A Long Week Ends Nicely
Funny, I forgot to mention on Tuesday that I didn't ride on Monday. I know why, I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get the floor warranty to kick in and picking out a new washer that day, not so fun. Tuesday I got off work early again to meet the floor people at my house and ended up not running because I was just mentally beat.
Wednesday I went out and rode Breezy and had a really nice time. I got up and we walked around for about 15 minutes. I was really trying to get her to stretch out and get warmed up. Once I felt like I got her energy up I started a nice canter instead of a trot that I normally start with and took her by surprise. We went once around and then we turned around and went the other way one time. She felt like she was a lot more limber more quickly than normal. Then I started some trotting and really felt like I had some horse underneath me...for a little bit anyway : )
On Friday my plan was to get up early, ride Breezy, pick up Laurie, and then go to a lesson at Great Beginnings at 2:15. It turned into sleep til 11:00, mow the lawn and then go pick Laurie up etc. I have no idea why I slept so late.
I had an hour private lesson on a horse named Magic. He is an Appendix Quarter Horse and very pretty. My trainer Donna is very personable and can be quite funny. Laurie had a seat on a tall chair on the long side of the covered arena (!) and I was put through my paces, just walking and trotting at this point. It was painful. I was seated on yet another horse who did not want to move. Thankfully, Donna said that he had acted like this with her a couple of days ago too and it was not entirely my fault.
So, after much kicking and jellyfishing around the arena, Donna went to get me some spurs from the barn. Well, I won't say they did the trick but he gradually became more responsive as the lesson went on. I learned that my lower legs are too far forward and that I need to hold them back more in order to be able to motivate the horse to move forward as well as to keep me from being behind the motion. I also learned that I enjoy riding in a covered arena shielded from the hot sun.
I liked Donna's no nonsense teaching style and look forward to another lesson from her. I suspect I will hear a lot of "You're Cheating!" from her and maybe one day I will be able to trailer Breezy in for a lesson under the coveted covered arena. Also...a covered arena means a lesson rain or shine! I like that, especially in the summer.
After my painful lesson, Laurie and I stayed to watch the next lesson, which was a semi private with two girls. One of the girls took Magic from me and the other was riding a very pretty mare who looked alot like my first love, Magnum. Donna said that she would like me to ride her next time. Apparently she is just turned five and a little bit witchy. She looked really sweet to me.
We left Great Beginnings and went back to Laurie's house with the hopes that the lady she was supposed to get a lesson from had called, to no avail. It seems she had fallen off the face of the planet which is a common practice of horse professionals for some reason. So, whatever, Laurie cleaned and tacked up her mare Krystal and we set out to the field. After a quick lungeing session to make sure the saddle was properly set to not cause a bucking spree, Laurie got up and walked and trotted around me for a little while. The horse she had described did not seem to be the one she was on as Krystal was being very cooperative and even pokey. Laurie looked very good up in the saddle despite not riding consistently and I had very little to tell her except what she already knew. I did tell her that I thought her saddle might be contributing to her leg creepage. It seemed like the stirrup leather hangs too far forward of where she is sitting.
I hopped up once Laurie was done and Krystal felt really nice. Very comfortable walk and a nice smooth trot. Fun!
All in all a very nice horsey day.
Wednesday I went out and rode Breezy and had a really nice time. I got up and we walked around for about 15 minutes. I was really trying to get her to stretch out and get warmed up. Once I felt like I got her energy up I started a nice canter instead of a trot that I normally start with and took her by surprise. We went once around and then we turned around and went the other way one time. She felt like she was a lot more limber more quickly than normal. Then I started some trotting and really felt like I had some horse underneath me...for a little bit anyway : )
On Friday my plan was to get up early, ride Breezy, pick up Laurie, and then go to a lesson at Great Beginnings at 2:15. It turned into sleep til 11:00, mow the lawn and then go pick Laurie up etc. I have no idea why I slept so late.
I had an hour private lesson on a horse named Magic. He is an Appendix Quarter Horse and very pretty. My trainer Donna is very personable and can be quite funny. Laurie had a seat on a tall chair on the long side of the covered arena (!) and I was put through my paces, just walking and trotting at this point. It was painful. I was seated on yet another horse who did not want to move. Thankfully, Donna said that he had acted like this with her a couple of days ago too and it was not entirely my fault.
So, after much kicking and jellyfishing around the arena, Donna went to get me some spurs from the barn. Well, I won't say they did the trick but he gradually became more responsive as the lesson went on. I learned that my lower legs are too far forward and that I need to hold them back more in order to be able to motivate the horse to move forward as well as to keep me from being behind the motion. I also learned that I enjoy riding in a covered arena shielded from the hot sun.
I liked Donna's no nonsense teaching style and look forward to another lesson from her. I suspect I will hear a lot of "You're Cheating!" from her and maybe one day I will be able to trailer Breezy in for a lesson under the coveted covered arena. Also...a covered arena means a lesson rain or shine! I like that, especially in the summer.
After my painful lesson, Laurie and I stayed to watch the next lesson, which was a semi private with two girls. One of the girls took Magic from me and the other was riding a very pretty mare who looked alot like my first love, Magnum. Donna said that she would like me to ride her next time. Apparently she is just turned five and a little bit witchy. She looked really sweet to me.
We left Great Beginnings and went back to Laurie's house with the hopes that the lady she was supposed to get a lesson from had called, to no avail. It seems she had fallen off the face of the planet which is a common practice of horse professionals for some reason. So, whatever, Laurie cleaned and tacked up her mare Krystal and we set out to the field. After a quick lungeing session to make sure the saddle was properly set to not cause a bucking spree, Laurie got up and walked and trotted around me for a little while. The horse she had described did not seem to be the one she was on as Krystal was being very cooperative and even pokey. Laurie looked very good up in the saddle despite not riding consistently and I had very little to tell her except what she already knew. I did tell her that I thought her saddle might be contributing to her leg creepage. It seemed like the stirrup leather hangs too far forward of where she is sitting.
I hopped up once Laurie was done and Krystal felt really nice. Very comfortable walk and a nice smooth trot. Fun!
All in all a very nice horsey day.
posted by shortround at 3:50 PM
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