Bring on Winter

In discussion with my house mates, a comment got passed around about how we’re already almost a month into January, and hardly any snow. The general consensus was that this was by no means indicative of the next two months… We are, inevitably, about to enter the dead of winter.

Of course, two days later, we’ve been getting spit on by the fluffy white stuff, and the temperature looks like it’s taking a dip into the single digits for a few nights. (Burr.) It’ll be the first time this year that Factor gets his heavyweight blanket on.

Because of the cold, no major updates to speak of so far. The bitter has kept us doing groundwork in the aisleway, and occasionally getting some arena time on a lunge. He has been a super good boy, no funny business, despite the lack of action.

It is easy to get a depressed vibe with those sort of circumstances, but…

There is some change on our horizon!

On Friday (tomorrow!) of this week, we are going to move relocate to a farm nearby that has an indoor. It’s a little bit bittersweet for me, in that we will be leaving the small barn family we have grown in the last 6 months and integrate into a new, busier family. Especially during COVID, but not just because of it, these people have been the few “outside” people I’ve had contact with, and I cannot begin to appreciate the time with them enough.

Factor will have to make some new horse friends, too, though he is blissfully ignorant and unawares. (I envy him that, just a little.) I’ve been trying to explain to him, and not a worry has passed his face in his ignorance of the meaning to my words. The good intention is there, though, and the calm hand, and he is always confident in that. When it comes time to load on the trailer, I’m hoping it goes as smooth as his move up from Kentucky. We don’t have a trailer of our own (#2021goals) so really have not had an opportunity to practice loading. He trusts me, though, and he is always willing to be bribed with peppermints.

In truth, I think the most likely thing to wig him out is the shipping boots he’ll be wearing. Even though we aren’t going far, the more practice he gets with these random things in life, the more well rounded he will be. We will be taking a walk around today wearing the shipping boots in the yard, so he gets the feel for them before I make the ask of loading into a box wearing them tomorrow.