Wow, was February a miserable weather month! Already by the end of February 2013, we are 12 inches over the average annual rainfall. It has been wet, wet, wet! And when it is not wet, it has been frigid cold with steady gusts of icy wind. Needless to say we have been struggling to keep the horses on track with their training. Our farm unfortunately is all fields, no arenas and wet grass = slip'n slide riding experience. We have tried to stay creative in our accomplishments. For example practicing how many walk/trot transitions a horse can get along one straight-a-way; lots of turn-on-the-haunches/ turn-on the forehand; and cavalettis ad infinitum.
But finally, we seem to be getting a window onto spring with 5 days of decent weather. This week we have managed to get 2 good jumping schools in with most of the horses. This has been very useful in helping me grasp where the horses are and what we need to work on next. Over the next week I am going to try to take each horse separately on the blog and go over the ways that our training plans are being taylored to each horse's needs. The bits and pieces that we have been able to accomplish during the inclement winter do seem to be adding up and it seems the horses are primed to each move into a new level.
Our biggest challenge int he month of March is getting everyone out into the world and get over those first outing jitters. We have been so confined to the farm through the winter that I fear all of our training at home is not going to be obvious the first few outings because the horses will be so concerned with being in new environments. However, I do feel that our training patterns are so distinct to the horses that we will be able to engage their minds with work. But the proof is in the pudding and it is time to start making pudding!
On another note Springstone's Crown Prince has embarked on several exciting ventures. This weekend he he is being ridden in a Pony Club upper level prep by Elizabeth Coats. The few reports that we have gotten on his rides have been overwhelmingly positive. I have always known that he is an ideal young person's horse and a classic pony club mount, but it was great to hear that he had made such a positive impression on the National Examiners. After this weekend, Crown will move to Maddalena Equestrian's farm to be leased by Krissy Horn and shown in the Hunters and Jumpers. We are very excited to see Crown out competing this spring! He will continue to be for sale while leased by Krissy.
So, let's hope this good spring weather continues. We have lots of plans that we would like to see come to fruition!
