Exercise is a good thing...

...or so they tell me. But let me tell YOU, I do not feel good today after exercising. Why is beauty so painful?

I suppose I shouldn't bitch because my exercise was really fun at the time. Please, let me explain:)

I have been concerned about my mare. She is due to foal in less than 2 months now, and she is so obese that I am starting to think she might founder. Her feet are great, she seems fine, but I am a worrywart when it comes to my babies. Not to mention I don't want my baby to lose her baby, so you see my situation. Sissy's crest is starting to get alarmingly apparent even though I have limited her calories. Of course, my crest is up as well, so I decided we needed exercise.

Now, I am commuting between Weippe and Moscow STILL so I am in the car for 4 hours every day. I leave at oh-dark-thirty and I get home about 12 hours later in the PM version of oh-dark-thirty. So, I haven't had much time to ride. Even weekends have been devoted mostly to cleaning up after and caring for two people (including myself) and multitudes of fur children (including my mare). So, I decided to ride anyways. Twenty minutes around the pasture at a walk and trot will do us both good without putting undue stress on the mare. Plus there are plenty of safety floods all around from the neighbors so I don't have to worry about it being dark, and Sissy is rotund enough to make bareback quite comfortable...especially important since saddles don't fit right anymore.

Last night was our first session. She was actually wonderful, seeming to understand the point of the exercise and eager to get it over with. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the time and, when she trotted, I posted (keep in mind we are bareback here and I am out of shape). I felt so good about that because I could post for quite a while considering the shape I'm in and she could trot for a few minutes at a time without getting winded or sweating. I put her away completely exhilarated and ready to attack any menial task that came my way; riding does a lot for my motivation to exist, you see.

I finished house chores, and went to bed to start my crazy week. This morning I woke up, not feeling exceptionally horrible for the time of day, so I tried to spring out of bed. BIG mistake. It turns out that I am so sore that a corn cob shuffle is all I can manage as far as moving is concerned. And I have committed to this not only for my sake, but for hers as well, so I have to repeat the performance tonight. Other than the fact that I get to ride, I am dreading it for the way I am going to feel tomorrow.