New Year's Day dawned cold and dreary. I tried to hold on to the dream.... The New Year's Trail Ride tradition is hard to let go. The temperature was below freezing rather than almost 40. The fog was thick and freezing on bridges. A few snow flakes were flying. Freezing rain predicted...... The better part of valor meant that we drove cars rather than rigs to the Walkerosa, skipped riding and moved straight to eating/drinking/talking.
Pretty satisfying to talk horses if you can't ride horses. So, we did. Western Dressage. Pri Caprilli. Bend and track on the turns. New Saddles. Old Saddles. Horse soundness and not. Navajo. Pico. Lika. Lynn's mare. Willy. Sunny. Scooter. The afternoon was over in a flash and we left just before dusk since the dirt road was a bit slimy. The next chance for trail riding might be for a Ground Hog Day or a Search for Evidence of Spring ride.... YaYa!
The girls received a "water box" for Christmas and Ivy is already working Sister in anticipation of riding her in Western classes in 2013. Pico is still off so we will likely make another vet trip soon; Ivy may be reduced to riding Splash for English since Alaina wants to ride Sister in English and Jumping. Life can be sooooo complicated.
Now, for those 20 Reasons to Ride
- Riding with great friends
- Elegant tack
- Cute boots
- Any excuse for bling
- Keeps the dirty Santa in circulation
- Euphoria that comes from controlling (or trying to control) you own personal 1/2 ton animal
- Equine therapy
- The best (perhaps not fastest) way to get from A to B
- More photos of you and your horse
- Interesting training strategies
- The challenge of mounting without a mounting block
- You can go anywhere and get nowhere
- Its fun to plan show strategy
- You get to pat a pony
- Getting lost just makes the ride longer
- Re-living the ride with friends Après-Ride
- Non-polluting... or at least biodegradable
- Post ride wine
- Priceless if not inexpensive
- Feeling the wind in your hair or through the helmet vents
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