Quiet Christmas Day

Christmas was quiet this year. The kids left mid-morning for their dad's.  Brett left after lunch for work.  I had planned to ride Jackson before the rain hits tonight (yes, another storm) but I couldn't muster the energy.  I was suffering the after effects of too much Christmas cheer last night.  So, I washed Jackson's tail and then free lunged him in the arena.  He was tracking under nicely at the trot and picking up the correct lead (most of the time) at canter.  I was also impressed with his canter-halt transitions.  He would canter to the far end of the arena, halt, and quickly drop his neck to pick up a tasty leaf.  Then he was off again.

Brett filled my stocking with beautiful tail bags for Jackson.  They feel like velvet and the colors are beautiful.  I'm afraid to use them for everyday, roll-in-the-mud, use.  Maybe for lessons?

After braiding Jackson's tail and putting on an old ugly tail wrap, I took Kersey for a walk around the block.  It was quiet with just a slight bit of chill in the air.  In past years, Christmas Day has been filled with the sound of kids racing around on their new dirt bikes.  Not this year, it was just the sound of our footsteps on the bridle path.  We walked over to the community pond and Kersey splashed around for awhile.  She went in up to her belly, which isn't really very deep since her legs are so short, and she flirted with the idea of swimming.  When we got home, I did the barn chores.  All the horses got extra carrots today and the dogs each got a bone from last night's prime rib.  I'm going to curl up on the couch with my new french cookbook -- or maybe the book of 2010 dressage tests -- and dream.