Roadblocks

Roadblocks and plateaus are a normal part of riding, but I feel like I've gotten more than my fair share. I've now been riding for seven years, yet am still so behind those who have been riding less than even half that time. I've owned Abby for three years, and it feels we're still no closer to doing what we both truly enjoy doing...jumping. From injuries to foot problems to schedules, things never fall into place. Every time we start getting on the right track, we get derailed.

This time it's because of school and my car. Abby was worked for my first week of classes by my trainer to ensure that she continued to improve. Great for her, not so great for me. That means it's been three weeks since I've ridden. The two weeks prior I had been working her on the lunge line in side reins to stretch her out and build her topline.

Since I finally got a chance to ride today, I took full opportunity of it. If course (just my horrible luck) it was humid, hot, and miserable...the exact opposite of the weather the rest of the week. I only got to ride for 20 minutes before I started to overheat. And of course three weeks off has made me somehow lose all of the muscle I had gained this summer. My legs would not cooperate, I couldn't balance properly, and I had lost all connection I had had earlier this summer. Abby would not get onto the bit, and I couldn't properly support her with my inside leg. I HATE that this keeps happening! Is it realistic that my body REQUIRES that I ride at least 3X a week to keep that muscle memory? I would love to, but that's not going to happen until I retire of my horse lives in my backyard. I am so tired of this. I'm feeling really discouraged that ALL of my progress gets erased so quickly and I'm having to do the exact same things over and over and over again.