Happy sore muscles

Before I get excited posting a million pictures, I need to say thank you to Lauren over at She Moved to Texas for running the Equestrian Coach giveaway!  I won a month of learning and have already enjoyed a few videos.  After I explore it more and have used up my month I will do a review.  Also she is also running the blogosphere march madness and my bracket is up!

Today is going to be chestnut horse day.  I have pictures of me working our first set of the season this morning, the pictures are actually from before we got going fast, husband said watching was more important than picture taking (fine fine you are the trainer and all...but I wanted more pictures!).  Note: working is racetrack lingo for going really fast.  A regular ride consists of a slow gallop, 'working' involves pushing for speed or letting them out.  When someone talks about qualifying times for a race a 'work' is how you get them.  Today was just two furlongs, or blowing them out down the lane.

It was so cold!

Getting ready to let 'em go

It was fun, but completely freaking cold!  I'm talking it was 25 degrees, the sun had literally just peeked over the mountains and I'm going flat out on a horse.  My hands were like claws when we got back to the barn, I couldn't even get the saddle off the horse.  This was with leather gloves lined with thinsulate!  I had one more horse to take before I headed off to work and I didn't think I could do it (claw hands and all).  Good news, my husband has some great ideas.  He handed me a pair of latex gloves to put on under my warm gloves.  I was super skeptical that it would make any difference, but it did, it did!  My hands were so toasty warm they were sweating when I got back on horse number two.

On Thursday I rode Gigi in some howling wind yet beautiful sun and a friend took some amazing pictures!

Her muscles are bulkling up!

So shiney

I really enjoy riding her 

Like a boss
Thanks to Ellie Allen Cook for the Gigi photos!

She had a few chestnut mare moments in the HOWLING wind, but overall it was a great ride.  I love how she continues to improve her self carriage with each ride and how the dip between her neck and withers is filling in with muscle.  This mare is going to make a great partner for some one.

Tomorrow is fencing day out at the 100 acres and before that starts I'm planning to ride my guys.  I rode Diva this afternoon and it was very productive.  We walked long and low for several minutes before I picked up the reins.  Then we worked on contact and bend and picked up the trot.  She was a bit fussy, but mostly pleasant.  Then we cantered left no problem.  Then we attempted to canter right.  She takes issue to my right leg occasionally and acts like a total mare.  It started at the end of last fall and so never really got addressed as we entered winter tundra mode.  Today we addressed it and suddenly she can move off my right leg and canter on the right lead all while saying 'yes ma'am!'  Goofy princess!

Cooling out with a nice hack