what we're up to

I'm so glad you all enjoyed Amelia's post yesterday! Honestly I wasn't sure if she would even agree to write the post (THANK YOU AGAIN!!!), but it's such a compelling story! And exactly the kind of story that reminds me why we slog through this whole adult ammy thing, all the ups and downs, etc. Bc dammit, we love these horses and it feels like a fairy tale when things finally come together. Call me corny if you want!

There may have also been ulterior motives too... That whole discussion of the work we put into our horses, and the rewards we hope to reap (in this case, a happy sound horse returned to competition) is exactly the type of stuff I love to write about here. And exactly the content I have none of right now. Le sigh.

I'd be lying if I said that the current state of my riding affairs isn't disappointing. It is what it is tho and forward is the only answer.

chestnut on the left *mauled* me coming in for breakfast when the dark bay got too close. but after breakfast? they're back to being BFFs. fucking horses. 

I've been sticking to the lesson routine when possible. You already read about the last couple weeks of jump lessons at OF. There was another dressage lesson with C somewhere in there too that I never wrote about but that went just fine. Dan has been out of town or competing since the training ride he put on the mare, so no updates there.

finally conquered the goblins in this field

Mostly we're just schooling at home. And it's been fine. I've been avoiding the arenas bc of... well, footing problems. Luckily the barn has a solid game plan for fixing and redoing the whole shebang... it's just going to take a little time. So until then, we make do elsewhere.

Doubly luckily, Isabel has finally proved that she can school in our nice big upper field like a normal goddamn horse. Long time readers may recall that I've mentioned offhandedly that this field is haunted or something. We've basically never been able to accomplish anything other than a borderline-out-of-control hand gallop up there.

Now, tho? Isabel will actually put in an honest flat school. Good mare. Even if our "flat schools" mostly consist of our approximation of stretchy work at all three gaits in an attempt to build back strength lol. Not very flashy but hopefully maybe productive?

so green it practically looks tropical!

We usually only get about 10-15min in before throwing in the towel and hitting the trails instead anyway. Not because Isabel is bad - on the contrary, she's been very good. I just feel slightly aimless or directionless and don't really know where to go with it.

Trails are cool tho. They make me feel like we did something. And Isabel enjoys it. We like zipping along the fence lines and she especially likes stopping every five steps for another mouthful of grass (I dutifully reached up to undo the flash on our last ride as it was clearly impeding her progress.... maybe I should just ditch the schooling altogether and only ride in the snackamore?).

friends?

I shouldn't complain. The rides have been nice, and perfectly suit my slightly erratic schedule. We're averaging about every other day. Sometimes more, often less. In that sense it's nice not having any pressure from a competition schedule to make me freak out about not getting enough schooling and/or conditioning in...

or foes?

But it's still frustrating. What else can I say but that I love showing? I love working toward dates on the calendar, toward goals. Building and progress and fulfillment and all that.

As it is tho, one nice jump school is not enough to erase the memory of three shitastic and miserable shows in a row. Oh well.

more horse statues!

So we will keep plugging along as we are. Catching lessons when possible and otherwise just enjoying the rides. Who said boring was bad?