Winter? What winter?!

So, it was 18.5c today. It was my day off so I was running errands, not riding, but still! It's winter! In Canada! The snow will be here soon enough I'm certain!

I'm sat watching the Royal Winter Fair World Cup Qualifier. Pretty interesting. They just had the retirement ceremony for Special Ed and the tribute to Hickstead, both of which were very moving. I didn't know much about Hickstead, but I was fortunate enough to watch the CN International this year at Spruce Meadows - only on the TV, mind - but seeing him win from last draw, needing a clear round showed me exactly what a star he was, and the way Eric Lamaze gave him all the credit highlighted a superb partnership. I grew up watching horses like Milton, Dollar Girl, Jus de Pomme, It's Otto, Goldfever (to this day I'm in awe of Ludger Beerbaum's lower leg!), Mon Santa in show jumping and Hickstead is obviously up there with all of them. Horses such as Ready Teddy, King William, Murphy Himself, Bounce in eventing, all big hearted, big character champions. I like that a lot in a horse. Reminds me of Frankie's attitude, if not his scope. But he's only 14.3!

In farm news, we now have a stallion, a black, Rocky Mountain stallion named Dee. He's been nicely trained and will cover mares from April 2012.

Bond the wonder horse progressed on to more intense canter work, so intense it nearly made him piaffe, but he did well. He's now taking a break to see if that helps him mellow out.

Stormy the scared is working hard with us, mainly the other girl, not me! She's ridden 5 times a week now and is learning to flex and go steady between the reins, as well as a little bit of lateral work.

Ella's canter is literally going from strength to strength and I've even tried a little trot - as opposed to a gait - with her, which she's managed easily.

Tatoum, the big Canadian, is working hard on her lateral movements, mainly shoulder in and leg yield at trot and canter, but I'm introducing haunches in and half pass.
Tatoum and I, forging the way.

We discovered new trails on adjoining land last week, so we bandaged the horses up, donned the trail saddles, pocketed the marker tape and off we went into the unknown! Boy, was it thrilling! It was wet, muddy, rocky, boggy, hilly, everything you could want. I took Tatoum and we led the way, crashing through undergrowth, splashing through endless mud, leaping over logs and ditches. She's a brill trail horse, sometimes needs a bit of encouragement to cross rushing water, but she's game.