I'm glad the holidays are over...too much working to cover for folks on vacation, and too much time away from the barn due to work and having to go visit the in-laws! Things have been up and down at the barn recently...good jumping (had a blast at a recent little jumper show with Surfie), mediocre flatwork, lots of time stuck in the indoor since it's been raining/sleeting/freezing. Some days I feel like I'm getting nowhere with the flatwork...and it's frustrating because I know these 2 horses know how to do their jobs, which pretty much points the finger at me. I know I'm tired of being inside...and the boys are too. Surf has been a spooky handfull of late...jumping at shadows, water spots, barn cats, anything he can find in the indoor to spook at. Huey just gets cranky...so we're trying to keep the workouts short. I've resolved to get outside whenever I can...hard because I don't get to the barn until around 6:30 durring the week with this rotation. On the weekends, unless it's pouring, we go out. We've done a lot of walking on frozen ground...but at least we've got hills to walk on. To break up the monotony when we're stuck inside, I've been replacing dressage work with conditioning work. Interval work in the arena is dull dull dull...but at least it's a different kind of dull :) Both horses have been doing lots and lots of trot sets...and Surfie has been doing some canter/gallop sets in the ring, which get a wee bit hairy at times. At least the horses are fit...which is a good thing...
Fitness is a good thing because we're gearing up to head south...as I look at the calendar, my first recognized HT of 2009 is less than a month away! Yikes! We'll be in Aiken Feb 1-8, with Huey running Novice at Full Gallop and Surfie running training at Sporting Days, along with trying to squeeze in some good training and devote a whole week to riding! I'm also excited that it looks like some FenRidge friends will be coming down too, so I'm looking forward to my "working vacation" with horsey folks from NC and MD.
Perhaps even more exciting is that I'm hoping to be in NC for the Southern Pines HT the weekend of 3/14-15...hopefully with 2 horses. The bad news is that I'm probably going to be on my own (not that I don't usually go to HTs on my own...but this is new, taking 2 horses and competing them both at the same show!). Does anyone want to come hang out in Southern Pines with me for the weekend and help me groom? I'll do all the icky stuff like mucking and braiding - but it's always great to have company (and an extra set of hands to hold the pony while you run to the port-a-potty!). I'll be a busy bee with 2 dressage and 2 stadium rounds saturday...2 xc courses to walk...and 2 xc runs sunday :P
so who wants to hang out in southern pines?!?!?
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5 comments:
Sounds like you are going to have your hands full! I wish I was closer, I would come and give you a hand.
I'm jealous! I both can't wait for our first HT, and am kind of dreading it, since I'm not sure when/if we'll be ready.
I might be up for hanging out in Southern Pines, though it depends on the weather. ;) And, as a slight added complication, I wouldn't want to leave my dog languishing in Durham for the weekend, so he'd need to be able to come along. Anyway, feel free to e-mail me about it.
Ooh..exciting! Although, on the road with two horses might be nerve-wracking.
I may be able to help you out one weekend...keep me updated on your plans and I'll see if I can make it there for at least Sat/Sun to help out. My braiding skills are way rusty, though, so you're on your own with that!
I rode outside today for my lesson and was so glad not to be in the indoor. It was too windy/cold for a trail ride, but at least we rode in the sunshine!
Good job working even though the weather is trying to stop you! I think everyone is so ready for spring to come, or at least some warmer weather.
Good luck at Southern Pines (what a workout!!), and that's an exciting countdown to the first recognized show of the season!
I'm with you on being glad the holidays are over. I am also fed up with the weather, too. I know how boring being stuck in the indoor must be, but be glad you have it! I am having a hard time getting to ride at all right now, because I usually ride in the pasture (no ring where I board), and it is just too wet and slick to do anything. So I have to trailer out somewhere to ride, and that just isn't feasible all the time.
Your upcoming schedule sounds exciting! I might be interested in coming to Southern Pines to help out.
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