Lobotomy? Maybe it's the frost...

All of the sudden it's winter.  Like 20 degrees at night, 30-something in the day winter.   This is great for mud management, but usually results in fuity-ass horses and really, really cold toes.

I acknowledge that relative to the central plains, or Alaska 20 degrees is balmy, but for me it means I'm bundled up like a marshmallow puff and warming my gloves on the space heater.

Once again I got to the barn expecting a crazy mare.  She had yesterday off (there is a pattern developing here..) and it was even colder than the last time I rode her.  But, given her lazy, slow performances earlier in the week I decided to skip both lunging and a martingale in favor of just getting on and trying to warm myself up. 

Relax lady, it's the most wonderful time of the year!

We were stuck inside again since in sprite of the glorious sunshine the outdoor was frozen totally solid, but I wasn't too sad since we're showing inside this weekend and it's good to adjust my mental state back to indoors again.

Once again the mare was a lazy, floppy hunter.  I don't know what has happened to her (or the gerbils), but everyone was on their best behavior leading to a very confusing ride. 

"more impulsion!"

"a bit more energy to her step"

"more leg, leg, leg"

Not exactly what I'm used to hearing when we're jumping (JUMPING), so I was started to get a bit frustrated and felt like I was pony-kicking her along.  Dare I say that I might have to get the spurs back out??

I'm really not complaining since the mare is landing so softly and coming right back instead of her usual routine of grabbing the bit and stressing out for a few strides - but I feel a bit inept as a pilot.  It's like all the dials and instruments I'm used to looking at mean nothing.  All of my regular buttons are useless.

What the hell am I supposed to do with a relaxed, lazy hunter?? (I mean, aside from show it and collect ribbons, duh).

Very strange feeling indeed.

In a odd sense of timing I had ordered more Perfect Prep from SmartPak and saw that their old formula of SmartCalm Ultra was on sale.  I have friends who swear by the stuff so I figured, what the hell, it's winter, let's see if this takes the edge off the mare.

Of course the stuff showed up today, and I'm wondering what sort of peanut roller lope I could expect if I put Prairie on it now...

I'm stilling arming myself with the Prep for this weekend, I'm not so naïve as to expect such a chill, calm horse out at a show, but.... can you imagine if that's how she showed up?? It's like all my dreams would be coming true...