Winter blues

Last winter we were spoiled! A long hot summer led us into a short dry winter, we are seriously making up for the lack of rain last year! Relatively to some areas of the country we are doing ok, but with the fields so wet turnout is a no go!!!

The school is holding out at least, but actually getting to ride is more of a problem. The storms keep coming. Thankfully Isla is pretty good in most situations!

Our lessons have been hit and miss dodging the rain, sleet, hail and wind. Trying to hear what your instructor is saying when the wind is blowing a gale is an art! Riding a circle is fun, we can hear on half of the cicle and then as we come round into the wind ! Well good job Isla isn’t a thoroughbred! We would of blown away! sometimes it literally takes your breath away. Breathing is so over rated when riding! I’m always getting told remember to breath especially in test! You would think it would be second nature, but apparently not.

Anyway lesson have been going well and Isla has been getting better by the day, but I’m very aware that she likes other things such as trips out, hacking out and jumping. Hacking I can do, but winter is not playing fair with this wind and hacking has not always been possible. Trips out have been out of the question, high winds and towing don’t mix well! So that leaves jumping and as my physio said “no riding, but if you are going to absolutely no jumping” I have to be slightly sensible and do as he says.

Normally not jumping wouldn’t bother me I haven’t wanted to leave the ground in years, so why is it ever since Isla came into my life I want to???? I’ve been itching to jump ever since she arrived! As much as I love the flatwork and dressage, both Isla and me are getting bored! We want to fly across fields again! Need to come up with new things to keep us both interested.

Our first outing in what feels like forever was a trip to reaseheath equestrian centre, our first team quest. My quest has been going well, getting decent scores and lots of lovely comments from the judges. Not sure what happened in the team quest. It wasn’t horrendous, I just don’t think either of us were in the right frame of mind. We’ve upped the game at home, but when we got to the comp it didn’t happen. Think we are in transition between where we were and where we want to be. It’s going to take time to feel like that’s where we should be and Isla is proving to me daily she can do it. She just needs to do something different.

So today to cheer Isla up we got the jumps out. Lucky for Isla, a friend Betty loves jumping to and had offered to take Isla over some fences. They had a blast although it took us a while to figure out her stride. I can’t remember the last time I put jumps out and Betty is use to her 16.3hh long legged boy! Was a bit of a change for her . I have to say I was getting jealous watching them fly over the fences. Isla almost seems to grin when she’s having fun. Fingers crossed we can get out and about a bit more so she’s smiling all the time. Happy pony makes me happy, so I will have to stand and watch and suffer the envy so that she can fly and have lots of fun.

Thanks Betty!