weather and other inconveniences

Ended up not riding at all this week due to combinations of rain, work obligations, or faulty arena lights. 

'it's cool - i'd rather go feral anywayz' - isabel

This last one is super annoying - drove through extra special traffic Tuesday night only to see the arena lights switch off right when I got out of my car. This doesn't seem like it should be a problem, except the lights are on the fritz and don't come back on if they were already on for a while. 

It's a blameless mistake though - the rider who was finishing up had no way of knowing I'd just arrived, nor did I know who was riding to send a text... It's just... frustrating. 

missing the sunshine pretty badly

I tried to make the best of it though. Enjoyed some relaxing, un-rushed grooming time with Isabel wherein she got to do some carrot candy cane stretches and simple ground work. 

It's apparently much harder than you'd think for her to back up straight and with her head down. She wants to brace and throw her haunches left (maybe why we can never get a straight halt in the dressage arena?). So we practiced a little bit - but just calm, no-pressure stuff. She was a little resistant at first, but then realized it wasn't a test or punishment and started trying to do what I asked. Good girl. 

Also played around a little bit with a new saddle pad - but more on that later.

Anyways, fingers crossed that the lights were fixed yesterday as planned and I can get a ride in tonight!!

Meanwhile, Isabel gets a chiropractor appointment early tomorrow morning - so probably will get the day off afterwards. Then a silly closed-farm schooling show at OF on Sunday that is purely a fun chance to dress up in show clothes and maybe snag some satin :)

Maybe NEXT week I'll actually get back to my regularly scheduled riding??