Happiness is...

Happiness is seeing that smiling face when I walk in the barn. He always has that look of "hey, where have you been and where is my treat?" He has trained me well because there is always a piece of sugar, the bite of an apple or carrot or maybe a stray peppermint in my pocket that tops off my salutation. He is very content to take the small offering and go back to his second cut while I gather all the paraphernalia.

Happiness is NOT all the paraphernalia during the winter months. Blankets (2), boots (6), saddle pad, riser pad, saddle, girth, quarter sheet, bridle, whip, cooler... all of it must be dragged out and pressed into service after I have groomed my dirty boy. I work up a sweat just thinking about it. Yet at the same time, I would not trade one moment I spend with His Magnificence. His overt love for a good curry, his curious nature, the little nips he gives me then self-flagellates for inflicting... it is all good and makes me of good humor. So why complain?

Happiness is... watching four little girls on their ponies enjoying horsemanship as only a young mind can... with abandon. Happiness is NOT having to share the indoor with these joyful children who can run you down in a moment's notice. Can you tell not much schooling was done today? Blu felt a bit stiff and stuck to start so we had a nice canter in both directions, got him loose and called it a day. The beauty of having a schoolmaster is that you do not have to school hard everyday. I think he thanked those 4 ponies as we left the indoor.

He snows everyone...

Out to the barn on a beautiful winter's day. My car was telling me it was 39 degrees. I walked into the barn and one door was open and the thermometer read 41 degrees. Be that as it may, it felt like spring after the weather we have been having. I then trudged down to get Blu from his paddock. Snow was blocking the gate so I gave it a kick and down went the fence. OH NOOOOOO. Blu stood and waited while I picked my way over the snow bank and forced open the gate. He is such a good boy!!! After making our way through too tiny an opening again both of us carefully picking our way over the snow and through the gate, we made our way to the barn... both with our snow treads on... He got lots of hugs for being such a good and patient boy and not getting upset by the fence tumbling at his feet. When I got back to the barn I noticed one of his bell boots was missing and while my first instinct was to forget about it til spring, Frugal Fannie walked back down to the paddock and waded through snow over her knees to look for the missing protective gear. Did I find it? Heck no, what was I thinking... I think he will now go without them until the snow is either gone or packed down. He should be out in a new paddock today.

The next fun was replacing his chewed up leather halter with a brand new fleeced lined synthetic halter. It has a lovely leather breakaway and while for safety and to please my aesthetic I have alwys purchased leather, this will probably better withstand the rigor of halter tag. Check out the picture above... Handsome no?

As usual the ride was fabulous. Due to multiple storms, Blu had three days off. So he felt full of himself. His canter down the long side of the area became extended canters. waaaaaaahoooooo!!!! I let him get it out a couple of times and he was quite satisfied with himself. Our canter work after was just great. He becomes more balanced and up in front.

After our ride we headed back up to the barn and Blu was full of anticipation because his supper had been poured. We arrived at the barn and a young gap-toothed girl greeted him with a joyous "It is Blu!" He has more fans every day.

Cold hands/ warm heart

Brrrr..... so very cold at the barn yesterday. When I arrived at the barn the thermometer in my car read 12 degrees. The good news is that there was no wind on Sawyer Hill. A true and welcomed anomaly if there ever was one!

Blu was out in his paddock so I trudged out to get him carefully picking my way down the slick driveway with a pocket full of treats and a prayer that he would come to the gate without much coaxing. When he saw me he came trotting up through the deep snow... he just takes my breath away he is so beautiful. I hooked his frozen lead line to his halter and he respectfully and carefully followed me up the road.

Once in the barn, I stripped him of his turn out boots -- his bell boots were filled with snow and frozen solid. I had to remove my gloves to pick the Velcro fastener apart. I think he was very grateful to be rid of them. My fingers felt like Popsicles but my heart was warm and content being with my best buddy Blu!!! Just being in his presence settles my spirit and warms my soul. He loved the grooming and oh my word, shedding has begun. Let this please be a sign that spring is around the corner.

We had a good ride... comments from all in the ring how happy, soft and forward he looked... He was happy -- his lips were popping to the rhythm of the trot and his canter was very up and soft. We worked for about 35 - 40 minutes and called it a day... way too cold to get sweaty.

After his post work out grooming he went into his stall to his dinner. I think this is one of his favorite times of day... Plenty of hay, good food and yes a fresh bucket of warm water to wash it all down. It is a very good life!

