I've had this week off work. It has been SO nice. I can't wait until I can retire, but that's going to be a few years. I am trying to focus on the positives of my job--flexible time off, no mandatory over time, no schedule changes unless it's my choice, security, good pension plan ... gee, it's starting to sound pretty good. So why do I complain? I'm like everyone else who wants to do whatever they want, whenever they want to do it--that is my definition of retirement and heaven on earth. Plus, as I get older, I just don't like dealing with the work place politics and crap. I work for the state government and there is always crap going on. I swear they go around trying to fix what ain't broke so much that it becomes the new normal for management. Oh well ... I will just focus on the things I love about my life outside of work. Retirement will come some day.
I've been working with Rosie quite a bit this week. It started off hot and humid, totally unseasonable for upstate NY. The mini's have a pretty heavy winter coat already and they were so hot. I couldn't work with Rosie Sunday or Monday, but then the humidity dropped and Tuesday and Wednesday were tolerable. She was wonderful. I say this all the time ... but I just love that pony!! She has a bit of an attitude (OK, more than a bit), but she will do ANYTHING I ask her to do. Well, unless it involves pain or discomfort--the vet!--then she has no tolerance at all. She just loves doing training work. I worked her pretty hard Wednesday hitched to the cart. It was still pretty warm and I'm sure not ideal for a hairy mini. She was near perfect and never showed any sign of wanting to quit. She was just happy we were doing things together. What a girl!!!
I still haven't gotten in the cart and some people have told me she is ready. Everything I do with Rosie comes from gut feeling. My gut is telling me to do more ground driving, more complex things with the empty cart so she is even more solid than she appears now. She trusts me and I don't want to rush things to make her doubt that trust. Trust is the reason she is so willing to try new things and lets me do so many crazy things to her without batting an eye.
Wednesday I worked on trotting her pulling the cart. She wasn't quite sure about that. I don't think it's the noise because that kind of thing doesn't bother her at all. I had her drag six plastic milk jugs in front of the cart basket right in back of her legs and that doesn't even faze her. I think it was that the shafts in the harness had a different feel. She trotted a little here and there but was reluctant to keep going. Just kept giving me the "Mom, I'm not so sure" look. So I want her comfortable with that. I also want her to pull the cart outside of our safe 1/2 acre paddock I've been working in--the big pasture. I know driving people won't agree with me for ground driving her hitched in that situation, but my gut tells me this is the way to go with her. If she becomes unsure, I can quickly go up to her head to give her reassurance. I also want to set up some cones and drive her around them. She is already doing great turns--she is learning to kind of side step into the shafts and can make some pretty tight turns. Ideally, I would prefer to have wider shafts that Patty's Pony Place in Canada makes to add to existing carts, but Kelly, the builder, is backed up, and I have to work with what I have for now. It's OK, but not what I would consider ideal. Most drivers wouldn't think anything needed to change. I'm just picky, I guess. I think Rosie would feel better if she had more room to move within the shafts. She's a wide mini with a big butt especially. She needs more room to move and groove.
Riding lessons are going well. I'm still riding Chocolate. I have come to realize Chocolate does not like riding in the heat. I rode Tuesday early evening and he was obviously wanting to quit a lot. He was also heavy with the reins and was blowing off my attempts to use more subtle cues. He just wasn't into it. My next lesson is tomorrow--Saturday. It cooled off dramatically over night, so he will have more energy--I just hope not too much. I like that happy medium that everyone else likes as well.
I like riding Chocolate because I feel safe ... but, his gaits are rough, he's a lot of work to keep driving forward when he is having a lazy day (which is often). I cantered him for the first time a week ago and it felt like I was going to fall off! His canter is big and rough--I felt like I was being tossed around the saddle big time. Holy crap!!!! He is easy to get into a canter, but is very difficult to keep him going once he gets to the short side of the arena. I decided it's not worth it to risk falling off just to canter him down the long side of the arena. I told Rayann I would hold off cantering until another, smoother horse becomes available. I've cantered horses plenty in my life time. I don't need to canter this very minute to prove I can ride again. I know beginners get so excited when they are finally cantering in their lessons. I'm just not at that place where it's a big deal to me. I'm just grateful and excited that I can ride a horse again and still walk the next day--and then go back for more!
I posted on facebook my description of my perfect horse. Kind of like declaring to the Universe what I want so it will open up to come into my life. Of course, my horse friend enablers found me some ads. (You knew they would, huh? :-)) I contacted the seller about one by facebook messenger. I couldn't resist--she was a gorgeous palomino!!! I know, you can't ride color--but wouldn't it be great if I found my ideal horse in my ideal color! I explained my story and what I'm looking for. Does her horse fit what I'm looking for? She got snippy, started talking about that I'm scared and won't be able to find any horse that won't react to my fear ... blah, blah, blah, followed by "You need an old, old, old horse!" (Yes, *3* olds) This horse was three hours away. I'm not going to even entertain the thought of driving to try her out if she doesn't have the qualities I'm looking for. It's called screening horses before wasting everyone's time. That, of course, pissed me off. OMG--is this what I'm going to encounter over and over until I find that jewel of a horse I need? I know they are out there. I've owned a couple in the past that would be perfect for me now. I just have to weed out the frogs to find my prince (or princess).
Ideally, I would rather wait until Spring/Summer of 2019 to look seriously. I'll have more money saved up. I'll have good weather to immediately be able to start riding the new horse--I don't think it's a good idea to buy a horse now, have it sit for most of the winter, and then try to get to know it after it's sat all winter. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. But, a girl can dream. Who knows? But I'm willing to stick my neck out there to get the ball rolling.
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