Groundhog, you make me sad....

So.... since I am a school teacher, I now have to pay attention to all holidays, such as groundhog day.  We read books about groundhog day, and make predictions on whether we think the groundhog will see his shadow.  Overwelmingly, my 4 students predicted he WOULD see his shadow...and boy, were they right.  So I know it doesn't totally predict the weather, but it is a cute story, and right now, is fitting the current forecast.

I feel several emotions about cold and snow.  The first...is happiness....lots of cold, and lots of snow= more snow days.  Our district is predicting we will have at least 3 more that will make our make up days count as two so we won't be stuck in school as long. 

The next emotion is sadness.  Anytime it snows...my progress with Tonka goes backwards.  You see, when it snows, I cannot drive my car out to see him (I will be stuck in the snow).  Then, when the snow DOES melt, I have a mud pit to deal with for at least a week.  I am just now able to go out again (since last week) and I STILL have to wear muck boots to survive.  Last week is the first time I have been able to work him since Christmas Eve...REALLY....THAT is how bad the snow and ice has been here in Missouri. 

The first day back in the round pen was not pretty.  I went to the Wahl Walkabout Tour with Clinton Anderson about 2 weeks ago, so I was anxious to start working with him again.  Tonka unfortunately, felt differently.  He decided to try 3 times to pull the rope out of my hand as I was lunging him.  So...he had to run. A lot. Each time he did it, I sent him on a full canter around the pen...until he was BEGGING me to let him stop.  Third time was finally the charm that wore him out enough to get him to knock it off.  Then the rest of our work out was excellent.

Today, I went out again and walked him up and down the driveway, trying different things along the way, then walked him through the pasture where he always tries to bolt on me while riding.  Once I get a better rope halter, I will be lunging him in this pasture so he remembers I am still in charge, even there.  I will let you know how that goes.

On another note, I am extremely frustrated that his progress is not farther along.  I paid a trainer to come and work with him in the fall and really don't feel like he came much and didn't do much with him.  I realize I still have to do groundwork with him and will always be reviewing the skills, but I don't feel that Tonka was ridden enough in the pasture to truly qualify as "green broke."  I actually feel like I wasted $300 and got screwed.  Now I am stuck...doing all the work again myself...which would be fine if I weren't so inexperienced....really he needs to be trained right...but I am up a creek as I can't afford anymore training.

If anyone who reads this has any advice for this situation, I'd love to hear it....   I just want my horse to be ready for spring trail riding and right now, he is far from ready.  :-/