. It must come from his portuguese blood, however diluted it is at this point.
Not being alone at the barn left no excuse not to have an over fences day so I opted to set a 3' oxer on the centre line and a 3' rollback on an angle.
Rollbacks are not an issue for Pal but they are great to increase her sit and push which she often lacks. She much prefers the hover craft method.
Oxers, well, I have to say we have not done as many as we should so I was bound to fix this in preparation for our clinic in May. In all honesty, I can make excuses all day as to why I haven't worked on many but it all falls back on my laziness. Having to set up and tear down all fences and poles every ride is a pain, so I tend to get frugal with pole and standard dragging.

Our warm up went well, Pal was pretty sticky of the leg so we skipped lateral work for the most part and went straight to transitions within the gait and leg yeilding into corners.

After a good warm up and some good canter work, we started warming up over the 3' vertical set for a roll back, but taking it across a diagonal.  That went really well, despite me looking too far into the corners and causing her to drift inwards. Dang habits, but my fault entirely.

I gave Pal a break after a couple fences and did some long and low since she felt a bit stiff through her back.
Once she was loose and had a good breather we established a good canter and off we went to the oxer.

The first two times, I let her be and figure it out, as per my usual. The spots were not ideal but they were not ugly either.
The third well... again, as per my usual routine, when we have gone through the same fence a couple times, I start micromanaging. *sigh*.
Adding to my OCD, being in a small indoor where striding is 2-3 strides at most through the corner and from corner to centre line this doesn't give much time to feel things out. So I immediately half-halt if I don't see the distance and Pal isn't locking on.
Pal not locking on to the fence is a pretty common thing inside or in a tight striding. I think it is confidence for her.

All in all, my third fence was a disaster. Come see me ride good hubby! Ugh.
We came through the corner, Pal didn't want to bend, she saw the fence, something felt off, I half halted one too many times, asked her to leave deep, she hesitated but lifted her front end, then re-thinking it and putting her front end down in the middle of the oxer, hind legs never leaving the ground. Annnd... we murdered the already injured jump cup.
The entire fence fell, I landed on pony's neck, ground beckoning my name, I looked down and saw a maze of yellow poles, right then and there I decided, no-no, I stay.

Luckily, Pal backed out of the mess calmly, and her momentum tossed me back in the saddle, thank god! I swear I could hear her yelling profanity's at me for making her re-think her 'process'.

I left the mess of poles and picked up a canter again and went over the vertical to check listening skills then gave Pal a pat and a break while I re-set the mess.

Remounted we checked our forwards and back listening and gathered ourselves for the oxer.
I gave a bit more leg to say, we go! and rode a bit more defensively, less hunter-poke. *I know, I know, I am working on it Mitchell*.
Pal clearly did not want a do-over of our last attempt and jumped extremely back cracking, so much so that she nearly jumped me out of the tack. What! Where is my hover-couch? Thunder? Is that you?

Big pats for confidence, we went again to confirm, no problems but HUUGGEE jump.
Immediately I am reminded of the few times we have jumped 3'6 oxers at the end of a gym line. Each time then Pal gave a way larger than normal push with her hind end and snapped up her knees and barrel, (or so it felt). Once more it felt as though there was no barrel around my calf.

If this feeling continues over larger oxers I am going to have to figure out what is going on and learn to ride again. Oy.

So It Begins... Paloma's Hat Collection - Part One

Let me start off by thanking the weather god's for finally shedding some sunlight onto our dreary, frigid planet! The temperature's are starting to hit the pluses, and yes, I consider 0*c a plus temperature and I will gladly take it.

Saturday we had just way too many errands to run so pony-time didn't come until Sunday which was fine with me since Saturday was still a little chilly and Sunday included some welcome sunshine after a short snow shower.
First glance out in the paddock and I knew I was either in for some trouble or would be having a kick ride today. Paloma and her paddock buddies were running amok through the field's kicking and squealing away.
On approaching the paddock, Pal galloped up to the fence and showed off a precise sliding stop in greeting, hello appy blood.

