Work, Drive, Ride, Repeat

Well.... so much for posting more during the month of November. I haven't been very good about it have I? 

November isn't particularly going to plan, although I kind of knew this was going to happen. The first week of the month, I had to prep for the No Laminitis conference, so I was mostly just running around trying to cram all my clients in before I had to leave - nobody got worked that week. Then the second week of the month, my friend K came in for the week. and when I wasn't busy working my tail off we were out doing tourist-type fun stuff like museums and water gardens. This was of course awesome and super fun, and a welcome change from the horses, but it didn't give me much time with the critters either. We did hook O up to the Dartmoor, as you saw, and took it for a preliminary spin. As my plan for O this month was just to give her one workout a week to keep her fit, this worked in well for that, although Dylan didn't get worked.

Last week, B2 and I hacked Dylan and O out during the weekend. It was an awesome and gorgeous fall day, and we had tons of fun like we usually do. Both critters were on their (mostly) best behavior, and we even got a few cheesy pictures of ourselves. 

Things you should not do while riding a stallion next to a slutty mare: texting

I was also able to take Dylan out to WD twice last week, which was very nice. I arrived very early in the morning both days and had the place completely to myself. I need to remember that I should definitely always try to go very early - I don't have a lot of energy left at the end of the day for trailering out, so morning works best for me. 

I'm still fighting the pain in my left leg - and you can see the ankle still doesn't bend - but it is getting better. I am able to sit the trot now for short periods of time without feeling like I am going to die, and on Wednesday I made it through a *whole hour* of riding. The stronger I get, the more I am able to really control my body in the way that it needs to be controlled. I remember where to sit, how to sit, what I need to do.... but actually doing it can still be a little hard. The fitter and stronger I get, the better I sit and the better Dylan goes. I'm still holding off a little longer on lessons because I want to actually be able to make it through an entire lesson without a) dying of exhaustion and b) looking like a complete and total pile of jello, but we are moving closer to that. 

The babies have been worked too, and trimmed. Both of them have been led down the road this week, and Pax also loaded in the trailer again. Uma surprised me by being very interested in going down the road - she practically dragged me during her walk. I've realized that while she knows and likes me, she is extremely wary and unsure of people she doesn't know. She was a little frightened of K, and was REALLY frightened of the lady who was taking a walk down the road at the same time as we were. She just about jumped into the ditch, and then hid behind me until the scary danger had passed. 

Pax, on the other hand, does not appear to be scared of anything. If something concerns her, she gets over it in about two seconds. 

Not scary

Manly stallion is not scary

Standing tied forever is not scary

 She is now 7 months old as of yesterday. I definitely need to re-measure her.... she is definitely over 13 hands now. 

Ugh these catchup posts are the worst..... I feel like I missed half the things I meant to write about, and none of it made any sense. I still have to write about O's latest show, more riding, more driving, more everything! As I understand it, the next few days are supposed to be total crap weather, so maybe I can actually do what I said I would do and write out thoughtful, interesting blogposts instead of just these word-barfs of non-important information.