Rainy Ride

Thanks to yet another pineapple express, we're being drenched with rain and wind yet again and everything is (still) flooded. Going outdoors is like what I would imagine walking through a car wash might be like. The ironic part of all this drowning in water is that the accompanying warm temperatures mean there is no snow in the mountains and we'll likely be facing a shortage of water come summer. Silly Wet Coast!

Ginger came out today for a spin in the outdoor. She's a bit less of a fair weather princess this winter as her desire for pasture time and friends seems to outweigh her desire to hide inside out of the elements. Not much to say for the ride itself, she felt super duper stiff and rusty again, which is a bit discouraging since that's all on me. I felt like my riding was sub par as well. Pony rides a lot greener than she should these days, but that's what happens when you take a year or two off any serious program. It's no reflection on her, she's still the best. She felt really backed off today in general, only to leap forward off my leg when I needed to (gently) remind her to move out. That's the old Ginger I remember :) We just did some walk/trot and worked a bit on bending and flexing - nothing complicated. She's been out of real work so long I feel like it's unfair to ask a lot.

 I got on Bridget after and immediately felt like I was on the better trained pony. Funny what a little work and consistency will do! As I hinted in my previous post, I do have a plan for getting the big mare going again and it starts with rides like this. I won't blab on, I'll leave you now with a Ginger photo dump (of, fingers crossed, the first of many more regular Ginger rides):

Warming herself up with a big trot

Love the big cob trots!

Yet another cause she's cute

Off we go

More warm up trot

My riding is really sucky in these photos. But Ginger looks cute and happy, so we'll post them

Again, no clue what I'm doing. I'm slouchy loose rein chair seat girl!

No wait, I'm tense grabby rein perchy person! She had just spooked/scooted past the jump standards in the background. When in doubt, go fetal ;)

Here I do remember asking for a leg yield. Interesting how all these photos show how NOT still I am in the saddle, even though I do put in quite an effort to keep a quiet and stable position on her.

Bonus baby kitty pic!