So, talk about a buzz kill: I had Tango for my private lesson on Thursday, and we went great together, a combination of some fairly massive improvements on my part re: leg; of watching a lesson mate ride him really well on Tuesdays; and of the penny finally dropping as regards how to behave as …
2010: Year Four
I THINK — I CAN NEVER FIGURE THIS OUT Okay, so I started riding in 2006, which means I ended my third year in September of '09, and okay, I get it now, yes. Yes! Fourth year of riding has begun! Or it will on Tuesday. I can't say I haven't enjoyed the last two …
Trust and Bonding
ACK! Been away so long, WordPress changed their homepage. Freaky! I suppose 'summer' is as good an excuse as any, to invoke against sluggishness in blogging. I've mostly been spending the time daydreaming about writing my non-fiction horse book, and waiting to go across to England to do a week-long course. The course is done, …
Why Not to Give Up
Oh, Tuesday. I had Rebel, we were outside, there was a massive puddle between E and C, and he had decided that it had my name on it. He was spooking at a teeny tiny one between C and M, and in open order, I kept going back over it, to get him to look …
On the Ground — For Real
So I'd been doing all this stuff — sitting on the edge of my seat on the bus, walking around with my elbows loose yet down, standing with my balance entirely in my pelvis — to help me in the saddle. This is as far as my 'on the ground' work has gone. I'd never …
I Know It’s Getting Better
BECAUSE IT FEELS BETTER The last few jumps on Thursday were over an oxer. I seek to use the correct terms, and I suppose an oxer is an oxer is an oxer, but this was, maybe, if I was pushing it, eighteen inches wide. [There had been some sort of crazy series of fences set …
It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This…
Last Tuesday was great. Perfectly sunny, perfect blue sky, and we went up to the upper arena to jump. I had Amigo, and I think he likes it up there. I sure do. It's the perfect balance between being outside and being up in the mountains. I'm still a bit leery of the highest hill, …
The Pony Parade
So, at one stage, whilst waiting to have another go at the fences, we all noticed that a bunch of ponies had... run out of the lean to, or something? and were pelting up the big hill. Flynn was tacked — didn't care, he went and followed all his friends to freedom. Ha, ha, so …
The Belly Button Thing + The Other Thing
EQUALS AWESOME The other thing being that thing that they tell you to do, when the horse is falling in on a circle in canter, which is: open the inside rein. Which seems ridiculous and pointless and scary, because surely if you open up the inside rein, the horse is just going to fall in …
The Belly Button Thing
IT REALLY WORKS It really does. I insert a disclaimer here, you know, don't try this at home without the express direction of your trainer or instructor, etc, etc, blah blah blah. It really works for me. Even on Rebel. I know, I know, but I think I'm stuck with him on Tuesdays, it's either …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 