2009 is here, along with new year's resolutions and adjusting to life's unpredictable obstacles.
Melissa and I had planned to ride Dazzle and Bayberry all spring with the goal of the Spokane USDF shows in late spring and summer. Last week we were told that the arena those shows are held out was destroyed by the snow. The arena collapsed from the weight of the snow on the roof. SO, we are going to adjust our goals. We have agreed to ride my mother-in-law's two Appys and might take them to some shows. Dazzle and Bayberry will attend the Dressage shows nearby, all schooling-shows. We'll hit tricities and Boardman, rack up some Dressage show experience. Dazzle and I will be able to earn CEA points at some and Colorado Rangerbred points at all of them. It'll be cheaper than Spokane, so we'll be able to take more horses and/or attend more shows. It will be less pressure, but it's still disappointing.
I haven't posted in a while as we got over 2 ft of snow which brought all horse activities to a halt. It was so cold outside that feeding was miserable and I would feel sick from breathing the air just for the that length of time. I decided if I couldn't handle it, I wasn't going to ask my horse to WORK in it, so she got over a month off.
Last Saturday was the first playday since the snow, so we squished four horses into Monty's trailer (usually we take two in it), and trucked over to the fairgrounds. I lunged Dazzle, she didn't buck, but cantered a lot. Then I tacked her up and headed in. She was...an ANGEL. Never naughty, didn't run away with me, toss her head, buck, NOTHING. She LOVES the gaming. She tries to canter the poles (all on the same lead of course), and she has the relay race about down to where she doesn't need me. I could have put a 10 yr old on her and they'd have been safe. I am so happy with her. A month off and she's better than ever. AND she's turning 4 this spring, that's when they're supposed to go crazy! This time last year she WAS a bit crazy, and I usually had Melissa ride her. I'm hoping this means she will have an easy 4 yr old year. It would be fun to go bring home some ribbons again. I missed showing last year.
So, we are off to a good start in 2009. I'm SO tired of snow and mud and grateful we have not had flooding here. I'm looking forward to warmer weather and shows! Haven't schooled Dressage yet this year, but I'm excited about taking lessons again soon.
13 years ago
