Hello Winter

Our first snow was a bit late this year- normally it would have snowed earlier this month or even last month. Nevertheless I went out and rode yesterday (yay for indoors) though I had to dodge little drifts of snow and a lot of water falling off the roof. Thought Trudi might be frisky, but she was totally obedient and not particularly energetic. The frequent loud *PLOP* of the snow falling off the roof outside did unnerve her a little, but for the most part she paid very good attention. Theme for the month is canter, and she is doing well. Still need more balance and we could collect more, but it's coming. It feels easier for her and for me too. There are times I sit up, sit straight, and she goes straight and really gets under herself. Sometimes I half halt with just my seat and she says "Ok, half halt- there ya go." I love this horse. I think she has such potential. When she's with me she's a great partner. As we were cantering there was a really loud thump from a big pile of snow falling off, and she wanted to do a big spook- but she was really tuned into me and I was really plugged into her back, so she just faltered for an instant and came right back to me- just barely missed a beat. Of course, when we finished and she was walking on a loose rein, another clump fell down and she jumped about 8 feet to the side- which actually made me laugh pretty hard- what horse gives a bigger spook at the walk than at the canter???
I wormed her when we got done, and took her back outside for dinner. I wasn't going to put her blanket on, but changed my mind and got it from the car. PRO TIP: PUT THE BLANKET ON IN THE BARN, not in the middle of a very muddy paddock on a very windy day. The wind grabbed hold of the blanket and to the casual observer I was some idiot parasailing across the pen. In reality I was some idiot attempting to blanket my horse. Interestingly, a horse will put up with almost anything so long as dinner is uninterrupted. Standing next to Trudi with 6 feet of blanket flapping above, behind, and around her, she barely flicked an ear as I struggled to put it on. God laughed at me and began sending snow flurries as my numb (bare, of course) hands fumbled with the straps. I finally got the blanket on and went home. Of course it's warm today so I'll have to go take it off on the way home. :)