Today was 35 degrees with a howling afternoon wind.  I had to make the decision not to ride the three youngsters.  It probably would have made another blog story had I ridden them.  Each baby takes turns bonking me around.  Strong gusts of wind may activate my next round of bruises.  I rode Welle.  She is eleven.  The cold had made her stiff and she spooked betweeen my legs.  But, she was good and stayed on the aids.  I lunged Sandi.  She was excellent.  But my hands were frozen and my eyes occasionally blinded by the snow the wind picked up and threw in my face.  So I didn't push it.  The two other youngsters, grey mares:  Winnie and Wonder, got the day off.  Sanibelle doesn't know it yet, but big plans are in the works for her.  With a supportive, ambitious owner, and a team of successful management, Sanibelle may be able to really reach her potential.  That potential is not defined yet.  The big grey mare is only four.  However, she occasionally gives me glimpes of her potential:  true dressage excellence.  We shall see.  In many ways it is simply up to her.  But I do know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, she is a rider's dream.  The journey will be, and has been, exciting, thrilling, tough and ... well, dreamy.