All Good Things....

Well they say All Good Things Must Come To An End. Our first winter blizzard is going on all around me. Wisconsin DOT has given up clearing the roads for now. The worst is on it's way...lots of wind and wind chills 20 below. My dear husband is out on the tractor, this minute, clearing a path to the barn through drifts that are almost 3 feet.
Not like we didn't know this was coming...I got the jumps and mounting block, etc. out of the arena and put away on Monday. Finished spreading mulch on the garden and flower beds and stored the tomato cages in the rafters of the stable. Moved a few round bales from the back forty hay barn up here in the shed by the house so they are handy. Blanketed 3 more horses (the elderly and lean) and shifted Breeze over to the west pasture now that her quarantine has ended. We are going into winter with less horses than last year, so it seems easier. Katy the goat, showing her age, has refused to leave the barn the last 2 days. Same with the barn cats...the older ones huddle around the wash rack heater in the barn or curl up in the hay bales. Soon I will don my "cocoon" of Sorels and Carhartts and go to work out there. Some dread it...I, do not. Call it weird, but find it exhilerating and satisfying to work in and overcome the elements no matter what they are. Is it my competitive nature? Hmmmmm. Okay, enough talk. Off I go! (Wish you were here!)

Ahhhh...Indian Summer!!

Well, after an unseasonably cool (okay COLD) October, November is batting a thousand in making up for it. I can't believe last Sunday we were riding in the arena in short sleeved T-shirts and we were plenty comfortable (it was 74 degrees). The day before I actually pulled out a lawn chaise and sported a sleeveless polo and bare feet while I read in the bright, but low-angled November sun. Weird! (...but oh so appreciated!) Of course we ride like there's no tomorrow. Because we know our backs are to the wall and this will not last. Inwardly we hold our breath...outwardly we laugh giddily as though we are getting away with something. IT IS APPROACHING MID NOVEMBER IN WISCONSIN AND WE ARE RIDING IN SHIRT SLEEVES!!! All the while, looking over our shoulders...but I do not spy Old Man Winter yet!
The grass is green, autumn color is past it's peak, some leaves still remain. The woods are thinning out, the bean fields are cleared and our expanse for riding increases. We gallop like pony express boys across the bare fields. The footing couldn't be better, so the cross country jumps will stay up for now and we fly over them in the autumn sun. The din while we wade through the bed of leaves riding through the woods makes it impossible to carry on normal conversation. Deer bounce away as we pass. Easier to see them now with the thinning vegetation, but will be even easier once the corn fields are picked. Tuesday morning I rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth, breeches on, quick breakfast, pulled on my Ariats and 45 minutes after leaving my bed I was riding to rondevous with my young neighbor. I returned home almost 3 hours later after we explored some new trails connecting our farms. Again, today. This time with a friend who hasn't ridden in a long time. Tomorrow, again. Why, there's simply no reason not to. None!

Lessons With Amy Hunter

Well all I can say is...it's a fine day when Amy Hunter comes to GLAD Farms.

Under the tutelage of our region's quintessential hunter/jumper instructor and grand prix rider, even the greenest horse and rider look good!

We lucked out and our "rain date" weather turned out to be pretty decent for the first of November!

Special thanks to Larry for being the photographer and for my step-daughter Amy for being the entire cleanup crew!

For those of you who couldn't make it this time, we'll be scheduling more with Amy, so let us know if you'd like to be a part of the fun!

Centered Riding Workshop Report

Well, we're batting a thousand as far as weather for the clinics! Since we don't have an indoor arena, nice weather is critical for these events. All three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) it was just gorgeous with a light breeze.

Ann is well qualified to teach Centered Riding, but an added plus is that she has alot of riding experience in different disciplines (like hunter/jumper). I learned alot by watching her with the other riders (yes, even the Western riders), but I was pretty frustrated after riding on Saturday. I talked to Ann about how I was feeling, and was encouraged to give it another shot. I can honestly tell you, Obie and I were one thousand percent better on Sunday. I had clear intent, and then ended with a specific plan for him and myself to work on in the weeks and months ahead.

By the time Amy Hunter and Cradilo arrived on Sunday evening (top photo), everyone was gone except Moira and I. It's a shame, too, because it was quite a treat watching this grand prix level duo do flat work and jumping in my arena!