Still Hibernating

The past two days were so lovely and caused me to have a false sense of energy, so I kept myself very busy both at the barn and at home. When the cold air started blowing in today, my body got very angry and went back to hibernation mode. Now that I've sat down for the night, I am crashing majorly! So. Tired. Can't. Go. On.

My brain isn't functioning right either...I'm really laboring here to just remember what I did yesterday and today.

Let's see...

Yesterday, Karolyn, TJ and I went to pick up a new pony, Bubbles. He loaded right on the trailer and unloaded without batting an eye. I quite like his personality. Laid-back and business like. Being an Amish pony, we know he's seen just about everything that might spook a pony, so he's settled and hasn't even really acknowledged that he's in a new place. Good pony!

Bubbles is a chestnut and white paint pony, about Chessie's height and in his early teens.

I rode Doc yesterday...I need to spend more time with the horse. He was actually a little more perky yesterday than usual. I think he's probably feeling really good about life now that Eagle isn't there to beat him up. He definitely seems a lot happier in his field now and seems to be bossing Jupiter around a bit, so I wonder if his newfound seniority will reflect in his riding (I hope not!)

He actually managed to give me some goo energetic trot work and got off my hand a bit but his canter was too rigid and chargy...we just kept working on getting his attention on me and staying flexible....which means tons of figures and transitions!

Afterward I had a couple of very productive lessons with Laurel on Lady and Jillian on Cooper (and a less productive lesson with little Jillian, who was full of giggles and sillies). Both girls managed to get some really lovely trot and canter work out of their horses...we really worked on getting them forward and working into contact and off the outside aids and both girls made some large steps toward gaining a better understanding for dressage work. Im getting excited now that some of my students are getting to the point where they can start working on more detailed ridden work...I already got a glimpse of what they are capable of!

Moose had off yesterday but Corey came up to give her a lovely pedicure. Farrier boyfriends have their uses :)

Today I rode Bubbles. He was very well behaved, not spooky in the least. He's a little tense and starts out a little too quick but he seems a little defensive about his mouth (I'm guessing he's use to having a strong, uneducated hold on the reins) but he quickly settled in when he figured out I wasn't going to get in his face and gave me a lovely ride. I had him in a plain snaffle today but I'm going to try a loose ring rubber snaffle tomorrow with hopes that he will be more comfortable and feel less defensive. He has a great trot and canter but has trouble with his left lead so he needs a little help. I doubt he has had much ringwork in his life so I'm not surprised that he only knows the one lead. I tried him over a small crossrail too and he was very good and willing. I still need to see if he lunges. Once he has had a little time to learn the routine he should be lesson ready.

It has to be hard to be a pony and move homes. You don't know where you are going, your routine changes, you leave your friends, and you have no idea if the people you are with are nice and trustworthy and what they expect of you. So everyone be extra nice to Bubbles and welcome him to the family so he can realize that he's in a good place! And don't make fun of his ears!

I rode Splash today too to evaluate him for lessons. He is definitely safe and trustworthy so we will probably phase him into lessons, too...only problem is his trot, it is far too bouncy for the littler kids!

Last I lunged Greyson to continue prepping for lunge lessons. He was very very good, but his poor canter is still just a hot mess! But geez he's just such a sweetheart. Hopefully he can at least help with walk trot lessons soon. I will be very sad if his canter can never develop well enough to work for the program...time will tell, I'm hoping he just needs the muscle to hold himself up so he can stretch out a bit.

I saw Megan S. tonight for her first lesson in over a month...she looked like she didn't miss a day! And miss Piper is already cantering around Kelly on her own like a pro annnnnnd...drumroll please...jumped a crossrail!!! Woohoo!!!

Our little herd of ponies never came in today, they will be arriving tomorrow in the very early hours of the morning. I can't wait to meet them tomorrow!

I need to stop writing before I fall asleep...goodnight!