A LOT Undertaking my twenty minute walk to the bus after my forty minute lesson, I looked around, at the blossoming trees, the burgeoning furze, and I was suddenly awash with how much I love doing this horseriding thing. Most Thursdays, my legs feel broken not so much from the lesson— although it's a contributory …
Using Yer Head
AND NOT TO BREAK A FALL, EITHER It looked to be one of those days that would find us all lashed into the indoor— low, low cloud, high, high winds. Somehow, by the time we'd gotten up the mountain, all seemed, if not calm, then contained. Only three of us in the lesson. Outstanding. We …
Triggers
BUT NOT ROY ROGERS' HORSES It was a day. One of those days. Busy enough at work, managing demands, steadily producing. Underneath it though, was a feeling of being triggered the whole live long. In the main, it was an anniversary that is, let us say, without active currency, but one that exists nevertheless. Hopefully, …
‘YEAH!’
WHO KNEW? It didn't look to be an especially exciting hour. Late arrivals and a general feeling of chaos as untried riders joined the lesson, and some n00bs were mounted on unfamiliar horses. We trotted and trotted, and I reckoned, well, a good sweat is a good thing. I cannot sing the praises of the …
Three for Three
THE NUMBER KEEPS CROPPING UP... Excellent private lesson today, really illuminating. We took Rebel through transition after transition, trot to walk to trot, giving me the chance to work on them, too, trot to canter to trot, and he did not buck once the whole 45 minutes. I'm still not giving him him a strong …
A Week Missed May Not Be A Week Lost
HMMMM Not, sure, I'll get back in more detail after my private lesson tomorrow... I'd been, heh heh, chomping at the bit after having not ridden for a week. I had my Tuesday last night, and I made up for Saturday this evening, and yes, I'm off again for my two o'clock tomorrow, but I …
But— But— But—
23 FEBRUARY, 2008 It was our turn to canter, and I put my whip in my outside hand, as I have been doing in my private lessons, and Fiona said to put it in my inside hand, which I know, but Rebel seems to get the message best when it's delivered to his off hind, …
Every Little Helps
THURSDAY, 21 FEBRUARY I was running a little late for my private lesson— ran into some lads I used to work with, in the road by the taxi rank, and got talking. And then the taximan took completely the wrong way, after having asked me which way I'd like to go, and then utterly disregarding …
Three Times a Rider
IT'S OFFICIAL The Thursday private lesson has become embedded into my routine. I know I won't be able to make every week; there's a big job I've got on that's going to interfere, maybe in two weeks time. But it's in there, the third lesson, just as I wished. Something's changed, though, and it's interesting …
Speaking of the Big Picture
It's so easy to get thrown off, particularly after having been thrown off. Last Saturday, we were in the outdoor, the sand sucking at the horses hooves, and Rebel knew, before I did— in fact instantaneously— that I was spacey. Oh, I'd been out for a few hours the night before, and I was going …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 