BRRR!

I've mounted this Christmas gift from friend Kate on the outside wall of our tack room. Unfortunately, it's so bitterly cold right now that the only horsework I'm doing is chores!

Starting as I mean to go on

Lance and I brought the new year in right – together, on a ride. We warmed up in the arena, where I took the above photo, then went through the neighbor's to the lane in the woods as the clouds turned golden from the setting sun. It was quiet, save for Lance's hoofbeats, the babbling brook, and a distant hooting owl. Lance was a little owly himself at first; it's been awhile since we've ridden that way and he was looking for the deer we flushed from next to the arena. But he eventually settled without incident – also a good precedent for the year.  ;-)

Maybe my ride did it

Ollie's colic did not resolve as quickly as it has in the past. He got another dose of Banamine yesterday morning and still wasn't quite up to snuff last night. I got home from work yesterday afternoon before my guys, so I fed the fire, let the dogs out, changed my clothes, and headed to the barn for a short ride in the gathering darkness. Ahhh; I needed that!

By this morning Ollie was feeling fine and ready for breakfast; yay! Maybe I'd better squeeze in another short ride this afternoon before our church's New Year's Eve vespers and talent show – you know, to keep Ollie feeling fine.  ;-)

Besides, tonight the temperature is supposed to drop below freezing and stay that way for days. Lance and I can't ride on concrete....

Same song, second verse

I didn't have time to ride again today, and Ollie was colicky again tonight. I have to work tomorrow and Saturday is full with church stuff; guess I'll hope for better luck on Sunday. Good thing I have cold weather riding gear; we're supposed to start the new year with a week-long arctic blast!

Hiccups

We are back from Texas to more moderate (for now) weather. Lance and I had a nice ride on Monday; Tuesday I worked all day (perfect; it was rainy); today I planned to ride again. But a friend and her daughter came over to visit and that took precedence. The gallant Sir Lancelot was going to give the little princess a ride, but when we went to the barn, Oliver was colicky. I conferred with Rick by phone; Ollie recovered with walking and Banamine, but by then my friend had left and it was dark.

Even though I hope to ride tomorrow, I decided to lunge Lance tonight just to give him some exercise. He started out his normal playful self; we warmed up at walk and trot before starting canter-trot-canter transitions. Before very long he would no longer pick up the canter for love nor money, and really didn't want to keep trotting. His nostrils were flaring much more than was warranted by the short time he had been moving, and his breathing, when I walked up to remove the side reins, was loud and labored.

I have no idea why he has this problem sometimes; it has happened a time or two in the past. It's foggy out there; does the cold, humid air bother his lungs? Or did not being able to put down his head to cough occasionally (like he does under saddle) once I put the side reins on cause phlegm to accumulate? I will be interested to see how he does tomorrow; I suppose we may end up going for a walk instead of schooling.