Trails were lovely today and the sun was shining. Our trail buddy was very tolerant of trotting up his butt, as I had little control with my phone in hand. I was lucky to not drop my gloves or phone in my filming sequences.
After a mostly sleepless night I headed to the barn for what I hoped would be a good ride on what was turning out to be a spectacular weather day. Temperatures had cooled to 24C with bright blue skies and a slightly damp track for some nice footing after all these days of rain. My hip was still hurting so I was going to take it easy, but I did want to work a good canter stretch with some lead switching in a particular spot. Q had other plans. At our first trot and canter he clearly told me that THIS.IS.NOT.FAST.ENOUGH ! Then he started his usual “dragon mode” of tight back, hard bouncing, head in the air and increasing his speed at every stride. Ouch, my back! I didn’t argue with him, but chuckled a bit at his antics. I used all that energy for good (as much as my back would allow) and worked on contact, leg yields, transitions and shoulder in. It was the best lateral work he has ever given me. But we have a date, in the arena, for lots of canter circles and then we will go back on the...
The weather has been spectacular here as I celebrate week #2 of my long vacation. Ive ramped up my long rides to 3.5 hrs and Q and I are feeling a little back sore tonight. But it was lovely, and these long rides get easier every time. I celebrated with a long session of grazing in the open field, getting a sunburn and eventually getting mugged by Q when I started eating my pumpkin seeds. I guess it sounded like grain? Im in the process of untethering myself professionally, as is my husband, which would allow us to work remotely several months of the year. It also means my work weeks will be even more flexible, affording me the opportunity for more travel, more life experiences, and more days where I can nap in the sun as I hear my horse munching on grass around my feet. Life is good.
Last day before our departure and I just had to spend it at the barn! 😃 Didnt have time for much but lost myself in Qs deep brown eyes while doing his stretches and then entered into the fairytale forest of the first winter snow with a horse that was feeling bright, forward and attentive to have just the most magnificent ride amidst the slowly falling snowflakes. Gave him his last brushing, last carrots, last kisses. Magical. Q will be busy while Im gone. He has 3 massages booked. and will be groomed/lunged twice a week, plus his daily turnout with his bestie Chester. The barn family will be sending me picture postcards throughout. When I travel for long periods, I leave a type of “power of attorney” with the barn owner so she may take all decisions on my behalf and I will cover all costs, including, if necessary, euthanasia. I do not want my horse to suffer a trauma while staff are trying to reach me, and there is no hope for repair. But I also don’t want them to hesitate to sen...
As is often the case in winter, when the sun shines the temperatures plummet. When I woke up on Friday morning to the radio announcer warning of -30 degrees celsius, I knew it was going to be rough but bright. These are the days when old people are warned to stay inside, and children/teenagers are reminded to wear winter coats (and socks, and mittens, and hats ... all the things that make you look uncool). It was definitely frostbite weather. I had not had a proper ride in a while, but I did not want to dilly dally at the barn and risk losing my motivation for the trail. We had a few extra inches of snow, and the groomers had worked on the trails the evening before. It was promising to be amazing footing. I dressed in layers, with foot warmers in my boots, and tacked up quickly. We were on the trail in minutes, battling the cold wind blowing across the first field. Yikes! We booted down to the main trail with Q marching like his ass was on fire. I was a little nervous that he mig...
Its been a rough go these last few weeks between a significant increase in work, brutal cold snaps, icy trails and skating rink parking lots. Ive only ridden a handful of times on those rare occasions where the universe converged. This has made for a spicy pony and while it makes me more prudent on how I engage in speed when the brakes are fairly absent, it also makes me super appreciative that this spicy horse does keep his excitement under wraps most of the time. Clearly Q is fit and feeling good, and his daily turnout with bestie Chester is absolutely insufficient in expending energy. Especially since these two lazybouts just stand in a corner watching the world go by. We went out today after a little snow fell to cover our thick ice. Footing was good, and it was our first outing in over 10 days. The strategy is always the same: long steady trots for 5-10 mins until Q starts relaxing and blowing through his nose in loud bursts. During the first stretch we kept on trotting throu...
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