Tuesday was blowy. Like, gale force winds that seemed to take as their focus the indoor arena. Sure, we're up in the mountains, but there had been no indication in town that the air was in any way assuming hurricane proportions. When the door of the taxi just about blew off upon my exit at …
Rollercoaster! Woo Ooo Ooo Oo!
I stood, somewhat grimly, at the doors of the arena. It was Saturday, and I didn't know what my answer would be to the question: 'Who do you want?' I had ridden Rebel on the previous Thursday. We hadn't had a lesson on Tuesday, due to Paddy's Day, and after having felt so successful on …
Adjustments
Yeah, afraid of getting cocky. My ability to stay 'sat' last Saturday started out with luck, and ended through the grace of muscle memory and the sheer repetition of having been told to Sit back! for two and a half years. I could feel a difference, though, in my body. When I got down after …
Enough is Enough
I haven't written about the last few Saturdays because they have been so utterly bad, I had a lot of processing to do. Living up to his name is nothing new, but Rebel has exceeded himself lately. I take responsibility for not being able to manage him, but there's a fine line between my inability …
His Inner Pony
Spring is in the air, and I think much of it is being channelled through Rebel's hooves. We were out of doors two Saturdays ago, mixing with the kids as the indoor arena was in the process of being resurfaced. Reb's inclinations — to be interested in the ponies, to look at the ponies, to …
‘You Work Too Hard’
So, despite my promise to write about the myriad books I've read about horses, and natural horsemanship, and the esoterica of the mythology of the horse, etc, I haven't, but believe me when I say that I've read a lot. I read before I rode. I read before I do just about anything, to be …
The $64,000 One
Luckily, I knew the answer to the question. When told to take Amigo for my private lesson, I sagged inside. But I went and got his rug off him, and decided it was better to ride him one-on-one rather than struggle in front of a lesson full of people. Sharon and I had a chat …
Weather Report
It's 16.52 and the sun is blazing away! Well, the sky is still remarkably light, which is more like it. But still! Roll on springtime! The yard was a death trap yesterday, ice everywhere, people getting stuck in the car park, and no way were any of us going to be anywhere but the indoor. …
Every Thursday Isn’t the Same…
I rode last night at 7 to make up for Tuesday being snowed out. I realised that I couldn't get home at 9pm, and then get up for 6am to get back to the yard for 9am. So I switched my Thursday lesson to 2.15. I met a friend in town for a coffee and …
On a Scale of One to Ten
My usual Saturday lift to the yard was unavailable last week, so I did the bus-to-the-taxi thing. Dublin taxi men are never at a loss for conversation, and when I get into the car in all my riding clobber, well, sit back and start talking horses. I'd never had this dude before — I'm a …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 