Progress and setbacks

SO is living it up at the new job and things are going REALLY well so far.  We have gotten a couple of very nice gifts from them and they are willing to pay for a LOT of stuff that his previous employer didn't.  And not expect a lot of things that his previous employer did.  It is looking very positive so far!  Topping that off with the fact he will actually be coming home for this weekend and next, it makes me a happy girl.

I decided on Monday that I needed to get my butt into gear and start on my fitness again.  I have a clinic mid April and I need to have my two point if I want to be able to jump and not look like a fool, right?  Time to get to work!  It is very obvious that I am not jumping fit, I found my baseline for two point.  After a good, long, cold winter, my base line for two point was 2 minutes and 40 seconds.  Oh pitiful, no way I can get around a course for that length of time!  Mia and I be bopped around the arena working on striding over a pole on the ground at both the trot and canter.  Overall it went really well.  Mia is slowly starting to figure out how to increase/decrease her stride upon request to match the pole.  We are not 100% but we are close to 80% and that is pretty good in my book.  We still have almost 2 months before our first event.

We did, however, have slip.  Mia slipped in a pee spot in the arena with the left hind and came up lame.  Pretty lame, actually and while she has no heat/swelling/sensitivity, she is certainly not right.  In addition to being short strided, she is also stabbing at the ground with her hoof.  Enough that she is sending up a spray of dirt in front of her toe with almost every step.  Grr.  I gave her bute and let her rest and as of this AM she is still off.  I took some video and sent them off to Dr A to see his opinion, hopefully he says just give it some time.  Figures.

Since Mia was lame, I rode App last night and he was a rock star.  He can be such a rock star when he wants to be.  He may be old and out of shape but he put up with all of my fitness antics like he actually cared as to if we accomplished goals.  Such a good horse.  After a bit of work, I timed myself again and was successfully able to make it to 4:30 in two point.  WIN!  That is awesome! I will take that kind of gain any day, but I certainly don't see myself making that kind of a gain again lol.  At the end, the outside of my ankles BURNED.  Fitness started, check.  Fitness obtained, negative.  Additional fitness needed, check.

I am off of riding until Sunday now thanks to giving lessons, if nothing else it gives Mia a chance to figure out how to heal herself.  I wish I could figure out where she hurt but apparently I suck at hind end lameness.  And since even the 10 second video is over 8mb, I can't get it to upload thanks to my slow internet.  Fun times.  That will be one of the highest priorities at our new place, good, fast internet.  Here's to hoping Mia is better fast and fitness goes well!