Looking forward to Spring, the good and the bad.

Although the calendar says it's Spring, it very much looks and feels like Winter!  I can tell the season is changing though, because there's more daylight and the horses have been shedding for a few weeks. Apparently it's the lengthening of daylight that signals the winter coats to shed.  This would explain why they're losing hair despite the cold temperatures hanging on.  I've also noticed that they're not consuming quite as much hay as they were in the coldest months this winter, so there's proof that it has been a couple degrees warmer, despite me whining and complaining about being cold!

So here are a few things to keep in mind when you come out to ride with me:

- warm means thaw and that means MUD.  Only it's not just mud.  I strive to keep the corral clear of manure all summer, but over winter when the horses are confined to the corral, the manure does build up.  Until I can get in there with a tractor to do a big clean out, we'll have to step carefully and just accept that, well... manure happens.

- I've got a "boot brush" nailed to the fence post just beside the gate.  Give your boots a little scrub on your way out.

- Continue to wear layers - it's still cold, but you can always take off the outer layer if it gets warmer.

- HORSE HAIR.  This is going to be a thing for the next month at least!  Wear fabrics that hair slides off of, such as windbreaker jackets.  Anything made of polar fleece will be coated with hair in seconds and it does not come off easily!

- I'm encouraging young riders to learn how to use a washing machine.  Being a horse person means doing laundry.  This time of year really proves that!

- Hanging around in the barnyard can be hard on your car -- consider some newspapers on the floor mats and old sheets on the seats to keep your car from getting too dirty.

- Remember that rain doesn't have to mean cancelled lessons; you always have the option of indoor unmounted topics.  If you figure you've covered most of that and really want to get riding, we can reschedule.  My calendar still allows for plenty of flexibility.

I'm really proud of you hardy little souls who've stuck with it all winter!  This has been a harsh winter and honestly, I haven't ridden much.  By the time I've spent a few hours cleaning the barn, putting out hay and taking care of the horses, I don't feel like braving the cold wind to go ride. You guys are good stuff.  Thanks for not laughing at me in my layers of thermal coveralls and barn coats and hats and hoods!

I'm also looking forward to seeing all of you who've taken the winter off!  I can't wait to show off all the work we've done in the barn to make it a nicer place to work.

Here's hoping Spring 2013 is pleasant and until then, stay warm!