What You Need

 Sorry about the radio silence for the past few weeks. I confess to being completely unmotivated with the weather and winter dreariness. I have been reading blogs but I just couldn't bring myself to write a 'I'm not riding because of weather but that's okay' post.  

I have been squeezing a ride here and there but I was getting frustrated because there could be no consistency. I would ride, be excited and then the weather would escalate (yet again) and I'd be shut back down again. I'm not good with being in a holding pattern. Let's face it, no one is going to be at my funeral extolling my excessive patience. 

Impatient chicken is tired of this crap

When I do ride I've been finding that I'm doing pretty good at staying in the moment and not letting my brain ping around like a bingo game ball. I'm also trying to not working Carmen hard. It seems unfair if I can't be consistent. And I'm trying to get her to enjoy what we're doing, not dread it. The footing has been really soft- which is pretty typical with the frost coming out of the ground. 

Just recently the weather has been showing signs of improving. And with the clocks going forward the sun is setting much later.  Which meant that I can ride after work and not feel rushed. 

Yesterday, Julia joined me and we had a good ride. I'm finding that at the start of my rides Carmen will give a couple tests (tension, consider spooking etc) but I'm able to stay consistent on the outside rein and keep my legs on to get her up to the bit. Once we have that in the past we can carry on with the work. I felt in the zone and it was enjoyable. 

I may be baking too many loaves of bread. 
If that is even a thing

Today I felt tired after a full day of work but the sun was shining and I really wanted to ride. So I got Carmen ready and we headed to the ring. It was clear that Carmen was in a very mellow place and not at all keen to go forward. I'm hoping this year to be able to connect the concept of forward and relaxed for us.  

In addition to being slow she was also heavily on the forehand. To the point of tripping herself. One option would be to pick up a crop and get after her a little. However, I had actually forgotten my crop and I wasn't in the mood for an argument. So instead I settled on quietly working her through it, encouraging and rewarding her for the forward. I did get some okay trot work (look away Jane, pay no attention to this admission). I decided to come back to walk and just focus on flexibility and suppleness. So I collected and let out the walk. We played with shoulder in, turn on the haunches, travers, renvers, shoulder out. 

At the end she was a telescoping nicely and felt open and relaxed. And so was I. It turns out that I didn't need a workout, I just needed to have a quiet, 'yoga-like' session. 

I'm really hoping that this weather continues to be warmer so I can work more consistently. 

I need more of this view