Summer Survival Mode

I am behind on updates. Very behind. I am sorry.

The last couple of weeks have been a lot, and the Texas heat has not exactly helped. By the end of the day, I am tired, sweaty, cranky, and questioning several life choices. Mostly the one where I chose horses in Texas.

We had our first recognized show at home, which was exciting and also a good reminder that home shows are not necessarily easier for younger horses. Apparently, when you add trailers, unfamiliar horses, show clothes, people walking around with purpose, and everyone acting slightly more dramatic than usual, home no longer feels like home.

It was not my best showing. That is fine. I would rather have an honest ride that tells me what needs work than a lucky ride that makes me think we have it all figured out. We do not.

We have a show near Houston in two weeks, and I am looking forward to it. I did decide to scratch Teagan, though. He is having some kind of skin reaction and has been scratching himself raw. He will not be healed enough in two weeks, and even if he is mostly healed, I am not going to take him somewhere that could make him uncomfortable or set him back.

The shows will still be there. His skin needs to heal. His comfort comes first.

Peanut will be going, though. He has been feeling good, even if the heat takes a lot out of him too. Honestly, same. We are both looking forward to "big ass" fans, shade, slightly cooler Houston temps, and pretending Texas summer is a reasonable thing to live through.

Summer is not really my season. It feels less like training and more like managing everyone’s hydration, energy, turnout, skin, flies, schedules, and general will to live.

Progress still happens, but it has to look different.

I have also had to stay on top of my own fitness. Every summer, I reach the point where I no longer want to work out. I do not want to lift anything. I do not want to sweat more than I already am. I would like to sit inside and complain about the weather.

Thankfully, past me built an AI coaching program that is designed to coach the way I coach. I have been using it myself, and it has honestly kept me on track.

Nothing quite humbles you like creating a program that then tells you exactly what you need to hear.

For August and September, I am planning to add a couple of liberty training days into the schedule. I bought Alizé Froment’s course, and I think it will be a good change for all of us. It gives the horses something different to think about, gives me a new way to work with them, and may help us avoid melting into a puddle in the arena every day.

Some updates: I decided to put the US Dressage Finals on the radar. Mainly to get the boys in that atmosphere. But they have to get through regionals with some reasonably flying colors. I hired a trainer to start Timber RSF and he is doing fantastic!

This may not be my favorite season, but it does not mean nothing can improve. It just means we have to be practical, protect the horses, and take the wins where we can get them.

Fall cannot get here fast enough.

Peanutbutter Jelly Time is heading the Haras Midsummer I and II in two weeks