Happy New Year

Today is already January 5th. I gave Cleo a week off from being ridden since she seemed a little gimpy after her Christmas Day 'rodeo exhibition.' I rode her on New Years Day and she trotted fine except for extra exuberance. Then yesterday I had my first lesson in a couple of weeks. We had a great time. Paula had set up a course of ground poles and cones that acted as gates, and Cleo and I walked and trotted in and out of gates, over and around poles, and back and forth in patterns and circles. We were both exhausted and proud of ourselves afterward. We were lucky to have our lesson in between torrential rains and hurricane level winds. Cleo even had an opportunity to go out for a couple of hours afterward and roll in the mud and sand. The rain and wind promise to hang around for the next week, which is miserable for two and four legged creatures, but I am told snow and ice are even worse. I don't plan to find out. The challenge is to keep stalls and paddocks clean and dry with no help from nature. Today I plan to ride for a spell and then let her stand in the rain, if need be, while I clean her stall and get it ready for another night of cold and rain. Last night we even had thunder and lightening. Horses benefit from breathing fresh air even if it means getting wet and dirty, otherwise their lungs get clogged with bedding and hay dust. I always dread this time of year since I have had horses. It's not that riding is less fun--although sometimes I feel like a kid in a snowsuit after I get bundled up--it's that most of my effort and decision-making surrounds what I call land management. Who goes where and for how long.... I have to tell myself, "It could be worse."