During the tail end of such a looong cold winter as we’ve had this year, everyone’s rooting around for signs of spring. Here are a few …

1) The calendar

The annual Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (at the end of April, here at the KY Horse Park) is less than two months away. Which means that the preparations must be about to start. All the various tents and temporary grandstands going up for Rolex is one of the undeniable signs of spring, even if it’s hard to imagine the grass turning green and filling up with dandelions (!) by the time all the eventing horses arrive.

2) The sunshine

Today marks the second of back-to-back days of blue skies and sunshine … something we haven’t seen in weeks. AND the temperature (in the 40s) feels like a heat wave compared to the weather we’ve been having — that is, as long as you’re facing the sun and not the wind! And one must ignore the fact that this warm-feeling 40-ish is still about ten degrees below our normal for this time of year. Oh, and one must also ignore the several piles of SNOW still hanging around.

3) The plants and the birds

All of a sudden, snowdrops have sprouted and bloomed in our garden at home. The annual profusion of springtime weeds can’t be far behind. Here at the Horse Park, and elsewhere, the many songbirds are singing sweetly outside (in hopes, no doubt, of attacting bird wives).

4) The horses

Foals have been spotted outside. Need I say more?