Dog and Pony Show: March 2009

After spending 3 hours of my life that I'm never getting back at the stupid DMV (where I got nothing accomplished...I still have to go back on my next day off with signed notarized papers...ARGH!) I finally made it out to the barn around late afternoon. It was a lovely day and unfortunately I forgot my camera, so no pics :( But I had a nice ride on Libby.
I told her we HAVE to get ourselves in shape. I really wish I was gutsier and felt comfortable going out on the trail by myself. Cause THAT is what I really need to do. But, since I'm a big wuss we did some arena work today. Can I just say that going from an OTTB to a full blooded Perch takes some getting used to? I'm used to Ice's huge over-striding loose forward walk, and big jostling running away with you trot. Libby just feels so stiff and short strided in comparison. However, her trot is SO comfy and smooth to sit and there's not that nagging worry that every leaf blowing across the arena is going to send her halfway across the county. It's a trade-off I'm willing to work with :)
Anyway, I really try to get her to stretch down and loosen up, then push her forward to get that big hind end up and under herself. Ohmygosh my poor little 5"2' legs just try their best, but there's no way they're wrapping around that big Perch belly. So I decided the legs were just going to need to get stronger. I worked on some posting without stirrups today. I can't tell you when the last time I did that was! The legs are going to be feeling that tomorrow. But I think I'll be doing some more of that in the future.
She had a few moments of really nice forward walk and trot today, but definitely not as consitent as I'd like it to be. And I definitely feel like I'm working way harder than she is! Hopefully we'll be able to find someone willing to put up with our slowness and hit the trails more this summer. Maybe find the canter again :)

We got the most gorgeous snow here. It started yesterday afternoon with HUGE wet flakes falling from the sky. We had a good inch or 2 by the time we went to bed last night, then woke up with upwards of 6 inches in some spots! Of course Asheville closed down. I was supposed to go into work this afternoon, but when I called to check in the vet had cancelled appointments...so I got a snow day! We live on the top of a small mountain...and this is the first time it's really snowed since we bought the house. Even though I have my all wheel drive Subie and I knew that Kyle had managed to make it down, I still wasn't thrilled at the prospect of having to brave the steep hill.

So I took the opportunity to take the dogs out and play in the snow! They had a blast! I can't tell you how much I love our property and the surrounding land. We have 3/4 acre, but are surrounding by 70 acres of hill, mountains, and farmland.