Coming out of the gate, Pal decided to scoot past me and spook at the sheep, which by the way, are always there and hadn't moved a muscle. Then walking down the lane, she decided to have a cow kicking frenzy at the barn dog as he wizzed by us. This also happens all the time and she never cares...
Right about then I am thinking we have definitely landed on option A. *sigh*


In the barn, I was in a no BS mood and wrapped a chain around her nose in warning. This works like a charm. If Pal knows it is there, she cuts the doody quite quickly.

Sunday lessons ran late so we had a good groom fest and attempted to get a photo shoot with Pal and her new bonnet. No, I didn't buy it, I spent 10 hours crocheting this thing into equine perfection Friday and Saturday. This definitely secures my DH thoughts that I am truly a 98y/o soul in a twenty some odd body. Meh.

I started thinking about crocheting when I noticed a fellow blogger decided to tackle it herself. I figured... how hard can this be? Well, it isn't easy and is 110% a labour of love but once you have the motions memorized it is pretty simple. More or less like learning to drive a manual car.

This first attempt turned out pretty cute! I did try to use a pattern but quickly gave up after seeing the ten million different types of stitches incorporated. Nuh-uh. I have learned four, I use only four.
So off I went, using a purchased bonnet as a model. I opted not to crochet the ears but to use a stretchy light fabric for less heat retention.


The results....
Snazzy if I can say so myself.
Next time I will add a couple extra rows to make it a slight bit longer but I am pretty happy with the results. I foresee a large hat collection in dear pony's future.

She clearly was not impressed about all the standing around but I did manage to get a couple blurry snapshots for bragging today.



On an actual riding note, we had a pretty chill ride. Option B showed up and Paloma was a bit lazy but obliged and had some great work.

Gelding's versus Mares; a Diary

Exhibit A

How to Snow Frolic.

Saturday the temperatures started to warm up and the sun broke through the clouds. Hallelujah!

I waited until the afternoon to head to the barn since I had to wait in line at the Transportation office for an hour in that morning. Such a lovely birthday present, right?
"Happy birthday, that will be $200 please."


Arriving at the barn, I was sadly all alone. I really wanted to set a jump school but reconsidered after seeing how dusty the arena was, again cursing the weeks past uber low temps. I opted to head out in the 'snow ring' for a deep snow muscle busting pony work out.
Pony-kins sure does need to lose a couple pounds.

The snow was Deep! Up to and past Paloma's knees in some parts so snow conditioning was more or less out since all that could be done was snow frolic. I don't think this can be classified as riding let alone good riding but it was a blast.
Paloma lept and pranced through the snow as though she was going through a constant stream of bounce fences, I bobbled along, laughing my butt off and attempting to stay on the top side of the horse. Note: this can be really tricky while experiencing the motion of deep snow frolicking.

Thank goodness no one else decided to ride at this time, my sheer lack of correct riding was pretty despicable. But the fun was well needed! Sometimes it is nice to just play with your horse rather than school.


So to all you fellow snow-riders, here is how to Snow Frolic.
1. Grab dear ponykin's and tack up.
2. Leap and flail onto pony's back after you forget a mounting block and sink butt deep into what you thought was a hard, 'mounting block approved' snow bank.
3. Hope that look in ponykin's eye isn't any indication of what the ride to come has in store and fumble for the stirrups with snow clad boots.
4. Sigh in relief that you are, indeed, not too old for basic gymnastics but knowing that is probably going to hurt tomorrow.
5. Venture on into the great white yonder.
6. Reminisce about the first time you drove a manual car while your horse bounces to and fro in attempt to find 'four-hoof-low' gear.
7. Do a quick recon of the area to make sure no one is watching this mockery of equitation.
8. Again sigh in relief and pray for someone to invent saddle seat belts like yesterday.
9. Laugh uncontrollably... because no one like tear-sicles.