It just does. It takes time for me to get used to a horse. I've been riding Amigo well, and we jumped on Saturday, just wee ones, a foot if that, but I need to do that. I need to take my time with a new horse. I've been riding Amigo at least once a …
I Haven’t Learned My Lesson
I KNOW, I KNOW! Well, what was I supposed to do? The traffic was murder, the bus was late, I had to take a taxi all the way the feck out to the feckin' yard, and I got in, and he was saddled, and there simply wasn't time before pony camp to maybe beg for …
Flying Changes!
SORT OF So, Rebel was ridic last week — yes, yes, I know, I know, yes, I took him again, last Tuesday, and he was absolutely fine for 85% of the lesson. We were building up to this awesome thing, a series of jumps, one at E, then up and around to one at X, …
Matter Over Mind
Thanks to whoever read this today. I was fairly certain that I'd had a headline like the one above, and am glad to know that I'm not, precisely, repeating myself. But thank you, dear reader, you saved me having to check. Woke up on Monday and it sounded like it was lashing rain. The light …
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 …
Rollercoaster. Of Love.
It's the Monday after my rodeo show with Rebel. I'm still annoyed and unhappy, and now I'm heading off to ride the Big Horse with No Bit. I woke, and considered bailing. How much more battering could my shaky confidence take? After the last time, I wasn't so sure that I had the ability to …
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 …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 