Wild Horses

The past few days have been insanely busy.

From a 2 day cram course for the state exam to craziness at work, it has been a headache. I need to relax at my happy place.

I finally got to ride again after a week of nasty weather. It was a gorgeous day, 60 degrees and sunny. I figured the horses would be on their best behavior because they had lots of outside time, blankets were off and the weather was gorgeous. Boy was I wrong.

The lesson horses were doing every little thing they could to be put on the naughty list. Shortcake even decided to bite. Yes, bite. In the 15 years I have never even known her to attempt to nip, much less full on bite. I knew we were doomed.

We worked and got all the kids up on their mounts and in the arena and my trainer took over the lessons.

I walked in to get my usual hunter horse, Soul, only to realize my hunt saddle was on one of the lesson horses. I decided to go on a whim and ride him in a dressage saddle and work on some lateral movements with him.

Yeah, about that...

I took him to the mounting block and he would not sit still. I got on him and he immediately started to jog. I finally got him to chill and we went to work at the trot. He was so strong. It felt like I was holding all 1000 pounds of him. Thanks, Soul. In  the canter I had to half halt strong and repeatedly ask him to woah. It didn't work.

In the cool out he decided his shenanigans were not over and spooked/tried to run off because another horse trotted, then 3 people were whispering on the sidelines and then because the wind blew. This horse has been on an airplane, in coliseums with screaming people and we have ridden in the rain.

He was full of himself and today my shoulders are on fire. Thanks, Soul.

Weekend re-cap

I failed this weekend. Or did I?

I forgot to take pictures because I was living. Oops.

Saturday, I climbed into the saddle on Soul. Last week I rode Raffany as a warm up. He was perfect and I was thankful because after 3 months off, I could not handle a challenge.

Soul was also a perfect boy. I felt like I was all over the place and my abs... ow. But we are slowly making progress. Also, my back hates my F breasts. A reduction may be needed. Or does anyone have any suggestions for an amazing sports bra for large tatas?

Sunday I washed the car. Fun I know.  Then I surprised the hubby at work. He surprised me by taking me to the barn that we met at . I love impromptu visits to places that mean so much. It was amazing to be back on the property where we first dated. The fields were grown up and the barns were gone. The house was falling in, but being there with him sitting in the field with his arms around me took me back 10 years. It's the little things.

A beautiful weekend...

Ahhh, the weekend. 

I did absolutely nothing and I am not sorry. 

I got the award for being lazy this weekend. 

Seriously. 

Okay, lets start at Saturday. 

I slept until .... let's just say really late. 

I woke up and got dressed in my lazy girl jeans and headed to the barn. 

I didn't even muster up the energy to ride, y'all. How sad is that?

I spent the day watching training horses, snuggling with Soul and helping the kids bathe their horses after their rides. I was content with the coldest bottle of water, the breeze blowing and sun and sand. I pretended I was tanning at the beach. 

I came home from the barn and soaked in the tub and then decided to take a nap. 

See how productive this weekend is turning out to be so far? 

I get lazier if you can believe it. 

Sunday, I slept late again. 

I worked on making a new "It Works" binder for all of my client sheets. 

(shameless plug: newyouwithmallory.myitworks.com) 

I napped again. 

And finally decided to drag myself to the grocery store to buy wine and cookies. 

It was the perfect weekend. Perfect. I hope to do it again in 5 days! 

Ps- If you want to tighten tone and firm, check out my It Works website. If you are interested in becoming a distributor email me! 

Friday Letters

Dear Friday Letters,
It has been awhile and I have kinda missed you. Your a great way to re-cap my week and my feelings.

Dear Cold Weather,
Brrr.... You do not make riding very fun. I hate feeling like an ice cube when I get done training. Not cool. There is a reason I live in the south and that reason is not the cold.

Dear Soul,
Ow. I understand you were frustrated because we were learning something new, but you didn't need to pull my arms out of socket. Seriously, my arms are on fire today.

Don't let that sweet face fool you. He was rotten last night, but it was still a blast. 

Dear weekend,

I am going to party like I'm 80. Comfort food and nap times galore. Do not throw any wrenches into that plan, okay?

Dear readers, 

Thank you for being here and while you are here join the giveaway! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The other side of me...

So, you know how in my about me section I talk about how I am a crazy horse lady? You guys never get to see that. It is on an entirely different blog, but today I wanted to show ya'll what makes me tick. What relaxes me and what my passion is.

I wrote a post about my Saturday ride. Riding is a workout and like any workout sometimes you just don't want to train. But again like any work out you never regret it.

Here it is, the other side of me...
I have been battling a nasty cold for two weeks. Two weeks! I haven't felt like riding, because it's hard to breathe and it's been cold. Every time I have to trot for more that 5 minutes I have coughing spells that hurt. This week I finally felt better but still weak and it was freezing, but the trainer spoke and I got my butt to the barn. I told her I could squeeze in a ride early, but only a quick one. 

Saturday I showed up at 9 am. It was cold and the ground was still frozen. I immediately regretted agreeing to ride. The outdoor arena was frozen solid so I couldn't ride in the sunshine. Lovely, riding in the shaded arena in the cold weather. I waited for Soul to finish his grain and pulled him out of his stall. I peeled off his blankets and started to brush. As the shavings fell from him, the stress fell from me. He nickered and nuzzled and I smiled and laughed. We got tacked up and headed down to the covered arena where he could hardly stand still while I got on.

My trainer made her way to the arena and we went to work. He trotted and came into frame perfectly ( where the horses bend there necks and bodies pretty). I barely put my leg on and he molded to my leg around curves and floated around the arena. Then we asked for the canter (my favorite part). He can sometimes be a little strong and bossy but he was literally floating. I was sitting perfectly. It was like we were on the same brainwave. Our ride was cut short because he was being so perfect and we wanted to reward him. I walked him out much longer than normal, not wanting the ride to end. That ride I didn't want to start? The one I was convinced it was too cold to do?


Guess what... I was warm, relaxed and happy. It was just what I needed. I left the barn clear headed and confident. I left the barn happy and relaxed. I left the barn knowing little Soul and I had been just what each other needed and realizing I should never put riding on the back burner even if it is cold and I am sick. I never regret a ride. Ever. So why put off getting to the barn? I need to ride. For my sanity and my health.