Hanging in there!

Still not riding as much as I'd like to be. Planning to go tomorrow and spend a good portion of the day. That will be right after my appointment with the doctor since I'm not even a smidgen better than I was when I went two weeks ago! I'm still pushing through pain just to walk.

Enough of that though! I am putting my nonriding time to good use. I joined weight watchers and as of Tuesday evening I have managed to lose 7.6 pounds! Boo will be grateful for this when I get back on him tomorrow. I am of course stretching every single day. Sometimes more than once. I say "of course" because it's needed for my sciaticia. It, too, will help with the riding.

I'm spending lots of time with my grandchildren and getting some reading done. I've read the first two books by Laura Crum from "Equestrian Ink." I'm going to work my way through them in the order they were written. I really did enjoy them.

On Saturday my hubby and I went down to Albany to the Horse Expo. We only stayed a couple of hours this year, but did get to see the breed demonstrations and stallions. The Arabian demonstration this year featured sporthorses, so we saw jumping, dressage, carriage driving, and endurance horses. Arabians are very versatile and are capable of many disciplines. Rembrandt, a Friesian, was once again very impressive cantering back and forth in the arena to the strains of "Bad To The Bone." There was a beautiful Quarterhorse stallion, whose name I did not get, who was equally as impressive. We watched Steve Rother work with a couple of horses who had canter and whoa problems. He is always entertaining. I bought a pair of Ariat Crowne paddock boots. My only purchase this year. I wanted them to wear for good boots...not for riding. I have plenty of mud encrusted or dusty boots to wear to the barn...and then of course my dressage boots. I had hoped to find a Kensington fly sheet. There was a booth with Kensington products, and they did have fly sheets, but the sizes were all huge and Boo is only a 72. Guess I'll have to rely on the internet. I wish Kensington would make a white fly sheet. Boo is black and the darker colors just hold heat. I may have to break with the brand this year and try something different. Any suggestions?

Getting old is the pits

I haven't posted in the past couple of weeks because I haven't been riding. I started back again on Sunday, and I went out and rode again today. I'm struggling a bit because I have some sciatic nerve pain going on in my left leg and it's difficult to ride through although I try. Hoping it's going to get better soon.

I've taken Bernadine's advice from the clinic and start my ride out with my martingale, but once I know Boo is having a good day I take it off. I swear it's easier to ride him without it. Who knew! We have done walk, trot, and canter without problems.

I know he's been missing me because he's coming in from the pasture voluntarily when he sees me and today when I put him back out he stood at the pasture gate and watched me until I left. He is shedding like crazy and I used the shedding blade on him. That's probably what he liked the most...that and the peppermint.

For those of you who would like to know little Miley has finally healed from her nose ordeal. She is taking the last of the prednisone (to wean her off) and her muzzle is pink and hairless just above the nose, but I'm hopeful the hair will grow back. The vet and lab eventually decided they think she must have been bitten by something...most likely a spider.

Last weekend I went out to Mount Hood and watched Jocelyn and Heather show. They both did an awesome job in a crowded field of horses. It was fun to get to meet them.

In February Sarah and Baythoven took first place in their dressage event at OHSET. The next meet is coming up this weekend and we are hopeful that they will do well once again. Hope to come back from that with some pictures. Wish us luck!