No Trail Riding

The ground is frozen, the river is freezing and I have been riding in the arena for almost a week. 

I could have gotten a little time outside on the driveway, but the farrier trimmed Cole's feet a little short, and they are tender.  I rode him too much on the trail the last 8 weeks.  Since he doesn't wear his feet evenly, one side gets too low--and the farrier has to lower the other side just as much to balance them.  Shoes would have been useful this time around--but who would have thought I would have gotten so much trail riding?  I was worried this would happen, but I didn't want to lose those nice rides.  Anyway, he is fine in the soft sand.

I have been getting bad ideas in my head.  The urge to buy a second horse keeps crossing my mind--and it is just a dumb idea, right now.  Cole is young enough that I don't need a second horse--and it is just too expensive if I don't really need one.  Besides, with Ranger, there is plenty to do most of the time.  So, Ellen has been encouraging me to ride Dante in the arena.  Since I feel like I'm not getting enough riding, Dante is helping.

He has been doing better and better with each ride.  I like riding him in the arena better than Cole in a lot of ways.  He is just so smooth!!!  With Cole, I can be dripping with sweat--even on a cold day.  Dante moves just fast and easy enough for me to stay warm.  He doesn't know as much as Cole does--and isn't as near as creative with tricks and evasions.  He is just a good horse with smooth gaits.

According to the long-term weather forecast, I will be primarily riding in the arena for a while.  In a few more days, I will be able to ride Cole outside, but it is supposed to just get colder.  But that is January up north.  Time goes fast, and it will soon be spring...