Mid-Winter Update: He Can TROT!!!!

Wow, I can't believe January is almost half over!  The big news around here as of late has been the weather.  One day it's 55 degrees and raining and 12 hours later it's 14 degrees and snowing with 30mph winds.  Then the cycle starts back over again it seems!  Neck rugs on, neck rugs off, blanket liners, no blanket liners, snow pants and a face mask one day and a windbreaker the next!  While I'm glad we've had a relatively mild winter, it's been a bit stressful trying to care for and ride the horses.  I feel like I check my weather app about 30 times a day to plan for changes in turnout and horse clothes and the like.  The freezing and thawing and rain have also wreaked havoc on the footing here.  I have been able to deal with my footing issues somewhat by putting studs in Snoop's shoes EVERYDAY and that also means cleaning and drying muddy legs to put Woof boots on EVERYDAY.  It's definitely allowed me to accomplish more  though so it's worth it.

The first event of the season is just a little over 2 weeks away and I'm very excited, albeit a little anxious, to see how the little man comes back this year.  He'll do one more training then move up to Prelim in March barring any disasters.  He's very happy right now and feels fantastic.  He's finally re-developing the big trot he once had on the racetrack!  All the hours we've spent jogging in straight lines in the field and going really forward have seriously improved his medium gaits.  I think he just forgot he could use himself like that and I wasn't helping any.  We've been south for a few jumping lessons and he's been great.  Well, almost great if you don't count the stop we had at a 2ft oxer last week that resulted in me almost falling off!  He just cantered up to it so quietly and then decided the flowers and extra poles laying down inside of it were ghastly, Snoopy eating trolls and I was totally unprepared for his reaction!  How embarrassing!  He had absolutely no issue with the 3'9" oxer in the middle of the arena or anything else for that matter.  Goofy pony!  He likes to make sure I'm paying attention.

Scott and Dougie are doing well.  They started work with trot poles and little x-rails this week.  He's a little apprehensive, but we'll just go slow until he gets it all figured out.  They are a great match!  They will be making the trip to Aiken to help keep Snoopy calm and happy on the trailer.  Talk about high maintenance!  We plan to get him over to Jumping Branch while we're there to introduce him to some little xc jumps.  Road Trip!!!

I did something the other day that I haven't done since I was 12yrs old and it was so much fun.  It started as a hack out on some unexplored territory and ended up as a gallop through the woods, up and down the hills fox hunter style!  Snoopy and I had a blast.  I've gotten so caught up in protecting my show horses that I forgot how much they can benefit from doing things like that once in while.  They're not made of porcelain and they don't need to be treated as such.  I also found out how handy and sure footed he is.  He didn't put a foot wrong.  It was great for his mind and it can only make him a better, tougher event horse.

Wish us luck in Aiken and go have some fun with your horse!