Getting caught up and PRAYING for spring!

Wow! Two months since I've blogged! Shameful. Sorry!

It's been a long, cold winter and even though today is the first day of spring, it doesn't look like spring will be here any time soon (no, this isn't what it looks like right now, but it was recent!). Getting really tired of the weather actually. Back in December my automatic waterer froze and I've been hauling between 14-18 buckets of water to the horses every day. And of course none of the outside taps work either, so it's the kitchen sink that I have to use. So really... spring cannot get here soon enough. There have been a couple "teaser" days of warm weather here and there, but mostly it's been TOO COLD! My pasture is icy everywhere so it's too dangerous to ride. If I do anything, it's just sit on their backs and walk around a bit. I've done some of that, but really not much of anything to write about in the last couple months. I spend lots of time just hanging with them on cold/snowy days.

We did install a fireplace this winter though! That's been a nice addition to cope with the weather! :-) I've also done some tiling in our kitchen and continue to be Taxi too my kids all week long.

The Jonathan Field clinic is less than a month away and I've really been able to do nothing with Gypsy in preparation for that. We finally repaired the brakes and shocks on the truck and dug out the trailer, so I probably should load her up a couple times a week and take her to an arena between now and then, dust off some cobwebs!

I've started helping the new owners of Indy and Jake with their horsemanship skills. They're keen to "do it right" so I'm more than happy to help them. The plan is supposed to be twice a week, but so far we've managed to connect only once. Maybe that'll pick up with the warmer weather too...

And I started working with one of the boarded horses here as well (when weather permits). Her owner would like to send her to a trainer this spring, but wanted to give her a bit more of a foundation before sending her. Then last week while I was working with her (first nice day in AGES), I slipped and badly pulled my hamstring. So that put an end to that for a bit! OUCH!

Some other exciting tidbits of news: I've acquired two new colts to start! I know, I know I need my head examined! "Sherlock" is an incredibly sweet little TB-X colt who was an "oops" pregnancy and so wasn't born until last Sept. He's only 6 months old (just picked him up yesterday). He's just about the sweetest, most well-behaved little guy I've ever seen though. You can handle him all over, lead him (even at the trot), pick up all his feet, and when I went to get him, it took only 1 hour before he was walking in and out of the trailer! Super little guy. Looking forward to working with him (as are my kids!).

Allegro (I think that's what we'll call him) is a gorgeous TB-draft cross colt out of the same mare and stallion as Indy. He was even born on the same day as Indy! (So it was meant to be!). He's going to be a lot taller than Indy, I think, but probably the same horsenality (LBE). He's only been handled for about the last month, so I've got my hands full for the first while with him. I need to get both colts gelded, and for sure Allegro will also need his feet trimmed soon. I will be picking him up next week.

So that's the news up to now. Stay tuned for more adventures with Sherlock, Allegro (Al?), Gypsy and Skittles soon! And pray for spring.