Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

Well, maybe not walking, per se... But winter is here! Again. 

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

I hear we should be expecting between 4-8 inches up here in the UP before Saturday, which - I won't lie- I might be a fan of. It's been so mild here that I was secretly hoping for a white(r) Christmas. I mean, if only to show the family how rough I have it up here, right? I can't have everyone thinking that I have it super easy up here.   Because, really, I dont... Well, maybe not super easy. Is life with animals ever easy? 

And just glancing ahead a few days (how is it only a few days until Christmas!!!), it looks like I may have some 'real' winter weather for while the family is in town. 

And don't try to tell me that 15 degrees isn't a 'real winter'. Just because it could be worse, doesn't mean that it's not cold! 

Anyway, I had two good rides today (so far... maybe I'll be able to sneak in a ride on RC before drill team tonight). Delight and I have been working through this 'no you can't always spook in the corners' phase. It's not a fun phase. 

After having nearly a week off, Delight has decided she'd really rather not work as hard as I would like, thank-you-very-much. Which, to be honest, is going to be a no-go with me. I mean, this is suppposed to be my more advanced pony, surely I can walk, trot, and canter around the rail....

Surely?

No? Damn. 

She gave one spectacular buck-twist-leap-style spook that left me hanging off the right side of the pony and a wicked bruise on my left inner thigh from clinging to the pommel. But I didn't eat dirt! Hah! I'll call it a win... for now. 

Four days of hard work later, she was a gem. We are still having an issue where she wants to bulge against the left leg and swing her haunches in at the trot and canter to the left... but by the end of the ride she' tracking straight and obediently. Whew. 

So what made the difference? Court gave me a hint from years of riding the Bucktard: teach them to spook up into a half-halt rather than sideways. And it worked quite well! I even managed to get some good sitting trot work where she stayed with me even through her 'scary corner'. 

Win!

Sweaty Pony rocking the mohawk...

I will add that her roached mane has grown out. It is now easily 5-6" and makes her look like she's got some metabolic disorder. It's not a good look. There's one part of me that wants to roach it all off again, just to make it neat... Then there's the rational part of me that tells me to be patient, it'll grow out eventually. 

I know, I know....

It just looks so BAD.