Early morning workouts

Show update: The show went well - I'll write a full post this week...  I didn't fall, Spencer was well behaved and we even won a couple of ribbons!

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I am a morning person – always have been. It amazes my husband that I get up at 5:15 every morning just to go do stuff in the barn and to leave for work early. I’ve just found over the years that this schedule works better for me. I have always had a bit of a commute to work, so leaving early allows me to beat the worst of the morning traffic and leave at a decent time in the afternoon.

Getting up early in the summer is the best – the sun is up early around here this time of year (full light at 5:15 right now!) and everything is quiet. There is often wispy fog floating around and dew on the grass. For the past 6 weeks or so, I have been working Spencer for 15-20 minutes every morning and then I try and ride in the evenings. I usually work on showmanship or do a few minutes of longing/groundwork on the stonedust laneway at the barn. My ring isn’t really safe in the mornings, since the grass is wet with dew (come on sand ring!!!). A few mornings we have even gone for a walk around the neighbourhood.

This schedule worked really well up until recently, since Spencer was in his stall all night and was all rested and ready to go.

I’ve noticed a bit of a change this week, since the boys are out almost all day and all night now. I bring them in around 5:20 for their few bites of grain. I putter around in the barn while they eat and every morning this week, just as I grab Spencer’s halter to take him out, I have found both of them lying down in their stalls having a big nap.

It makes me chuckle a bit that a nice nap is what they are both doing right after they eat. I’ve actually gone into Spencer’s stall with him for the past three mornings. He lets me pet him and sit there with him, which is just as fun as doing some lead line work. I like listening to him breathe and snuffle and sigh as he tries to get some sleep. I feel very fortunate that I have him at home to share these moments. For me, these moments are just as good as having a great ride!