Winter Blues

I hope I'm not the only one who has been battling the winter blues this year ... And of all years, this winter has been unseasonably WARM here in Minnesota. Nearly down right hot, by normal standards. [Relatively speaking, 30s-40s is hot ... when it's typically at or just above zero in January/February]. So, I'm not entirely sure why I've been so anti-riding/anti-barn lately, but I have been. So part of the reason why I haven't updated this blog lately is because nothing has happened. The other part is sheer laziness.

I haven't had a lesson since the beginning of January. The first Wednesday in February, I signed my life away on a new, 2011 Volkswagen Jetta - the SE with the convenience & sunroof package. It's a sweet, kick a$$ car. Granted, I miss my Mazda Tribute - that was a nice SUV, but it was getting old and I was going to need a new vehicle sooner or later. Then, the next Wednesday, I came down with a nasty cold bug. I'm still fighting it off but now I'm down to just the nose stuff. Then, this past Wednesday, I was stuck at work all day. So no lesson.

So, that means that Gus has been living the high life these last few weeks. When he's been worked (work? what work?), it's been more then interesting. On Friday morning, we had our first real session in a while. And I can sum it up in just a few words. If the rodeo was in town, Gus would've definitely made their rodeo string for bucking broncos. He had some nice, back-cracking, movements. Thankfully everything happened while on the lungeline ... though undersaddle he was still a piece of work. I'm still not sure though if he's sound or not. I thought I felt something off in the front ... but sometimes I think it's just my imagination working in overdrive. Just to be on the safe side, he did get some bute after the ride. I'm hoping this afternoon he's back to his usual self. We shall see.

The next time I work with Gus, which is hopefully this afternoon, I plan on working him over poles. It's sad how fast he deteriorates when he's not in work full-time, or at least more regularly then once or twice week.

Hopefully the next time I report back, it'll be better news :-).