It feels Like Summer, and I'm feeling impatient

The weather here randomly hit summertime temperatures this weekend! So crazy. And unnecessary. (Really, Mother Nature, you shouldn't have!)

Ugh, so hot, can't even.

My paddock rotation plan has been working really well, but this latest dry and hot spell started crisping that fresh green grass. With hay at $40 a bale, I'm suddenly super interested in pasture management and the weather, so it's a bit sad for me that we're apparently rolling right on in to summer this year with a short, dry spring.

Hungry Hippo mowed this whole field from knee length to this in a week. I feel like I also need to mention that Sophie still looks feral despite daily grooming, while Bridget here is glossy and shiny despite her lack of interest in partaking in my pony spa days.

The Covid related restrictions in our area are starting to ease up a little and I've been getting communications from my various horsey clubs about some tentative event scheduling and gradual reopenings. Much as I'm really impatient to get back at it, missing lessons at my coach's barn and group rides and so excited to get back to showing this summer,  I personally feel like it's way too soon for that, especially with the ferries and travel I need to get anywhere from here.

When the weather's this nice I also lack motivation to want to travel anywhere else

They are opening the local club arena again and I am excited for that. I hack in and it's literally only one shared gate that I touch in a huge outdoor arena so I feel comfortable with that - I haven't seen anyone else there in months. But wait! The non equine world is also comfortable resuming things, so the contractors are ready and the arena is now closed for resurfacing. Oh well, what's another two weeks waiting when there is going to be new fluffy footing as a reward for my patience?

An upgrade from the overgrown round pen I currently have :D

When I resume riding Sophie, I'm going to want to use that arena. She is a good girl, but her interesting baby horse life choices and this time off make me think we'd both be safer in a space with a soft level surface for the time being . I've refocused my late summer goals and thought sending in some video'd dressage tests might be a great use of the space too while we're remaining physically distant from 'real' shows. Sadly, cell service and bluetooth connectivity stinks with all those big trees in the area so real time virtual lessons won't be a thing for me there.

I'm feeling a little guilty for not being like so many and using this time to ground drive and work on basics with Sophie. Instead I've either been ponying her along or just taking Bridget out solo. It sounds like such a cop out, but really it's just so much easier to leave her be at present. Where I am at is not set up great for baby horse training. I look at the free space and see all the potential safety hazards for riding and/or ground driving. It's fine in a pinch for Bridget who is sensible and has reliable steering and is pretty maneuverable. Not so great for a Sofa Pony and she's one to hold a bit of grudge so I like to keep us set up for success as much as possible.

She had some real feelings about the bath I forced her to endure on Monday. This is about 1 second after setting her free and after I carefully groomed and dried her off.

I also have a very interested and opinionated audience living on site, if you know what I mean ;) Once things have settled down a little more I think I need to find my inner living-in-the-moment kid again (or find one for Sophie!)

Hope everyone is doing well!