I rode Dancer Thursday afternoon. Gave him a really good workout--we must have trotted at least thirty minutes nonstop! Of course, this was partly due to the fact that Anne was giving a dressage clinic this weekend and there were--OMG!!--FOLDING CHAIRS OF DOOM IN THE RING!!! Really. There was a small stack of them between two jumps and when I circled Dancer between the jumps, he (uncharacteristically) spazzed out at them so hard, I nearly went off BACKWARDS!!!

So, naturally, we learned that folding chairs do not eat grey horses. This was amazingly challenging work. I think it was due to the fact it was a coolish day and he hadn't had any turnout. Anyway, we got over it.

Going home, I felt sort of crappy--stomach cramps, runny nose, headache, but I chalked it up to allergies. I had pretty bad chills when I got home, but I just went to bed. All day Friday I felt lousy--sore throat, chills, headache, sneezing, stomachache, all that lovely stuff. Saturday I felt better and today I feel pretty OK. I mean, so what? We all get sick sometimes!

My friend Rachel's husband had a sore throat for a couple of days. That's all. No chills. Then he got a temperature--on the THIRD day--of BARELY 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

He immediately called the doctor and nagged him till the doctor prescribed antivirals. Jeez!

It was gorgeous out today! In the eighties! I had a lesson, then tried a "new" used saddle on Dancer (I'm not happy with his current one), gave Dancer another bath (he REALLY hated this one as it was outside and used cold water), then cleaned all his tack.

It was so beautiful that after Kelly (a working student) took some digital pictures of me riding Dancer with the saddle to send to the company (this one doesn't work either), I rode Dancer around some more. He and I both love the outdoor ring. I'm happy to say he isn't afraid of puddles the way some horses are. He looked at them about one second and then walked right through. I have the feeling he might make a good trail horse or even an event horse!

He and I worked more on canter departs and transitions. He has a very lofty, forward, long-strided trot and I'm still learning to sit down to it when asking for the depart. To look at him, you'd never guess he has such a long stride--he puts a lot of warmbloods to shame!

It was exactly the kind of day that makes me realize all over again for the thousandth--no, the millionth time--why I love horses and riding so much. And why I ride even in winter when I'm freezing--because eventually spring will come, and days like today.

I rode Dancer outside again today. It was a gorgeous day, about 75F and a little breezy, slightly overcast. Perfect for riding outside!

Dancer was a bit looky again--after all, it's only the fourth time he's been in the outdoor ring and the first time he and I have been completely alone in it--but he was very, very good. Anne, Kelly, Amy, and some of the other boarders were painting jumps at one side and he wanted to stare at them, but I didn't have any real trouble refocusing him. He's such a good boy!

We got some real work accomplished, including a lot of canter work on the left rein. Next time I want to work on cantering on the right rein. He's got an awesome canter.

Oh, and the bath I gave him? What a Sisyphean task. He has ENORMOUS manure/urine stains on his left hindquarter. Evidently that's his favorite side to lie down on. *sigh*

On the way home, I stopped at the Perkins near my house for something to eat (I can't WAIT until my kitchen is finished!) An older man and woman with a very old lady were seated at a table near mine. The very old lady was quite sharp in her pretty pink sweater set, grey slacks, bright red lipstick, and (very) dyed black hair. She really gave you the idea she was something in her day.

I don't know what they were talking about, but at one point I heard her come out with, "I don't know SHIT! and I almost snorted my coffee across the room. My sides ached with holding my laughter in and I actually had tears in my eyes. You know how it is--you don't want to laugh, it's not the right time to laugh, so it seems even funnier.

I want to be like that little old lady when I get old.