Raise your hand if you have ever felt completely inadequate to swing your leg over a horse.
And how many of you swing your leg over a horse anyway? Why do you do that?

My guess is that you have a positive attitude, at least most of the time. And so do I. Well, okay, more like I avoid a negative attitude most of the time, but on balance the result is the same.
Where am I going with this? Weather delays. I don’t even want to know how many times the word “weather” has occurred on the pages of this blog. But here in Central Texas we have had over a week of rain. This means little to no riding, limited turnout or hand walking, and y’all, I couldn’t walk poor Conrad on Sunday morning.

Yesterday was the first opportunity I had to get on my horse since the previous Monday. As I got further down the county road to the barn after work, drizzle picked up. I decided f this, I am riding no matter what. (Positive … or just manic?) Eli was a bit crusty from a brief but welcome turnout earlier in the day and he was a bit testy about being curried. But I tacked up, we took the long way to the mounting block, and I settled for just walking around the fields under saddle — the drizzle made the grass too slick for more.
Also, there were goats over there! And some white tarp over I guess round bales!? Let’s snort and spook some? Ooorrrrrr let’s … just walk. Even if only for 15 minutes. Staying positive goes beyond managing Eli’s brain. I was in the middle of building up Eli’s topline and finally had started to see some progress. But that progress got mostly erased after a week of very little exercise. Endlessly frustrating.

I could give up and stop giving a shit about my horse’s fitness, but I am not going to do that. I may feel like Sisyphus pushing a boulder uphill right now, but that earlier progress inspires me that what I want for my horse is within reach.
As far as the weather goes, I have to accept the things I can’t change. I will, however, find ways to keep Eli’s fitness and health moving forward, even if in only tiny increments.
Weather is so frustrating. Occasionally makes me miss having an indoor. But maybe in the grand scheme the break will be good for you guys. I’m sure you’ll get that topline on him!
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I hope so! The break is actually pretty well-timed, as Eli decided to bang up a leg in turn out and while he had been sound on it I am sure a little rest and a lot of icing is good for him.
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