Sit the Trot

Before I bought Axel, Nic may have possibly mentioned to me that its a shit time to buy a horse. The first three months of the year are generally the snowiest in Colorado. Of course, I pooh poohed him as I knew better. I needed to get something now to have time to learn about said horse, bond n stuff before the show season kicks off. This is the PERFECT time I told him. Now I have egg... or maybe snow and ice on my face don't I. Colorado is going through one of the coldest and snowiest winters in ages. This week we have had wind chill temps of minus 25C. Some days is is simply too cold to ride, even with the indoor. In fact I swear the indoor is sometimes colder than outside. Today, we hit highs of almost above freezing, but right now, back to a few inches of snow chucking it down. It's been a tough time to get to know a horse, however, he has been a diamond. If it's been too cold to ride, we have handwalked round and around the arena, played clicked games and worked on...

Well, well. I am almost two weeks into my journey with Axel but it seems like so much longer (in a good way haha) not a gosh, I am so bored I feel like I have been working with you forever type way! I already feel I have learned so much about him in the short time he has been with me. He has things he loves, hugs and attention, veggies and fruits, hay, turnout with his gelding posse, riding and hand walking through the fields and children. He also has the things he does not love, not even a little bit. So far these have been Cows- they are udderly terrifying! We turned him out next to them a week after he had arrived and he lost the plot a bit. The other thing is clipping. He is actually quite sensitive skin wise and I think the vibrations and tickle feeling was also terrifying, he held his shit together but let both Cara and I know that he was being kind but that the buzzing electronic device was the scariest thing since… well ever! Of course, I love a few little...

So English riding seems to be much more elitist over here in the USA than it does in England. Why would I say this you may ask... Well its fuffing expensive that is why! As you guys know, the cost of buying the horses is more expensive, plus I shipped mine about a billion miles, so all of that already puts the USA ahead cost wise. Now, of course, I am the proud owner of my Axel. This meant I can get to registering for the competition year ahead. First I had to register myself. To be eligible to compete in the competitions and finals at which I would like to be able to show, I had to register myself with the following. USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) $80 for the year, USDF $90, then RMDS (Rocky Mountain Dressage) $70. All these are Annually and JUST FOR ME. I mean flipping ridiculous. THEN on top of this the bluddy horse has to be registered. Axel has lifetime registrations so luckily its just the transfer fees... $50 for USEF, $35 USDF and another $25 for the Freisian Sp...

What a week we have had. Axel has settled into life at Happenstance and with me very well. He seems happy and settled which makes my heart feel great! Quite honestly I have fallen head over heels in love with him. He is sweet and funny on the ground, easy to handle but not a total dobbin. Under saddle he is just the same, he makes you feel completely safe as soon as you get on and he just wants to look after you. He is happy to potter around slowly if you would like but will also pick up the pace when you ask him to. Right now we are just working on his strength and fitness, I would like to get him really nice and strong so that he feels that all the movements are easy for him and this is going to just take some time and the right training. He is just a blast to ride, very easy on your body, light in the hand and his canter... lovely! I am so excited to get him out and about. I trust him totally under saddle already but still feel like we are just beginning our dialogue about what ...

Today was my first lesson on the darling Axel. I was really excited for it and hoped that we clicked well enough to show promise at least! The day didn't start the best as Axel had decided that the cows are basically the most terrifying thing ever so was busy pacing and worrying in one of the turnout pens when I went out to see him. He is a funny old thing and really gets reassurance from people so as soon as I went out to him he calmed a little would start to stress as soon as I walked away again. We brought him to to relax a little again in his stall which he did the moment he got in there, he was a very thankful little sausage to be away from the scary things that moo. I spent the morning kinda strolling around the property with him just to get him used to it all. He kept an eye on the horizon where the cows were but was happy to walk and chill with me. I love the nothing time we spend together, the time we just do very little but stand and wander, neither of us asking much of e...