Better Weather

At least as far as I'm concerned. It snowed Thursday so Thanksgiving Day was the first time I'd left the house since I'd grocery shopped on Sunday. I took the Ford since I was bringing food along and the truck is already starting to acquire a horsey smell, especially once the interior temperature warms up. Anyway, the front wheel drive with all-weather tires worked like a champ. Friday I finally made it to the stable for my lesson. I arrived about two hours early with a couple of jugs of hot water so I could mix warm mash for the horses. It was a lot of fun but I'm going to take a big spoon and a ladle for next time. I was mixing with my hands and giving each horse a couple of handfuls. One of the two year olds was so excited that she tried to eat out of my hand as I was dumping her share in her stall and managed to get one of my fingers. Ouch! I also was reminded that I should wear gloves when touching frozen metal objects outside with mash dampened fingers. I almost reenacted the scene from A Christmas Story when the kid touches his tongue to a frozen metal pole. My husband has ordered me a 30+ cup coffee maker that I will take to the barn to heat water in. Oh, guess I should mention that the stable doesn't have hot water or inside plumbing. Nothing like a port-a-potty in the freezing dark. Man, I must really love horses.
Moving "my" big mare from her barn on a downhill slope to the riding arena was an exciting trip since she slipped a couple of times on the ice. I read somewhere that you're supposed to lead from the horse's right side but next time I'm going to stay on her left since it's uphill from where she's walking. I don't want to be under her if she goes down.
The weather is supposed to get colder, below zero at night, so hopefully the driving conditions will stay good. I'm off to shovel a couple of inches of snow that fell last night.

Psalm 118:1 NIV

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

I wish everyone a wonderful and peaceful Thanksgiving. May you find joy in remembrance of your blessings.

Maxine's Public Service Announcement

Rain

Rain on ice. Treacherous road conditions. I bailed on my riding lesson yesterday and have already called and canceled tomorrow's. I feel somewhat guilty thinking about my instructor having to move all those horses around in this lousy weather. I'm hoping she has help. I keep telling myself she'd been doing this for years before I even knew the stable existed so is not going to be mad at me for a no-show. The weather forecast says is should start to get colder next week. Hard to believe I'm looking forward to that. Some snow to give traction wouldn't hurt either.

Cowboy Dressage

Here is the link to Wolf Creek Ranch: http://www.cowboydressage.com/

They performed at this year's World Equestrian Games and have a clip on their site: http://www.cowboydressage.com/weg.html

There are other video clip links that you can access from their site.

Lastly, I love their motto: When Dressage suits your needs but a Stetson suits your lifestyle

I imagine my instructor would not be adverse to me doing this if I'd foot the bill for my own horse and equipment. Somehow I doubt that I'm getting a pony for Christmas.

I'm happy to report that I've regained my riding skills and have even improved a little since my vacation. I'm actually feeling pretty secure in the saddle and don't feel like I might fall off. This is enabling me to refine my seat and work on using my legs more and knees, heels, reins less. "My" horse is really fuzzy with her winter coat and is actually sweating more than she did during the warmer months. I've had to blow dry her twice so far. My husband is incredulous that I'm doing this.

Nuzzling Muzzles mentioned a clinician I had never heard of the other day in her blog - GaWaNi Pony Boy - so I checked out his web page. He has books, etc., available and I was especially intrigued by two titles - Of Women and Horses and Women and Horses: More Expressions of the Magical Bond.

I find this an intriguing theory. I'm not sure that either of these books will explain it but the stories told should be very entertaining.

Back in the Saddle

...and feeling every ache and pain. I can't believe how out of shape I've become in just two weeks. I rode without stirrups on Monday and didn't hurt too badly but the majority of the lesson was at a walk. I only trotted in short spurts. Wednesday I used the stirrups and trotted a lot. Yesterday I could hardly walk. These were things I was doing before with minimal discomfort. I feel better today and ready to go do it again this afternoon. Now, if my cold would only subside so I could breathe through my nose. Mouth breathing around horses isn't recommended.

My boxes of California shopping extravaganza arrived yesterday and everything seems to be in one piece. I got some of my Christmas gifts purchased so have a little head start on that.

We're going to take the truck out today and see what it would cost to have a hard cover put on it. Apparently there is one made that folds up for easy access to the bed when needed. My husband doesn't want to have to keep shoveling snow out of the bed and a fabric tarp wouldn't hold up under the weight of a heavy snowfall.

Does anyone know if when a horse kind of lips at you, not using teeth, as you're working around it means it likes you or not? I can't tell if it's a friendly gesture or a warning of things to come. Paranoid much?

Headed to Alaska

Returning home today. Will be a shock from a record high of 100 degrees in San Diego on Thursday to freezing temps. Good bye sunshine. It was fun while it lasted.