On Thursday, I asked Ruth who she thought I ought to be riding next. 'Ruby,' she said, 'Or Bounty.' Gulp. Both mares, which I don't mind. I like mares. I loved Delilah. I also remember what she put me through, the first several lessons with her. I managed, and she was the perfect bridge from …
Owies and Ouchies
My back. It's not killing me, but when I deviate from the posture I would assume in the saddle, it kind of— it goes a bit twangy. I can move, it's not like I've thrown it out, but if I move in a certain way, it lets me know it's there. The thing I can't …
Mr Sociability
We were making our way to the bottom arena— the indoor is getting new kickboards, and besides, it was a glorious evening, one of the first of the nights slowly making their way towards the midsummer height, and not one of us would have wanted to stay inside. Not even the horses, perhaps especially the …
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 …
‘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 …
The Amazing and Magical Stick of Wonder
MINDS OUT THE GUTTER, PEOPLE We were walking the horses round and round prior to starting Tuesday's hour. Reb had been chowing down before the lesson, the first of his day, and I reckoned it could go either way: grumpy from having been taken away from his hay, or fizzy from the infusion of energy. …
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 …
Learning Curve
WITH RESPECT TO CHIEF BRODY, RIP I'm going to need a longer whip. Rebel and I are an item. There's no getting around it. He's got things to teach me, but they're not, what with retrospect and all, the gentle lessons of Delilah and Argo. The mists of time obscure the rough rides I had …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 