End of February Analysis, and Birthday Madness Week

February is OVER! YES! Like I said last month, I am not much of a February kind of girl, but actually aside from Gogo's mystery on and off lameness, I had a decent month. Unffortunately, Gogo's level of soundness/happiness is often pretty closely linked to my corresponding level of happiness. I'm feeling much better about it at this point - I did attempt a half a circle of canter in one direction on Monday, but then gave her two days off just in case, so we shall see today what her legs look like (it was my day off yesterday so I didn't go to the barn at all).

Onto the February analysis...



February Goals:

1) Start canterwork, building from 5 minutes for the first two weeks to 10 for an additional two weeks, then resume regular flatwork sessions in the beginning of March
Well, obviously we didn't get quite that far given our little setbacks. Hopefully those are over and done with, and we can get back to trying a little canterwork this week. The idea is that we'll do exactly the same canterwork schedule in March that we were supposed to do in February, and hopefully this time there will be no more issues!

2) Map out a hacking plan - where to start with little hills, how to gradually increase... building over the course of a couple months to our regular 2-hour hacks
This was completed, and I had a plan mapped out through May, but I actually think I am going to change it so I ride flat for four days and hack for two, so I will have to alter the schedule somewhat. Which won't be hard to do. I want to keep things interesting for Gogo (and for me too) so that she (and I) don't go totally nuts doing the same thing in the indoor every day... we all know how well THAT works for Gogo. So I will come up with a new plan, and keep you guys posted.

3) Add incline work on the treadmill
Success! She is now going on the second level instead of the first. It's hardly an incline at all, really, but it's a start!

4) Wean gradually off the nighttime wraps to just every other night
Success, sorta! We're actually leaving the wraps off more often than not, just wrapping when the legs look questionable or we've done something difficult that might warrent overnight wraps. For the most part, the legs have stayed cool and quiet, although once in awhile they fill a little more than I am comfortable with. I expected this, and it's not surprising, but still.

5) MAYBE if everything goes according to plan and we are back to regular work at the end of the month, a trip to the beach!? (Just to walk around in the water and smell the salty air!)
Yeah... not so much. But once again, I hope to do this in March instead of February. The beaches are only open to horses until the very end of March, so hopefully it'll work out this time!



March Goals:
1) Start canterwork, building from 5 minutes for the first two weeks to 10 for an additional two weeks, then resume regular flatwork sessions in the beginning of March
2) Continue to build our hacks up to an hour of walk work (revamp plan as well so we have a more concrete idea)
3) Move to the next incline level on the treadmill
4) MAYBE if everything goes according to plan and we are back to regular work at the end of the month, a trip to the beach!? (Just to walk around in the water and smell the salty air!)
5) Near the end of the month, reevaluate show season - where we stand, where it looks like we'll be, and what we will need to do to have a successful show season (finances, opening dates, rejoining organizations should her soundness continue



It's Birthday Madness Week! I am turning 25 on the 12th, so I figured since one doesn't turn a quarter of a century old every day that I should have an entire WEEK dedicated to it. Only now it's more like a week and a half because we started the celebration yesterday with a little personal lovin'. I have a fantastic new haircut and an awesome new tat on the back of my neck. LOVE it. It means that I personally identify as a girl who likes girls, and that love is universal and a right everyone shares. It's not so much about me personally as it is something I believe in and will fight for tooth and nail until the day I die. Love it.