I hate winter because winter means cold. Cold means big bulky layers of clothing. Bulky clothes mean awkward, imprecise riding. Awkward, imprecise riding means I get sad. Also I hate cold wind. Also I hate getting up in the pitch dark because I can't even see where I'm throwing the hay. Also I hate static electricity because it means I can't kiss pony noses without shocking us both and consequently making them hate me.
Reily hates winter because winter means draw reins and lots of boring flat work. Draw reins mean he has to learn to carry himself correctly in the canter without making me hold him up. Self carriage means hard work. And lets face it, horses hate hard work.
Our contact and aids have gotten continually better. He's doing well with turn on the forehand and walk pirouettes. We're still working on getting his turn on the haunches up to par and I need to start working on haunches in with him. He's doing well going on the bit consistantly at the walk and trot but he's still resistant in the canter. I don't want to yank his head down and be heavy handed with him, and I definitely don't want him to think it's ok to only go on the bit at the canter if he makes me hold up his entire front end. So, draw reins it is. We'll still do plenty of trail riding, hacking, and hill work so life doesn't get too boring but I've decided that essentially every ride we flat will be in his dressage saddle (good for us both to get more practice in it) with draw reins.
