The winter crud

Usually I'm a hard core. Ride no matter the weather (although I'm not a fan of wind). But I'm fighting off this flu-cold-bronchitis and I'm looking out the window at a wintry, breezy day. I'm not enticed.

If I was motivated, a real competitor, I tell myself, I'd be out there getting the horses ridden. Instead I'm inside, dreading having to put on a coat and hat and feed. Instead, I'm blowing my nose and coughing. My husband notes that I go a few days without riding and I become depressed and cranky. And since I'm depressed and cranky from feeling sick, and depressed and cranky from not riding and not getting any exercise, I must be a joy to live with right about now.

I remind myself that in Boston, where I used to live, we were lucky to get our horses ridden once or twice a week in the winter. So here in the southwest, where it's been a dry, if unusually cold winter, I feel like a heel for even complaining about the weather.

Maybe later, after the sun's been out a few hours, the arena's thawed, the horses have eaten, and the drugs-du-jour (cough medicine and an inhaler) have kicked in, I'll feel like doing something. But for now, I'm sipping coffee and petting my cat.

Oh, a quick update on Belle: She's doing great! I watched Amber the working student work with her Monday from my office window (see above, sick,) and she stood very quietly at the hitching post. I've been doing lots of little ground work exercises with her whenever I'm outside--yesterday I made her stop three feet from me, and wait. I put her blanket on and took it off over her head half a dozen times, and I made her back through the doors and gates. She's very easy when she's cooperating.