THE PLANET, NOT THE HORSE I was looking forward to my lesson today. After a ride out, I always feel a bit sloppy, and was keen to get back up on Reb — whom [who?] I hadn't ridden since last Thursday, the Big Day. I had a bag full of beauty products for Ruth, to …
Buckets of Sunshine
...and I know we're riding out and I just go blehhhhh. Still not one hundred per cent on the ride out thing... I got Delilah, but she seemed full of beans and I wasn't feeling the same. Trotting down the lane, something felt funny, something felt insecure, and when we stopped at one stage, Nikki …
Ignominy
I thought it would be a good idea to try Rinaldo in a private lesson. Less pressure to keep up with the ride if I couldn't make him go, with the added benefit [or greater pressure, depending on your point of view] of undivided attention from the instructor. I went to mount, just about got …
Do Ya, Do Ya, Do Ya, Do Ya!
YES, SHE ABSOLUTELY DOES Once it was decided that our Saturday lesson would take place in the lower arena, I went to fetch Rebel out of his stable. Beautiful day, the kind of day that finds us cantering up the fields. I wasn't sure enough abut my thumb to countenance a ride out. There was …
The Picture of Partnership
Cool! It's not the highest fence ever, but it does look like I know what I'm doing. Although I'm thinking that my left shoulder's dipping down a bit. And that my elbows are sticking out. So that's himself, anyway, Mr Smartypants, His Bolshiness, the one and only Rebel. I know, he's handsome, that's why he …
Philosophy
So, what kind of horse should I be riding? If the horse is difficult, as Rebel has been difficult, should I then continue to ride difficult horses? But if the horse is difficult, as Rebel has been difficult, how many habits do I get into that will not translate happily to another mount? I'm not …
Brain Freeze
My bum still hurts. Last Saturday, we took the horses out into the field. I was on Rebel. It didn't feel like a good idea. He kept breaking out of the ride, cantering off, upwards. I immediately reactivated all my fears about riding out, and I know I ought to have just gotten off him …
Starting Over
It feels like that, every time I ride a new horse. I'd mounted Reb, only to be told to get down and take Rinaldo. Rinaldo. A livery chestnut now doing some duty in the school, the girls had alerted me to his presence last week. Long and lean, about 15.3, 16hh, I watched him jump …
But Not Forgotten!
ARGONE, BUT NOT SO FAR AWAY Argo's not in Kildare! He's in a field near to the yard, over by the dual carriageway! I could go visit him! For some reason, the image I have in my head is of an Edwardian picnic, complete with parasol and mutton-leg sleeves and Argo in a detachable collar …
Argone
I'm a little afraid of where this is going to go. I knew Argo had been sent down to Kildare. I also know now that it's not the end of the line. Not the immediate end of the line, anyway. I thought he'd be back, though, and for the past several weeks, I've walked into …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 