Loving February

Pony friends

I know I've been quiet, but I've been too busy with horse-y awesome to blog a whole lot. Cuna and I celebrated Valentine's by going on our first trail ride of the year. We went with his bestie Max the Trakehner. Max is six years old, running training and getting ready to move up to prelim. He walked on the buckle. Cuna pranced and passaged his way up and down the mountains and was quite a ham. I loved every minute.

We also had our first day "over fences" for the year. Yes, I set an 18" crossrail to trot and canter over. Mr. Spry himself hauled my arms out of their sockets and galloped like a racehorse. We had some quality work, but I definitely needed the bigger bit.

Evidence of dressage Cuna

Sunday we had our first dressage lesson in six months. Our instructor was pleasantly surprised by our progress. I was expecting a thorough reaming and an hour of well-deserved torture, but she talked me through some things I'd been having trouble with and made Cuna work his well-muscled butt off. I learned a ton, but I can hardly walk.

So naturally, today was jumping day! We strapped on the pelham and did a related distance (of crossrails) and some little crossrails with placing poles out of the trot and canter. My position is feeling stronger and Cuna was awesome. At the end I wanted to put the fences up to jump size (or at least 2'6") and string a course together, but I thought it was better to end feeling confident than to push my still dressage-sore legs.

He's already less fuzzy than this.

Whew. I'm trying to wring all the possible fun out of this weather, because it's supposed to rain and snow for the rest of the week. I have exciting plans like "re-clip Cuna" and "practice wrapping" for when it's cold and horrid again. Here's to summer!