It happens to me every winter. I get burnt out. Tired of riding in the cold and dark. Tired of dodging rain storms. Tired of sloppy footing. Tired of five layers and feeling like a marshmallow.
Typically it comes in January as the days are short and cold but January was pretty mild this year. I rode religiously all month between rain storms. February has come though and brought my seasonal malaise along with it.
I haven’t ridden since the WR cross country outing and feel no motivation to do so. In years past I’d get angry with myself for this hiatus in riding. I’d silently scold myself for another day not spent in the saddle. Having a blog though allows me to spot trends and having noted that every year as winter wears thin and spring is about to bud I take a month off, well this year I’m allowing it with patience.
Spring is in the air. I can feel it in the slightly warmer sun rays, hear it in the increasing bird song and smell it in the wet earth. The days are growing slowly longer, the rain is still present but the ground is recovering quicker after each downpour. Soon, my favorite time of the year will explode around me and I’ll get a fresh breath of motivation.
I’ll ride with vigor until the end of summer when I’ll take another break as I burn out from riding in the heat, fighting hydration and hard ground. As I quickly approach 40, I’m learning to listen to my body as it tells me what it needs. Right now it needs spring. Until that comes it needs a break from the rigors of pushing through.
Eeyore is not the same horse coming into spring 2020 as he was spring 2019. His training is more solid, his antics less scary. Trainer hopped on him last weekend for the first time in over 2 months and was very pleased with the horse she found under her. He was lighter in the bridle, more balanced and a touch off the forehand. That was after 2 weeks of complete rest.
We will need a bit of a tune up and a lot of conditioning work once things get back in full swing, but I’m confident that all the work in 2019 will pay off. Until I’m ready to swing my leg back over my bestest orange buddy, I’m enjoying other aspects of life and he is enjoying a short break to eat the early spring grass and pick on Pete.
The Roaming Rider 
Blogs are the best for noticing trends! I’m glad you’re taking a guilt-free break. Hang in there, we gain an hour of daylight super soon!
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Spring always brightens my lfie
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I rode at a barn where we called February “Hate my pony month” because… everything is harder at the end of winter. Luckily, the time changes back soon and temps will rise a bit, grass will grow back, and we can get back to it. For now, a bit of rest never hurt anyone.
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That’s what I figured. We aren’t on a heavy show schedule or trying to make a team so a bit of downtime while the world moves towards spring isn’t going to hurt
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February is the hardest month of the year. The weather is usually sucky (although it’s actually pretty good here for some strange reason that I won’t question). I view it as a month to be endured. I love your attitude on things.
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As I get older I’m getting a lot nicer to myself
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Be patient and allow ❤ It will come
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Eeyore is no worse for a little time off
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exactly!
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Hate feb too! UGH….just not feeling it. Love the puppy and want to steal him that is all 🙂 SPRING IS COMING!!
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It better be! 3 more days of rain this week. I’m over it
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Blogging is super helpful for spotting the trends just like you said. I used to make homemade yogurt but at some point decided I preferred to just get it at the store and make other stuff instead (like bread!) – we also didn’t have the best facilities for making yogurt either lol It’s so fun and empowering though making things from scratch.
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I felt so accomplished when it turned out and tasted good. I don’t eat a lot of yogurt in general so I make it once a month and that suffices
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It’s always good to take breaks when you need them! Now is definitely the time, too. Charlie just had a couple of light weeks as well and felt super refreshed !
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It’s supposed to be dry for a while which pumps me back up. This never ending rain has gotten really tiresome
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