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.
A proper vacation for me means good sleeps, multiple novels, fresh produce and maybe an occasional adventure. So this summer its sailing from London to Amsterdam to the fjords of Norway and then around Iceland. But the weather turned sour this week and so we got quite the jostling in the North Seas with twenty foot swells tossing us around for 30+ hours. Temperatures are now in the low teens (Celsius), cloudy and ready to rain at any minute. But Ive been getting lots of sleeps, lots of reading time, lots of sauna/steam room time, and my skin is softer than ever. 🤷♀️
Holy camoly did I have a good ride today! We are thick in the middle of our second scorching heat wave (and ensuing forest fires) of spring, as summer just started yesterday. It is an unusual weather pattern. So I planned for an early start to get on the trails for a quick ride before the sun started beating at 10. I was back at the barn with a sweaty horse in tow by 945. I had planned for a short loop of mostly walk and trot with a bit of canter. I wanted to check in with my buddy Q as our last trail ride ended in a “discussion” about key principles when heading home, and our ride after that was a tough cantering session that left Q with sweaty eyeballs. So it was time for another trail diagnostic. He was brilliant. An angel. The deer flies were out in abundance so by the second mile I launched us into lovely jog that Q proceeded to maintain in rhythm without prodding, holding or any aiding as he was on the buckle for two miles. It was so smooth and relaxed that I was able to ...
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...
This was my first Secret Santa experience having experienced it vicariously through Teresa at Journey with a Dancing Horse last year . So when I saw the announcement floating through the blogland last month I jumped on the opportunity. I was tickled pink to come home this week to a big box filled with very important things for our nordic winters. My secret santa was Alaina at Alberta Equest and she knows a thing or two about winter. A beautiful hand-made and closed loop (this is so important for us nordic riders!) scarf in Qs color of blue (and it matches his saddle pad), a bag of yummy horsetreats made by the Gheeky Chesnut, and a cozy keyhole quartersheet for those days when the mercury drops to -20 degrees (this happened twice this week). Q does love his treats but I wanted to get a video of his first reaction. This is one happy customer! Thank you Alaina for organizing the secret santa, and being my special santa this year! I really enjoyed the giving and receiving and ...
A new year. Paradise gone, now its curfew, confinement and constraints in the land of cold and dark. Death notices of friends are rolling in. Not covid related, but massive heart attacks way too young. Another reminder to embrace every moment. Carpe Diem. The trip home was eventful with flight cancellations and a sense of feeling stranded in a sea of panic. But it all turned out ok, with my husband the ever flexible planner in emergencies. He found us a red eye flight on an empty plane which allowed me to stretch out across three seats and literally take a nap on the way home. Today I made it to the barn, with a blanket of fresh snow. When my Q got over his surprise at seeing me after 5 weeks, all he wanted was a proper ear scratch. The one place on his body he wont let anyone else touch. He was groomed and lunged while I was gone, but was happy to get some love. I dont usually ride my first day out after a long absence as Q usually needs some bonding and connection time to regain...
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