Back in the saddle again!

Was that ever a long week! It felt so very good to see my friend Blu again. He was definitely not worse for the wear. He felt very up this past evening but best of all his back felt terrific as soon as I sat on him... swinging with every over stride. Thanks to my friend Mary who kept him moving and oh so very happy!

Maybe not the smartest idea but I scheduled a lesson for my first ride back and Linda did not let up. We had some of the best work despite the fact my seat could not seem to find and keep the center of the saddle. It was like I was swimming and Blu let me know it by popping out his shoulder or shifting his haunches way too much or best of all swapping his leads in the canter. It became all too apparent when we cantered down a long side to a 10 meter half circle to half-pass and counter canter... did I say counter canter? It would have been nice if I could hold him on my seat! I finally got it and then we went off to canter and quarter turns then canter walk. I finally sat back and let go and it was all up hill. He was magnificent and I was sadly lacking. Taking a week off just does not work for this aging dressage enthusiast. Thank God for my oh so patient boy!

I also rode without spurs last night and did not need them at all. He was quite forward and happy to work. Even a bit fresh... Spooking at the door because Hueler was feeding the horses... Don't tell me he wasn't trying to remind me that I chose dinner time for a ride.

Unfortunately, today we are expecting an ice storm so my ride will have to wait until Wednesday... We are definitely not doing ice despite the fancy Yak Trak's Mary gifted me with... me with my Yak Trak's and Blu with his winter borium.. nah, I still do not like our odds!

Ouch indeed!

So I really did a bit of damage with that little slip in the paddock. I tried to ignore it but my body let me know on no uncertain terms that I needed to step back and heal. So I was bed bound... yes bed bound for two days after not listening to my pathetically sore body. Working from my bed, I was in command of the world but not my body. LOL.

So riding is out for the rest of the week at least. My friend Mary will ride for me... thank you Mary... Linda will be out early next week and if I am able I will get back in the saddle but if not, she will tune him up. She rode him for me on Tuesday and she said he was super sound and soft. He really is coming a long way. The other thing she discovered was that her changes were all really good (not croup high) and she thinks it may have something to do with the fact that she did not wear spurs. Could Blu be telling us to shed the hardware? Should our aids be that much softer? I would not be surprised if this is the case. All we have to do is listen. He is talking...

So for now I am left to contemplate the next ride and a plan to get us into the ring this spring... All lovely thoughts to think!

Ouch

Who is more intelligent? I think Blu was top scholar this weekend. As I approached his turnout and reached for the metal gate, I slipped on the snow covered ice and was left dangling from the clanging gate. Of course Blu was standing on the other side and mortified by the racket I made but he did not walk away from me. His eyes just bugged out of his head! After I detached myself from the gate I went into the paddock, hooked on the lead shank and gave Blu his treat. I realized at that point I did something to my back and hip. Ouch! But did I stop and assess if I should be riding? Heck no... I kept moving and while I was stiff and sore our ride hit all the right notes. What a good boy. I did notice that Blu pinned his ears with the first canter... not sure what that was about. It could have been my stiffly applied aids or is something bothering his back and hip too? What a pair!!!

I got home and had a tough time getting out of the car... OH nooooo.... That was the easy part -- I could not climb the stairs without backing up them. What a scene. Today I feel better so I will get out there for a ride. We are pending a N'oreaster this week so want to make hay while the sun shines... Ok it will be dark by the time I get to the barn and COLD! It should be down in the 20s by 5pm and there is a wind chill today that puts it in the teens. BRRRRRR....

Happy New Year

It was like a spring day... warm, muddy and the horse who had "go".

Let's start with the mud. He was FILTHY. Blu ground earth into his ears, between his legs, and some how got it up under his blankets... He was very proud of himself as he jigged up the road to the barn. I am sure he was laughing as we sloshed through the puddles splashing cold wet water up my legs.

My ride as always was a very good one. His warm up was really good - plenty of energy, fairly soft in the bridle. The warm-up canter was especially good. It felt really up hill and forward.

When I picked him up for his second set he wanted to get heavy so we did alot of transitions and moving away from the leg. We did shoulder in at the trot to walk back to trot holding the position of the exercise. He really liked it... NOT but it got to the point and our final work was very good.

Working inside is becoming a chore... too many children on school horses they can not control. If I do not get out of work on time on Mondays I can forget riding. Can be very frustrating... The saving grace is he is so well cared for.