We are planning some rides finally

...so I've started both of the girls on some work.  The sun is shining and I'm seeing little bits of green grass poking up.  The daffodils are in bloom, and the trees are budding.  I'm in my happy place :)

Phebes started last week on a process to put her back under saddle.  Another year has slipped by and was she ever full of herself in the round pen this morning.  She looked like a wild bronc coming out of the gate.  Whew!  Glad I was working from the ground.  We made progress though.   Journey I did round pen with last week, and had our first spring ride, followed up today with another.  Journey is a great solo horse, but in a group she stinks.  We need a lot of miles doing more of that to work the kinks out I guess.  Journey traveled bare today, and it was fine including dirt track, rocky creek crossings, and paved road.  This might be our year to make the total transition since our ride distnace goals will roll back to a very comfortable 15 miles, and I can choose the pace I want without fighting a clock anymore.  It feels in many ways such a relief to not be under the gun of meeting a mileage / time quota anymore.  I do miss doing the LD rides  though.  But I won't try again unless we move to another region.  Which is very unlikely. 

But I do have some CMO's planned and I'm happy about that.  I have a three day coming up in May, assisting with a demo ride for Red Hats & Purple Chaps in June, and with marking a ride out of state if all goes well with getting off work for a long weekend in September, then a two day ride in October.  We'll sit out the hot/humid rides in favor of evening pleasure rides, or doin' nothing ☺  I am empowered ☺  We can ride a nice pace...stop and have a picnic...dawdle in the deep water of a flowing creek, or ride hell-bent to leather.   Or not.   ♥  Life is good. 

To my endurance friends across the country, good luck on your upcoming season.  I miss you all.

Jacke