Wow, I thought it got cold here!
I do understand what you mean about “fruitbat February.” I’m feeling generally down, too. For me, it’s the doldrums of trying to do horse stuff in unpredictable wintry weather. The distraction of the holidays is over and warm weather has become a distant memory.
Hang in there and keep looking forward to spring and summer riding. 
Fruitbat February is a good name and reading it just now has been comforting because I’ve thought it was just me (I feel like a snotsicle, sigh).
I love furry horses with hairy fetlocks and I wish I could sit in a corner of your indoor and watch you and Braam and also meet the Arabian (even without furry fetlocks).
I agree with Fruitbat February; none of us are alone in that one. It’s most than half gone, just tie a knot and hang on!
Try vitamin D3 supplement, it helps in winter in the colder, darker regions.
New
My name is KBC and I am a Horseaholic!
It’s been a while since my last confession, as I I have been still riding the emotional rollercoaster, but currently on the climb up.
So what’s been happening? Well let’s see, doing ground work with mellow, and seeing how many issues I ignored, that I didn’t think were important, seems that they were! Now riding him as well, and finding the new skills I am gaining are helping me get the best out of him. It’s really weird riding a horse without that damn great neck in front of you. Had great fun borrowing the kids axe throwing game, this is my fun time.
A couple of weeks ago a friend mentioned, on. Friday night, that if I wanted to ride in a cowboy games day the next day, she would throw Jet on the trailer for me…$10 entry for as many events as you like, well OK, why not, off we go…so went and had a blast, in the FREEZING cold. Came stone last in everything, but was a winner for riding, and a double winner for getting Jet through the pool noodle bush push! He thought he couldn’t, turned out he could. No pics of that, but here is the slowest pole bender ever!
Then Braam, big beautiful Braam…still only riding in lessons but riding him better and better, and of course he is going better and better, it’s hard work but fun. This last weekend was a show and clinic, and he, of course was a star. We scored 68.75% for a winning dressage score, best score yet on him, which made me happy, but no where near our best ride, but what was good, was good.
Then the big WHOOPS, in our ease of handling, actually got top score, but got disqualified for reaching for the jug with my wrong hand, I knew immediately what I had done, and it’s frustrating, but doesn’t take away from the rest of the round.
We then won the speed round, which amazed me no end, we had some good short lines, did get some speed between obstacles, but still taking me for ever to complete the tasks…
Over all it was a total blast, had a lot of fun, by boy I’m hurting today, getting older isn’t for whimps.
Seems that this journey will always be a roller coaster…
Let’s see, have had some great lessons, getting some good moments, and beautiful moments of pure joy.
Have had some struggles, my back has been a bit off, and now find out my lameness is caused by mild arthritis and a large bone spur. Some mornings I am non weight bearing, and my cowboy boots seem to be the worst footwear for me, which is sad.
This was a good day,
This was the first day that I finally quit trying to sort out leads from front legs, and concentrated on feeling the hinds, and was bailing it most of the time.
On Thursday we were working on an exercise that started on a right lead, then had to pick up the left lead, through trot, at a fixed spot, and I failed, MISERABLY. The change was set up on a spot between the 1/4 line and centre line, and just short of H. Asking for the right lead, felt so competent and easy, feel the stride, ask and go for it, sitting tall, thinking the change more than asking.
Trying to get the left lead, look like a Thelwell cartoon, elbows and legs, and just losing it all. This is the time I am frustrated not to be leasing, because I don’t get a chance to practice this before next lesson. Riding Braam once a week, is just not enough, even if I get to catch ride Mellow sometimes!
How’s it going?
Going GREAT!
On the climb up the mountain of attainment had some really good rides. So often it takes a while for things to filter through my processor and get adopted. Getting far sharper at my transitions both up and down, have a vision in my head about what I should look like, and getting better at getting there. I am having fun riding Mellow again, now fixing the bad habits I allowed, and he feels so much different under me. The biggest difference is how I feel about me, I ride him better and he does better.
In other news I was gifted the entry fee for CNC, which made me cry, a lot. There was also a draw for the cattle handling stage, and I won a place, so AT LAST, get to play with cows, and there is just a teeny tiny part that would love to ride Mellow in that rather than Braam.
I’m seeing an RMT tomorrow to work on my left foot and calf, hoping that might help me get that heel to stretch a bit better, didn’t realize how tight I am there.
Today was a blast, practicing the 4 loop trot serpentine called for in the dressage, and feel a lot better about it now, something as simple as never looking at B, because it’s useless to you, The first loop you need a spot between M and B, then look across to E because that is your straight line. We has some good efforts.
Then ended up with picking up the Garrocha pole at the lope, loping a square and replacing it, it’s one of my favourite things, even though I missed dumping it on my first pass 
It says your video is private. Hmpf.
Should be OK now.
Sigh…now?
Wow! You look great! So fun!
It’s really interesting playing in super slow motion, helped me tremendously see where things go wrong, and how often I revert to my old default settings.
Onwards and upwards!
At a show and clinic this weekend. My clinic ride might be the best I have ridden him, not sure if that’s the grueling lessons, or being like 99% pain free this weekend!
Excellent news all around! Looking forward to pictures.
There is so much to report from this weekend, but until I can process and get it all down, I am going to share one picture from the show photographer, shared with her permission with watermark. This one picture makes me want to cry a little, because it captures so much of how it feels, like I am flying!
What a weekend!
Dressage, was again our worst element, 57.14, placed 6th, got dinged harshly for Geometry, which is unusual for me, but hey ho, if is what it is, do better next time. One of my favourite pics of the day, warming up for dressage.
The EOH, was a mixed bag, did a lot well, but I missed depositing the pole, and had to circle, AND got double dinged for use of voice, and hitting the side pass pole, I think those two were connected
The speed round we came second in, despite my coach asking me why I went so slow. I was slow, because I was accurate, took short lines, no penalties collected, and caught the bull ring. Sometimes smart, outweighs fast.
Biggest win of the day, HUGE GREAT LIGHTBULB moment. I eventually, don’t laugh I’m a slow study! Found out how to get an instant lope on the right lead with Braam. It was while I was warming up for speed, so had him fired up a little, then just, very simply ask, the right way with your outside leg. It was a glorious moment, and coach, Braam and I are delighted.
Rode him yesterday, playing on the course, and it was great, new chapter ahead.
I absolutely love these updates! We ‘ladies of a certain age’ who continue to grow, learn and test our skills need to share the good, bad and ugly with others who get it. You two look fabulous together-- that canter photo? the first one? Gorgeous!!
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