This winter was a true northeastern winter. It was bitterly cold in longer more sustained stretches. In recent years we have been lucky with a few days of bitter cold followed by less miserable temperatures. This year it felt there was no end in sight. To add insult to injury I worked on the days where we had decent temperatures. We cancelled more rides and lessons than we ever have this year so far. I have a strict rule with myself about riding below 20 degrees (23ish) Fahrenheit (You can see my previous post about that research I’m Cold, You’re Cold, They’re Cold).
I did my best to ride when I could over the winter. We did our working equitation obstacle days every other Monday for a few sessions (see Winter Working (Equitation)).
Since the boys didn’t have much ability to run and release their energy, Stanley brought that energy with him to the arena. Most weeks I would only take him to the arena for groundwork or free lunging. He needed it. Even with the free lunging I’d get on and he was Firey.
He also gained muscle over the winter and filled out even more. I think the deep snow really contributed to this since he had to engage his core to walk through it. His topline looks even better than it did before.
Fortunately, in March the snow disappeared. Stanley and Tiger have begun to play and romp in their field…and Stanley is showing up to his workouts with a good brain.
You might remember back in October we held our first clinic at the farm by hosting Andrea Waldo (We Had A Clinic). Since then we’ve been extremely fortunate to have her back in November and December for monthly lesson days.
January and February were too cold but we resumed again in March. There were 5 of us at the last lesson day and we all enjoyed good rides. Stanley was very good in our ride with only a couple moments of attitude.
In our dressage lessons with Krystal, we’ve been connecting the dots even more. Stanley is getting more and more mature. We worked on straightening exercises one day and another day worked on REALLY asking them to step under themselves and bending fully through their bodies.
Also in March we tend to start ramping up with our typical routine care. Stanley got to live a few farrier cycles barefoot. I like allowing their hooves to rest and relax over the winter. Stanley got his shoes back on the 31st.
We also had our vet out for routine vaccines and Coggins. Since we travel a lot I like to have him up to date and ready to go.
We also had our chiropractor out. Stanley enjoys getting routine chiropractic and acupuncture. In fact, he REALLY loves his acupuncture! I was shocked how much he melted into the treatment and to be honest I think his attitude and chiropractic adjustments have improved since I added that option to the schedule.
The last weekend in March I was signed up for a working equitation clinic with Stephanie Hayes at Larkin Hill Farm. Stephanie is the cofounder of New England Working Equitation, Inc. She’s been awarded national titles on several of her own horses competing in levels 1 through 7.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with Stanley on his first trip out. It was also our first visit back to Larkin Hill after our fall in 2023 (A Great Opportunity and A Great Lesson Learned). I myself was a little apprehensive. But Stanley showed up with his big boy pants. He rode around the indoor arena with only mild tension (seen as SLIGHTLY rushing through his gaits, but to be fair I was asking for a big walk).
If we had only shown up and calmly rode I would have been thrilled. But we didn’t stop there. The lesson was very dressage based in nature, but it was different enough from our normal lessons that I took home some valuable tools. Stephanie had me remove my running martingale and worked with me to help him soften through his body in other ways. It was effective!!!
Stanley also has a habit of getting impatient with the halts. He halts but if I pick up contact, he starts to anticipate and fails to hold still. Stephanie worked with us on that.
Our turn on the forehand is hit or miss. At first, he does exceptional. But when I go back to it, he gets anxious. Stephanie helped us break it down to help him UNDERSTAND the exercise better.
When it came to the obstacles, we only tackled three…the slalom, switch cup, and the bell corridor. The clinic was much less about doing the obstacles for execution and a lot more about the horse understanding the steps to execute each one properly and with the correct form.
The big key in the day was to remind us that working equitation demonstrates the ability of a horse to perform the job that would be standard on a farm. Instead of a forward fast paced trot we were looking for a thoughtful trot…not too fast but with good energy. Stephanie reminded me that the trot (like in the pen obstacle) should be adequate but not too much that it frightens the livestock (sheep, cows, etc).
The clinic was a massive success for us. We walked away with more tools, more knowledge, more experience, and it was very confidence boosting overall. Stanley learned and used his brain without ever becoming flustered or exhausted. The environment was calm and relaxing. It was the perfect first trip for us for the year.
We are already signed up to return back to the farm in two weeks for our first show of the year. I suspect the energy will have him slightly more aroused but I hope for a good willing boy.
What is your spring looking like for you where you are? Do you have snow? Are you getting much riding in?
I look forward to hearing about your adventures!
The Green Horseman 
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