The Starting Line

Finally, I am starting the horses back into work. Tokaj has just finished her second day of Lunging for Fitness... which basically means that I am working her from the ground on a long line to get her muscles and cardio system more fit before I heft myself onto her unsuspecting back. :)

Tokaj came back into work with gusto. She bucked and played on the lunge and made me afraid that she would slip and fall on the dewy grass... but she is very agile and didn't have a mishap. She got herself all worked into a sweat before we really even got down to business and worked on communication, obedience, and transitions. By the time we were finished, she was ready for a treat and a bath.

This morning was Tokaj's second morning back, and it was rather like watching a weekend athlete get out for the second day after a day of playing weekend warrior. This morning Tokaj did exactly what was asked of her and no more! I think she was a bit stiff and sore. Kind of like me starting to work out. Tokaj looks pregnant. It is all the good food she gets, and no competition for it. I envisioned going to a clinic and having the clinician say..."Ummm...YOU recently had a baby... and Tokaj is GOING to have a baby right?" Sigh.

So, for those of you wondering... here is how the schedule is playing out: 5am... I get out of bed to feed the baby. 5:30am... out to the barn to work Tokaj and then feed horses since my husband can watch the baby until he has to go to work. 7:00am... back to being a mommy. 6pm or 7pm... out to the barn to work either Bailey or Savannah and feed for the evening. Dedication you say? Absolutely.

And no, the arena is not finished. I am guesstimating that it is about three weeks out, and so I am lunging the horses on the grass until then, so that by the time the arena is ready, the horses and I will be ready for under saddle work... in other words: RIDING!! YEAH!!

So the other area of work is my fitness level. If you've ever had to put on a pair of english riding breeches... you understand my pain. They are little better than spandex tights. They don't look so good on pregnant ladies or post partum ladies either (or really ANYONE except 12 year old girls... but I am trying to minimize the shock impact). So... during the afternoon when baby is napping, I get in a workout in our small gym. I have never been so sore. I used to be the Ab Queen (yes that is a self-designation!), but after the baby... I was apalled to find that I could not even do ONE full sit up. It was as if someone removed my abdominal muscle. Yikes. Dressage (the first phase of the Three Day Event competition) necessitates the use of your core muscles. I definitely need to find mine again. So I am embarking on a fitness regime that I used during my law enforcement days. It will kick my considerable assets into shape in no time. If you are curious you can check it out at http://www.crossfit.com/. However, if you embark on the challenge of completing the "Workout of the Day"... don't blame me if you are very sore or get injured. The workout is very hardcore, and although I love the results, you have to leave your ego at the door and go very VERY slowly at first.

Another great thing has happened that I have to share. I have been asked a few times lately about being a riding instructor again. (For those of you who don't know, a long long time ago, I used to teach riding and really liked it... but I wasn't making enough $ to support my other habits like horse collecting). So, rather than hang out a shingle here where no one knows me, I got in touch with the United States Eventing Association to discuss their Instructor Certification Program, and it turns out, that despite my long absence from teaching and competing, they still would welcome me into their workshops and later the assessments for certification. I am very excited to get back into teaching and to get closer to the USEA.

So I am busy. Happy busy. Hope you are too.
P~