Cold spell in Florida - and the boys in the real cold are making progress

So we are experiencing a cold spell, last night the temps -gasp- were in the 50sF, and we are in the mid 60s now. Cold enough for the thin blooded Floridians to bring out the sweaters for them and blankets for the horses - and for our expat Canadian Vivian to don a down coat.

I felt a bit like a bad mom because I only put an Irish knit sheet on Remy. Even though he is clipped I know he hates to be hot, and really, all that extra chubbiness he still carries keeps him warm. I saw by the manure piles that he still spent most of the night in his paddock, and not in his stall.

However, due to the cold and blustery weather we decided to longe Remy in side reins first - after he had a chance to strut his stuff in the round pen unencumbered by equipment  (wise choice!). Roz suggested to put the side reins a bit higher this time, and it really helped with Remy's self carriage. It settled him down, but once I had climbed on and we were going in the arena he still had to throw in the beginning of an "exit stage left". In Remy's defense, the high winds really rattled the palm trees and the fake flowers in the letter boxes. We finished on a good note, and as Roz said "ahead of the game".

This afternoon the vet came for Boti's teeth and we used that visit to also have the health certificates issued. Yes, it's already time to think about our return trip. We will be heading North sometime during the last week of March. The vet started to do the paperwork, glanced at Remy's papers, looked again, and asked almost incredulously "He is really a Morgan??" "Wow!"

Last night Sally and I went to dinner, and as the place was crowded we were seated at one of the community tables. Later on the waiter seated a man carrying a large bag next to me. Looked like a photographer... until he opened the bag and the cute head of a Havanese dog (national breed of Cuba) popped up. We had a nice chat with what turned out a Jumper rider, and when we exchanged names I thought his had a familiar ring to it. Google at home provided the answer: Our dinner companion had been on the Olympic show jumping team!

Encounters like that are typical in the Welly-World of Florida... and speaking of Florida: I noticed the other day Paulette carrying a bag of mothballs to her horse trailer. Hmm, what was that all about? Turns out snakes don't like the smell (neither do I for that matter), and so a few mothballs prevent "Blinde Passagiere" (stowaways) of the serpens kind.

Does that mean Remy has a speed limit??

Meanwhile in the real cold (single digits F) in Michigan: JP and Chambord continue with their lessons and are making great progress. Lisa sent me some video clips today and wow: I discovered that they do can listen - LOL! Without joking, they had a lovely ride and I am so happy and proud how well this trio is working together. It would be so easy to say: Nah, too cold, too much hassle to hitch the trailer, load Chambord, drive to our lesson (even though it's just down the road), unload, schlep the equipment, etc. etc. That is determination, people!

Now it's time to put my down coat on and head back to the barn...in Florida...