waiting out the lab results in the snow: The Christmas Horse Saga

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adult amateur dressage rider, Christmas, Dressage, dressage books, dressage training, equestrian, equine, Herding Dogs, Horse, horse books, horse shopping, horse training, horses, KWPN, Scribbles: The Ramblings of A Renaissance Woman, shelties, Shetland Sheepdogs, snow

It was rather cool to have this huge storm as a distraction from awaiting the final lab report on the Christmas horse! I really had to switch gears and stock the house up….we had just emptied the pantry before getting ready to leave for Florida.  Which was supposed to have happened yesterday…We now had to rethink Christmas with contingency plans. Should we go or wait until Christmas morning?  Spend Christmas Eve with family?  But all our gifts have already shipped to Florida!  If we stay, we have no tree, no decor….Family is supposed to visit us the week after Christmas IN FLORIDA…

We were supposed to leave yesterday… but we knew Friday morning, when the Roanoke snow began, that the I-95 corridor was going to get ugly. And it did!!!  Of course we took a major hit out here at the very end of Long Island…the sun was shining in NYC this morning and we were still having blizzard conditions.

We ended up with over 30″ of snow…the plow guy who grew up here says this is the most snow he remembers and he’s 40+…..We’re not sure when we’re actually getting on the road for Florida. Slight chance for tomorrow, if we can shovel enough snow out of the driveway…otherwise Tuesday. May even wait now until after Christmas as we suspect the roads to be clogged with everyone else who had to wait out the storm!

Looking out the front door....

Sebastian says: "pee in that...I don't think so..."

Maybe we can leave Tuesday...

There is a road out there... somewhere...

It’s been fun, though…we feel like we are totally alone in the world. Our little town is a beach community. The population off-season is maybe 2000 and we live up in the woods where everyone has large lots and lots of privacy….it’s fabulous in a storm!  The howling  wind, the distant ocean rattling and whistling and roaring all about us last night.  This morning, the peace and solitude when the snow began to lighten was indescribable! All alone in this vivid white swirl…it was magic!

But tonight I begin to long for my horses again….I know the working students are doing fine and having a ball with them. My trainer is not yet back from Germany and it’s a real toss-up between us as to who will get to Florida first!  And the Christmas horse is so close to being mine that I can taste it! I am just aching to get my hands on him…So tonight I am getting back on track with my book perusal and maybe last year’s World Cup DVD….and if we aren’t on the road tomorrow,  I have GOT to do some cardio. I’m going to arrive in Florida marshmallow soft from lack of exercise and too much good food!

I’m a sucker for the Christmas treats…there’s a lot of cookies and chocolate around these days!!!  But I have made myself a promise…first day back at the barn, I am back fully on track with my exercise and smart nutrition….

Cherish the ride….and enjoy the snow!

Late night rambling

Tags

books, Books and Literature, classical dressage, Dressage, Herding Dogs, horse shopping, horse shows, Shetland Sheepdogs, Warmblood

My husband is back to the city, so it’s just me and the dogs hanging out at our country place. Did some on-line Christmas shopping…..I’m a bit stumped for some presents, but I’m sure more ideas will arrive…..

My shelties are so happy out here…..they chase animals, dig up dirt, enjoy the cold , they eat with a better appetite….they are plain, old happy and would love it if they never had to spend time in the city. They miss my husband, however, and always have an ear cocked or else rest near doorways in order to be immediately apprised of hubby’s arrival. They are pretty happy at our Florida house as well…..it’s just the city they have no use for, although Sebastian will go anywhere I go and make the best of it. Sabrina is quite the little diva and lets us know when she is not pleased with her environment!

This is a legitimate ramble as I really have nothing to share or tell. But I do feel like writing. I am quite distracted by awaiting  the new horse and really hope I will settle down and focus once the vetting is through. I have such plans for this horse but be it the practical or the long-term theoretical, I can’t do anything but ponder our misty future until he’s been bought and paid for. I can’t even book transport to Florida for him until the deal is done. I just hate the “hurry up and wait” quality to it all! I’m such a kid still about this stuff.

Have been reading and watching DVD’s on training. Along with “Riding Logic,” I’m rereading Steinbrecht’s “The Gymnasium of the Horse,” Seunig’s “Horsemanship,” Podhajsky’s “My Horses, My Teachers,” and Schoffman’s “Klaus Balkenhol: The Man and His Training Methods.” Balkenhol is a newer idol of mine. I have been aware of him for quite some time, of course. But his DVD’s, along with his Xenophon Club have really made me into a fan. I am particularly fond of his recent trilogy on training and watch them over and over…I’ve audited a couple of his clinics in Florida and I am so impressed with his point of  view and his very humane way of training! No rollkur in his program!!!

There is a quote from the inner liner of his book jacket that I like very much : “I don’t believe classical dressage and competitive dressage oppose each other. Rather, I believe they form a symbiosis.” I believe this is the direction dressage has to take….it’s a great book and I highly recommend it. Of course the others I referred to belong in every horse person’s library.

Sebastian

 

So just now, I’m jumping about in my books, gleaning info that will help me train my new horse in an age appropriate way.No rushing, as I want to have this horse a long, long time. And I have also pre-forgiven myself if I have to hire support to get us through our first year together…if I’m not feeling confident and riding forward enough, I will definitely get someone up on him to do the job the right way!

Except for trying the Christmas horse, I haven’t ridden since before Thanksgiving when I was last in Florida. I miss my mares so much. This much down time from riding is not good for my psyche at all. I become prey to fears and doubts of future success in competition, I eat too much and exercise too little! And you don’t need to tell me there is no excuse for this. But it happens….I think lots of competitive or driven people must have a bit of manic-depressive tendency in them! At least I hope I’m not alone anyway!!!

Well…back to my reading, my day dreaming,and cuddling my dogs…..back to waiting….