Today was a ground work day for Alfie. Let me rephrase that – it was a groundwork day for ME & ALFIE.
My Apple Watch tells me I burned 633 calories today, walked/jogged 4.19 miles, took a total of 9,033 steps. Now, whether or not Alfie burned 633 in our 42 min session, I did. By the time we were done I was sweaty and gross and ready for a shower lol.
We did our usual warmup which was honestly more for my benefit than Alfie since he was ready to trot on our second lap of warmup lol. This to me means that our increased sessions are already benefiting his stamina and strength.
Once I was warmed up it was time to jog. We started out jogging on the straight long sides of the arena, walking the turns and picking up the jog again. There were poles on the ground so guess what – we trotted over them too. Now, you have to picture this image in your head. I’m wearing riding pants and winter boots which are comfy but they don’t have great bend to them when it comes to actually running in them. The other day I wore sneakers in the arena while working with Alfie and ended up with a ton of sand in my shoes so although they were great for running, they weren’t going to work because of the sand. My riding boots are comfy but they are a brand new pair so I’m trying not to run this pair into the ground as fast as my last pair – so that leaves my winter boots. So here I am, running in sand with my horse, with my feet literally flapping the ground like an uncoordinated duck jumping over ground poles. I’m so grateful that my barn is a drama free zone with no judgement because I must have seriously looked like a hot mess express lol – but this isn’t about me and what I look like – it’s all about Alfie.
We ended our session and while I was stretching Alfie’s legs, he let out a sigh. This incredible soul. This soul that gives me 100% effort in everything we do. I am so thankful to be on this truly life changing journey with him. ❤️🐴
Confessions of an Equestrianoholic 