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Wow! The last month was a doozy. Excessive work, sleeping only with the help of medication, the hamster constantly churning … Im not quite sure how I didnt get sick through it all. Today was my first day off in weeks and I was committed to spending time with my lovely Q.  I pulled up, and while he was slow to recognize my engine sounds, he perked up fast enough and strolled to the fence line with his usual “where have you been?” face. He did quick work of shoving his buddies aside from the gate so he could get out and eat his first of many treats of the day: a fresh banana! Yumm! We then went to the indoor arena for perhaps a roll and a run/buck session. He was feeling a little shy to roll in my presence and he probably sensed my intentions of work and pace. So we attempted to run around the arena that is still (!) half flooded and muddy. Boy the arena riding boarders must be pissed (been going on for a month now). Q seemed a little lazy so we tacked up and headed to the outdoor ri...

Temperatures are soaring this week with consecutive days of 23/25/26c. But the ice just won’t melt! Even on the sunny side of the trail. Trails are covered in all kinds of snow and ice, some slushy, some slick, some rotting with big puddles underneath. It can be a bit disconcerting when you fall through an ice crust into a puddle. Some horses do major spooks when this happens. My guy, nothing. In fact this Florida born boy has always been a bit nervous on slick ice, scrambling to safety at the slightest slide. But this year his maturity and zen attitude has taken new levels. On todays trail, we landed on a hill with what turned to be slick ice and we literally slid down three feet like a toboggan. As soon as his feet hit the crumbly ice, Q proceeded to walk like nothing happened. A wow moment. With the amount of snow we have, we are about 2 weeks behind in trail conditions. But this week, with more rain and warm temps, should be the beginning of the end.  The sound on this video il...

What a lovely week! Blue skies, sunshine, and very warm days with temperatures hitting 23C. The trails are still covered in snow and some ice, which gives off the refrigerator vibe, but the sun is beating hard and making me wish for shorts and a t-shirt. We had our longest ride in weeks, heading out under the power lines, and then back through a forest. The snow was deep enough for a good stretch that the horses got a good workout even if we only walked. Q was breathing hard, and his buddy was in a full sweat. Winter coats (and shedding) are still here, so they havent quite adapted to the warmer climate. We even saw some butterflies today!  Another week of this hot bonanza, and we should have our WTC tracks back in action. minus a muddy patch or two.

These last few weeks were rough. Flu, ice storm, power outage, work … meant I had little time for barn visits or riding. I tried to ride last week but met a bolting demon instead. I chose safety first and walked home instead. I let Q run around in the indoor arena but that ended up as a big fail as he skirted the big lake at one end bucking and leaping, until he tripped and flipped over with his saddle on his back. A big gash was opened over his eye.  I tried to lunge in the limited space left, and I managed to get some of his energy out. I handwalked on the street and on some of the trails. And then today, miracle of miracles, I got my quiet trail horse back and we went out to enjoy some slushy fun in the forest. I probably have only ridden once or twice this last month, and its a joy to enjoy a warm sunny day while there is still some snow on the ground.

We have had some touch and go conditions on trail which have reduced us to a walk and sometimes trot. This does not pair up well to the warmer temperatures and spring sillies. Q kept it in check over the weekend until a young great dane growled and lunged at him on trail, tossing his owner to the ground. Nothing happened, but my usually steady eddie (when it comes to dogs) was unnerved. On Monday we had a true thawing, and I was able to get out on trail properly for the first time in weeks and we did a long stretch into the other sector, crossing babbling brooks and all. Q was hot, but we very safely did some nice WTC stretches on some delightful footing. When we walked, Q gave me those vibes that had me tossing my feet out of the stirrups and breathing in sync with him, relaxing my lower body and my shoulders. Ive never had a horse that gave me so much feedback on my own tension and encouraged me to relax and go with the flow. This horse gives me goosebumps. As I drove back home, I wa...

Sneaking in between endless days of meetings, I got a chance to go see Q and check out the trails. Given the rain, ice, and increasing presence of spring, the trails have been dubious at best and most boarders have stayed within the confines of the indoor arena. But this day was warm, bright sun, blue skies, and the parking lot ice was looking like crumbly crusty snow. So we dared to consider a little trail ride. Q was hot to trot and I was doubting my sanity a few times. But he kept it in check, and despite a few tricky icy spots we had a lovely 30 minute meander in the woods for the first time in two weeks and it made me happy happy. So Q is now 10 years old and doing just fine. 

Life lessons from my horse: Hold on señorita, Ill protect you! Its been a rough few weeks work wise. More work than I can handle, conflict and temper tantrums from graduate students, and an emergency bathroom renovation, along with preparations for the revival (after a 3 year pandemic hiatus) of the biggest St Patricks Day house party … well Im teetering somewhere between high anxiety and anger with a heavy dose of insomnia. Not good. Ive been trying to ride a few times a week but certainly not as often as usual, and my trips are short and abrupt. 45 mins, WTC, mostly solo. Grooming, thats for sissies. 😉 Yesterday, my horse was a tool. He tried to attack my friends horse as she passed me (albeit a bit too close), he tried to bolt when a cross country skier was crossing behind, he reared when the sleigh crossed our path with the double team, and he was just crabby and ears pinned whenever anything came nearby. Today before I left for the barn my husband warned me to stay safe, and lung...