Exhale

 We still haven't moved into our little house with the horses, but it kind of feels like I've checked all the major things I signed myself up for off the list...the rest is waiting on contractors or forces outside my control. Soon, I hope. But also, whenever. Because I'm enjoying the break.

The weather has been absolutely horrible, but we had a sunny afternoon and so I took all the pictures 

As always my number one go to with any free time is the horses. Riding, in Sophie's and my case. Colt kindergarten in the little guys' cases. I'm really, really loving the baby horse thing. It's so rewarding to see them growing and gaining confidence daily and so neat to be creating a bond with them at such a young age.

Come on in, we’ve got candy! 

Riding also feels like such a good thing right now. I think that's the one fantastic thing about the forced time off this year, I've come back to it with fresh eyes, full of enthusiasm and appreciation. I spent a long time in my head prior to being hurt always feeling like I wasn’t good enough, then more recently, asking myself why I was trashing my body with minimal enjoyment as the trade off. But somewhere in that time off, along with the physical healing, I mentally got back to a healthier place. The anxiety has been replaced by gratitude. The self criticism and overthinking is still there but the enthusiasm and desire to ride wins out.

We longe over poles sometimes too

I renewed my RideIQ subscription last month and it's paid for itself a thousand times already. Pressing play and having someone in my ear, confidently talking me through a ride plan is absolutely worth every penny. I'm coming away from each ride feeling positive and like I haven't been giving myself enough credit for the work I've put in. The pieces are all very much there, it's just me needing to sit up, quiet down my noisy brain and ride to a plan. It’s a positive feedback loop too - riding confidently makes me better able to both mentally and physically handle unexpected winter pony shenanigans,  which increases confidence further. Being able to ride regularly means the not so great moments don’t stick and I don’t dwell, there’s always a new day. 

She prefers to not be blanketed all the time so I’m trying a cooler pre ride to get the worst of the mud and damp under control, because of course she’s also a lover of standing in the rain, and highly offended about being tacked up when damp 😁

Spent $$$$ on footing but 2 of them prefer mud. Bakari is a baby genius and prefers lounging in clean shavings. Take notes, Sophie.  

I <3 him

The lights have also been a huge help - I used to feel rushed against the clock and I know that was affecting my enjoyment of things. I was definitely carrying that 'I only have 15 minutes of daylight!!!' mentality onto the saddle with me. Fun story, this weekend we’ve been having some typical grim west coast winter weather and so Saturday night I zipped up my best raincoat and got out there with my headlamp doing evening paddock and stall tidies, then fed dinner, feeling all accomplished.

 I got back in the house and it was 3:30 pm. So, I mean only 3 or so hours early, lol. The ponies got a second dinner later on. The super dark days are tricking me! 

Typical grey day

Tentatively hoping Sophie and I will be be fit enough to resume regular clinic and lessons after Christmas, but we’re in a great place now and there’s no rush. It feels very important that this stays fun so I’m going to be even fussier than ever about coaching and surrounding us with positive people…and keeping my schedule manageable. Actually that last sentence is pretty much the only thing on the to do list for the foreseeable :)