To ride dressage is to dance with your horse, equal partners in the delicate and sometimes difficult work of creating harmony and beauty.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Still squeezing in our dancing practice

The weather has been mostly wet and life has been mostly hectic since the show, but we're still managing to keep the days off to a maximum of two in a row. Lance had Friday and Sunday off and it poured earlier today, but we finally got a dry spell this afternoon. I needed to pick up yesterday's mail and the arena is sloppy wet, so we went down our gravel lane for a change. Had a short but swell ride with some nice lateral work, a little trot, a little canter, and lots of transitions. It made me want to school longer, but "short and sweet" is good. Hopefully we'll have a chance to ride again tomorrow.

Lance has been naked since Tuesday after the show, when I found his lovely SmartPak Ultimate High Neck Turnout in Oliver's paddock, the lining ripped. :-(  It has a 10-year guarantee, but I hadn't planned on needing it so soon. SmartPak is out of Lance's size in this style until next season, but we are working out a way to keep his neck covered until then. Lance hasn't started rubbing out his mane again; I'm crossing fingers and toes that he doesn't. It's so nice to have it all grown in again and one tidy length! He's starting to rub his tail a little, but trimming his dock will take care of that if need be. So far, there's no "need;" for now it's just Lance and me, dancing even though no one is watching. ;-)

2 comments:

Theresa said...

Glad you've had some weather breaks and some rides! Sweet!! No let up here, it has been pouring on the mountain non stop since Saturday morning early. The dogs are shifting mud from outside to inside in small increments.
Gives new meaning to the endearment of gritty little terriers.....

Michelle said...

Well, those riding opportunities have been few and far between; I'm lucky to get one ride between two days off on either side. And I hear you on the mud; I'm washing dog towels constantly!