Brrrrrrrrrrrr

It is soooooo cold. OK, I’m not originally from here but still…. The plan is to go up to the stable about 1pm, work Whisper, then ride Spice in the arena. At 1pm it’s about 15 – a veritable heat wave. Wearing four layers on top, two on the bottom, and thick wool socks I manage to stay relatively warm especially after cleaning Whisper’s feet. Things proceed normally. He does his daily drama queen routine; he lunges across the tarp after stopping once to sniff it in each direction; he stands on the tarp; he does leg yields; he does half passes (not well but I think that’s my fault as he does them well for Samantha); he refuses to go back into his pasture. Whoa, back up. It’s that nasty gate. He’s been balky about it periodically but will generally go in. We go back and forth and he says “nope, nope.” Finally I tie the lead inside the gate, stand beside him, point, and swing Spice’s rope halter in a circle behind his rear. He says “well, why didn’t you say so” and moves right in thus earning his treats. Horses!

Of course now there’s not enough time to ride Spice so she gets a brushing and a few treats. Thinking about it I bet she put him up to the gate routine. Horses!

Oh, and when I get home I discover my face is sunburned. Sheesh, need sunscreen in the winter too.