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I should have lunged first. But the arena was busy and I decided to take my chances on the trail. Some recent snow made the footing better so we trotted out for a nice solo ride. I was feeling pretty chill on the first afternoon of my holiday break and enjoying the warm weather that had the snow on the treetops melting into raindrops. It was nice. I head down the ravine and take a picture of the lovely scene before we head up the hill. In that blind turn ahead a walker appears. A nice older gentleman I have seen before. We share smiles and pleasantries and cross paths. Ten feet later as I start heading up the steep hill on the left at the apex of the blind turn, a loose dog pops out. I didn’t see much as everything else happened in a flash. It seemed like a medium size tan dog. Q did a 180 and galloped down the ravine, across the bridge and up the ravine. I lost my stirrup in the process and was pulling on reins and screaming whoa. Somewhere by the bridge I realized he wasnt going to s...

Alaina from Alberta Equest started this thread and I merrily follow in her footsteps, minus the creation of a baby human. Some great questions to ponder over this most unusual year. What's the best thing that happened to you in 2020? Personal: After years of being in the precarious position of a contract sessional at the university, I finally secured a two year term as a Faculty Lecturer. I will never have the tenure or permanency of a professor (no PhD) but this is a great outcome for me as I balance between teaching and consulting. Horsey: The summer of canter made a big improvement in my trail confidence and helped Q learn to relax into a beautiful cantalope on the buckle. What's the worst thing that happened to you in 2020? Personal: Had to cancel some pretty cool travel plans, but in the big scheme of things this seems pretty benign. March was supposed to have me spending time in Tajikistan and Istanbul, and then there was a plan to return to Europe in the late spring. At ...

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 ...

Celsius that is. Cold! Without snow, our trail network is rock hard which has kept most riders indoors. But Ive gone out with my trusted steed for nice short walks in the woods twice. Its been nice to see Q pay attention to footing and be cautious. While the trails are not physically tiring, they are mentally as we have to be careful of frozen puddles hiding under the 2-3 cm of snow. Yesterday we had a beautiful sun shining through the trees. Unfortunately when the sun shines brightly in the winter it is often also the coldest days of the year. Its usually better when its cloudy outside. And sure enough the wind picked up, and we were in the midst of an arctic freeze. I was well dressed with long underwear, polar winter breeches, merino wool socks, mountain horse winter boots, and lined leather gloves. But the lack of cardio activity means that trails needed to be cut to 30 minutes before frost bite sets in. We are hopeful for snow sometime soon! It is not technically winter yet. 

Freezing rain that is. A projected 12 hours of freezing rain to begin soon, and then an arctic cold to freeze it in place. 🥶 For several days. So I am now sheltering in place. That is a common term for 2020! I did manage to get out for a nice solo ride yesterday after a busy day of working. I was feeling the “carpe diem” spirit and did not want to miss my chance for one last hoorah before the freeze settles in. The footing wasn’t perfect but good enough for trotting and a little cantering. We need snow. Until then, here are some pics from our last ride, including a decorated xmas tree we found along the way. And a little video that shows what it feels like to be directed by your horse. My camera literally follows his gaze. Unintentionally I might add.

For how long, nobody is sure. But 3 cm of snow was all that was needed to create a cushion on the dry trails and make them sound for trotting and cantering. Poor Q was excited, and seeing two buck dance through the trees really got his adrenaline pumping. But we did finally manage to settle and had some nice trotting and a little lope. The light in the dense forest changed dramatically while it snowed but unfortunately my phone camera does not do it justice. So I just enjoyed my ride of falling snow, tingling eyes and runny nose. Ive always thought that Q and I are in constant conversation when we are on solo trails, but this GIF I captured for purpose of seeing the falling snow really highlights how chatty he really is. This is usually our take-off spot on a good canter track, but instead I have him waiting patiently for me to get a good shot. He must be saying : " can we go already?" Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the barn dog murdered my tiger tongue sponge and a mouse. Her...

Sometimes my horse walks like a drunken sailor. He gets distracted by something and twists his neck around to get a better look. As he walks down the trail his body twists towards the source of his curiosity and he does a funny shoulder-in until he falls off the trail. I have found it helpful to hold him accountable for holding the line as soon as I sit in the saddle and take him to the trailhead. Or is it him taking me to the trailhead.  Holding the line is a bit more complicated when you are on the buckle, as it requires more subtle management with seat and leg cues. Of course, I could just shorten up the reins and manage every footfall. But that's not how I roll. My horse is also something of a leaky faucet. He is so good, but he does like to see where he might take advantage of my benevolence. And it is clear what he is doing when I remove all constraints. The same goes for ground tying ... where a flake of hay will just be TOO tempting.  Anyways since we are stuck on froz...

It is the yo-yo weather of December but I was determined to get to the barn, ride alone, and canter to my hearts content. Lately Ive noticed that my solo rides are better and my connection with Q stronger. Riding with others does make me go more often, longer. faster, further ... but I sacrifice the connection and end up riding with much stronger rein contact especially at the canter. So, I was on a solo mission. I almost slipped as a few boarders asked me to tag along on their ride. But I explained I had made a promise to my husband that I was riding alone today or else it was a fail. I am one of the few members in our 1000+ member club that knows every single trail in our 200 kilometre network. I also know the footing, seasonal conditions and tripping hazards of most every trail. I know where the canter tracks are, where we can trot, and where the road crossings and water spots are. And I know which trails will avoid mosquitos, deerflies, and which ones will be filled with blackberri...

Every time I think Ive “got this”, Im proven wrong. In my defense, Q was so full of himself that he tried to balk and tell me that the trails were not safe today by shying at the trail entrance. I saw him coming, so I growled, leg on, and got ready for the 180 degree spin. That was the first time he did that, but my previous horse Jazz taught me everything I know about this stupid trick and it is SO much easier to nip these in the bud early on. Once in the woods he calmed down, but he was very very forward. Alone I had control, but once we met with B and started cantering all hope for control was gone. There was no cantaloping happening today. Even at a trot he was bouncy bouncy bouncy. Again, to his defense, his buddy Shadow was also high as a kite shying and spooking at every little twig on the ground which is not so amusing at a canter. So today we lunge, and then we ride solo on the trails and we trot and canter as much as we can. Footing should be good, and the weather is going to...

November was rough. I will close that chapter and look to December for the romantic wonder that is the arrival of winter. I will embrace patience and kindness.  Rain was in the forecast, but I was going to meet B in the woods for a trail ride. I was still working this morning and left late, but I was able to make good time on the road. The fog was quickly setting in thick and driving was getting dangerous as I got deeper into the countryside. There is always more fog in November and I was grateful to no longer be doing this drive at night time. B will ride in all kinds of weather. But NOT rain. Especially cold winter rain. But I figured we would be back before the rain began. I was wrong. As I approached the barn, the fog was still very thick and I was excited to ride in the fog and maybe take some cool pictures. But none of my pictures did the fog any justice. I went straight to Qs paddock with a bag of carrots, but herd dynamics have changed recently and the beta bully was blocki...