Some things just don't translate well - so what is a Betthupferl? It is a night time treat, literally something to "jump into bed" for. Often children were offered a special snack at bedtime as an incentive to go to bed.
The boys don't have an issue with jumping into bed but Saumur, Remy, Chambord, and Teddy still whinny for their Betthupferls. So, like clockwork, every night at 9 p.m. JP and I trudge to the barn through the snow, carrying warm, soaked alfalfa pellets, carrots, and also hot water. We pick out stalls, top water buckets with hot water, replenish hay bags, and dole out the Betthupferls. Not a bad gig, being a horse at our barn!
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| Betthupferls for the four boys |
Due to the cold the boys had quite a bit of time off, I did longe Remy in the snow a couple of times, but nothing remotely strenuous. On Friday we tagged along to JPs and Chambord's lesson, and clearly, it was not Remy's idea of a good time. He felt tight as a tick, and sure enough, he threw in some -minor- bucks. We both like to be on the move, and waiting for our turn is not always beneficial for our respective -overactive- brains.
I happened to come across some posts from Karl Greenwood (a British trainer), and he nailed it with this phrase: "Action beats Anxiety". I love it, it's so true. If you are focused and have a job to do there is no time to wonder "ob in China ein Sack Reis umfaellt" ("if a bag of rice falls over in China" - German metaphor for something unimportant happening).
Case in point: Today with Vanessa Remy was concentrated, listening to his rider, not bothered by the shenanigans of another horse in the arena. Not a whiff of anxiety in the air. And now it is clear to me why I have to move so much - it alleviates my anxieties, too. My mind usually goes 100 miles an hour (at least), so the body has to follow which is not always easy. It's slippery ground out there...
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