Kindergarten and Other Winter Activities

 The past month has been a busy one outside of horses what with the annual American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) National Convention and deer firearm season. 

Convention was only an hour away in Indianapolis this year.

So. Many. Bunnies.

Misery won her class!

These button buck were still spotty.

I was watching two tom turkeys on the roost during the sunrise.

Add on top that I've been sick in one way or another for the past month straight, and it means the horses have gotten very little "work". (Norovirus and this sinus infection that just won't go away can suck it.)

Thankfully, my husband and I were still able to fill our freezer for the year.

Pyro got his saddle refit a while back, and I was surprised to find out he had gone up another gullet plate size. He's now a WOW "4U", the largest size he's ever been, and it clicked in my mind that the head tossing and back soreness we experienced on our trip to Hocking Hills was likely due to saddle fit. Sorry buddy. 

Screenshot from the fitting session. Renske from The Saddle Doc helped me fit both his dressage and jump saddles. 

At the time of the trip, it had been 3 months to the day since his saddles were last fit, so I've added checking his back with the WOW gauge to my to-do list every time he gets a trim. I feel especially terrible I didn't catch it since as his winter coat grows in, there is evidence of pressure scars he's never had before. 

*internally screaming, crying, throwing up*

Since then, we've dabbled in low-stakes work here and there, although inconsistency seems to be the only consistent theme. 

Posture and proprioception work with cavaletti and the ProSix.

He takes his siestas very seriously, often with a poo pillow.

"Why stand for grooming when you could brush me right here?"

Affectionate boy

I was so proud of this interaction with no lipping/nipping.

Adult beverage walkies

At first, he didn't seem to mind the change of pace and decrease in work. However, now that the gelding gang is on their winter sacrifice lot and spend their days with their heads stuck in the hay hut... I think he's bored. 

"I'm fluffy, not fat."

Apparently all play and no work makes Pyro a bored boy, and NO ONE WANTS A BORED PYRO.

"What do you mean? I am a DELIGHT."

"Deck the stalls with boughs of holly, falalalalaaaa..."

This is where being sick is really cramping my style. I WANT to work him, but being healthy apparently needs to be the priority. (hmph) 

When I do get to work him, he has *truly* been a delight. It's a stark difference to the mischievous Pyro that shows up looking to turn something like coming in for dinner into a game. 

Thankfully, the bite sized lessons I'm working on with Nova don't require a ton of time or energy for me, so kindergarten is still in session. (Hmm, maybe that's the approach I need to take with Pyro at the moment too...)

High quality media

Nova is getting lots of catching/haltering/leading/tying/grooming practice, and she stood surprisingly well for me to braid her unruly mane. I'm starting the process of training it to one side now in hopes of shedding fewer tears when I have to braid her in the future.

She was SO offended by the halter and lead wrapping around her nose, but is learning to stand with the blocker tie ring quite well.

The leading is really coming along, and I'm impressed with how she's starting to follow the softest feel of the lead rope. Just last night I asked her to walk with me (behind my shoulder, not crossing my centerline, stopping when I stopped) around her paddock while Missy was stalled (and hollering). 

She made me laugh with this stank face as she planted her feet. 

She gave a comically heavy sigh...

...then stepped forward off the pressure to join me.

The weather has prompted several learning opportunities for her, such as wearing a fleece cooler for the first time.

She came in fairly wet after a day of constant rain.

The perfect brush for her.

She'll, uh, grow into it.

Perfect Princess

While it helped her dry off, there's no way she'll be left unattended in this cooler anytime soon. I was too worried she'd get a leg caught!

She also got to experience her first real snow, which solidified my appreciation of that welsh coat.

shake it off

In her element

She's growing like a weed!

Yes, Nova is napping flat out in the snow while Missy stands guard over her.

Missy has been...

...enjoying retirement, lol.

I think she looks pretty good for 23.

Besides grooming, body work, and pedicures, she has been left to her duties of teaching Nova. However, I'm hoping to have the opportunity to rig up a redneck sleigh and have her pull me through the snow this winter. 

Missy: "Nova, you must conserve your energy. See what she wants BEFORE you choose to walk over to her."
Nova: "HAIIIII" 

All in all, I'm taking it one day at a time, enjoying the work I feel up to doing with the horses, and trying to not let the early sunsets suck the will to live out of me. 

Bonus: The new barn kitty, Mae, has settled in and started bringing me "gifts".

Very proud