Limited time - working in with the weather

So. I am 9 days into the start of my little girl and despite my grand plan of starting her over 10 days straight, having a couple of days break, and then doing another few days - things didn't go to plan whatsoever!

Over the past weekend (april 1 - 3) I had no time at all.

I thought - no problem I will work her all next week - I go away on Saturday 9th.

That was going to give me 5 straight days riding. And then the rain came. No riding at all, in fact I didnt even get her out of the paddock. Today, I cracked. Its been raining and shining on and off, so I bit the bullet and went and caught her. I intended just to do some ground work with her, brush her, do some farrier training and leave it at that.

Which is what I pretty much did, adding in jumping on her bareback and doing some turns etc.

I am soo happy with this little horse, she really is trying hard for me, and whilst I wont call this 'ride #10' done, I will notch it up to a lesson of working with what I have. I kept procrastinating about working her as the roundyard is much too slippery and they can lose confidence - but I worked around it. I just worked her in a different area of the yard, where it was not as slippery, and I asked for just basic groundwork skills etc. The session built her confidence, taught me a lesson, and got my little filly that little bit more educated - what more could I ask for?

That lesson complete - I headed straight out to my stallion with the rain threatening. I decided not to even put the halter on or to take his rug off - I just did 10 minutes of full liberty, in which we achieved 2 circles in each direction 2 times. Backup from me at his tail, backup from the front, draw, walking next to me and stopping. Done, awesome :) big smiles all round.

I could have stayed in the house - but what would I have learned?

Work with what you have

Happy Riding :)

Tanja