The good: I have more time to work out our saddle fitting issues. My to-do list on pony-training and fitness can now span the next bunch of months, somewhat indefinitely at this point, until the next opportunity presents itself.

The bad: We’re not going to the NATRC ride. It’s not my fault, it’s not Fetti’s fault, it has nothing to do with my trailer-driver or her horse. The ride was cancelled due to lack of entries.

A very first-world-problems whine: I had, very briefly, contemplated doing three NATRC rides this year if I could swing the scheduling and the finances and get rides (all somewhat questionable prospects) which would make us eligible for year-end awards. In a year where our AERC season doesn’t have a lot of prospects, it seemed like a halfway reasonable goal. There will only be three rides left in the season. I could maybe do it if I gave up my (possibly) only shot at an AERC 50 this year, but I’m not willing to do that.
I need a truck and trailer to make competitions viable. Major life changes are needed before those become possible. It’s in the future, but I have no idea how soon, and it really sucks.

Whining over. Where do I go from here?

1. Saddle fitting remains an issue.  I need to schedule a time to have my trainer out to evaluate.
   I need to do enough rides in the Bandos to figure out what is or is not working for me, such that it’s not set-up issues being the problem (breastcollar adjusted wrong, stirrups too long, etc).
2. Sell at least one Woolback, probably two. I don’t need three Woolbacks and a Coolback.
3. Local schooling show next weekend.
4. Forward, immediately!
5. Increase hill work. If I’m unhappy with her fitness level, now is the time to fix it.
6. Heart monitor more often: is she quitting because of heart rate or just because?
7. Boot regularly for our hill work so footing is no excuse. Consider shoes next cycle.

Good news: farrier came out last week and complimented Fetti’s hooves.  For someone that almost never compliments, I’m pretty thrilled with that.  Hooves don’t look perfect, but they look pretty dang good.  Now I need to maintain that!

I don’t boot regularly for a few reasons: have to adjust cables, then cross fingers they stay on, then often find somewhere to get back on when one comes off, then pull off wet boots at the end of the ride and wash them off in the dark. I’m not good at motivating myself to do all that. I’ll give myself the next eight weeks or so to stay on top of trimming hooves and boot regularly for serious conditioning rides.  If that doesn’t happen, I think I will have the farrier put shoes on for our late summer/early fall shoeing cycle.