Hi Dionne,
In Hamburg weather might be more or less the same...
I've often used these dark, wet periods to build trust from the ground.
Can you build an obstacle course, doesn't need to be huge, but some 'scary' things like balloons, tarpolins, curtain of flattering bands, an old mattress, L-shape of poles to move through forwards and backwards, your imagination is the limit of ideas to build confidence with Shilo. Even longreining him through the obstacles, after getting him used in hand.
I remember having a plastic object (unbreakable) with a long rope to the surcingle, training the horse to stop, every time the object touched the ground. This helps enormously when a rider should fall off, no panic of your horse, but patiently waiting for the rider to get up.
With my rubber boots on I would go outside with longreins on the horse, going through puddles, having him used to an opening/closing umbrella etc.
Have fun, and let Shilo have fun!
Keep us posted,
Miriam

Hello Dionne;  Life seems to give us setbacks when our minds tell us that we need to do this or that to hurry us along in our journey of accomplishment.  If life could be thought of in human terms, you, as a woman, you would probably be pissed right now because HE has control of the weather and it is raining mud at the moment.  I have the very same problem.  Only instead of mud, I am getting ICE from HER.  At any rate, it keeps us from being on the back of our horses and the opportunity of learning the multitude of different things that they might have to teach us.  As a consequence, I have learned to go inside the hay barn like you [ mine is not very big 22x44`] and work on things that, if circumstances were different, I probably would not have spent much, or any time for that matter, on working through with the horse.

With that said, this what I have learned while rolling around with the  frustration of not being able to accomplish perceived goals for the day.  I go out to the barn and just hang out with the horses.  I have learned to talk and listen to their answers through a concentrated effort of quieting my mind and interphasing with their thoughts.  When I am able to do this successfully, my approach with the horse changes, and I think that they see me in a different light.  It is just a feeling that comes to me at this time.  The ebb and flow of being with them seems to be more of a  natural happening in the herd; and I am one of them  These are BLESSINGS that are freely given to me as I see it;`MOST DIFNATELY A GIFT of nature by nature.

The things that could be worked through at this time are #1  LOWERING THE HEAD AND KEEPING IT LOWERED IN A RELAXED ATMOSHERE.   #2 STANDING MOTIONLESS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME [at least keep the feet still]  #3 PRACTICE MOVING THE HEAD WITH HAND SIGNALS WHILE HE IS FOCUSING ON YOU FOR DIRECTION  #4 DISENGAGING THE REAREND BY POINT YOUR INDEX FINGER AT THAT AREA  #5 BACKING UP WITH THE WIGLING OF THE FOUR FINGERS .  All of these things can be accomplished at liberty with Shilo and will be golden nuggets that forge your relationship into a new dimension.  The softness that you possess as a woman will be KEY.  This is the time that you feed your SOUL AND BLESS THE MUD.

Good luck my friend,
Bud

I have a new farrier coming on 13 January, my old farrier wouldn’t listen to me when I told him that he should not lift Shilo’s hind legs high up and then twist out.... I don’t like to see that, it’s not necessary, it’s lazy of the farrier and Shilo doesn’t like it.
So, after the past two times he didn’t listen, and got a warning from Shilo, I have a New man coming.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how Shilo handles it, I’ve been using this muddy time training in standing still for the farrier, using the Dually.
My farrier area is not big, about 10 meters by 3 meters. Long and thin.
Obstacles course isn’t possible, but thank you for reminding me about plastic, umbrellas and so on, it was a long time ago I did that with Shilo, so yes, excellent idea Miriam.
I love the idea of longing through puddles and mud...good fun ahead!
Thank you for your suggestions Bud, Shilo is generally high with his head so that one was a good one! 
Our relationship has strengthened over the past year whilst I was in recovery, though it’s been a mental fight for me with regards to frustration. 

Dionne