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 …
It Had to Happen
I was so exhausted by my press trip to Valencia, I was tempted to grab the taximan I got at Dublin Airport and kiss him on the mouth. But once home, it was with a busy monkey mind that I unlocked my door and sat myself on my couch. I was meant to go to …
Goodbye to the Comfort Zone
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 …
Look, Ma!
We did the thing with the reins on one hand again. But without stirrups. That was pretty cool. Then, for the last two minutes, we played chase. Four adults on horseback trying to avoid getting tagged, whilst the fifth tried their best to make someone else 'it'. Despite the long stick, I was 'it' forever, …
Saddle and the Back
BECAUSE I WAS BACK IN THE SADDLE? I didn't realise until I was getting off the last of today's buses that my back wasn't at me anymore. I woke a bit conscious of it, and I can't say when I totally forgot about it. Did it just stop twanging? Or was it because I wasn't …
A Foregone Conclusion
Yes, so the long stick: I have, as I said, become rather blasé about carrying it around. I do realise, occasionally, that it is basically something that could be confused with a weapon. Recall my experience in Heathrow in 2006. So I keep it as close to my body as possible, tucked up under the …
Cowboy Logic
The indoor arena is still under construction, but luckily, the weather held. Windy, though— and we were in the upper outdoor arena. It's big, and heavy with sand, it's where the polocrosse happens, and the jumping competitions. I had watched Rebel in the previous lesson, and he was particularly stroppy, running out from jumps and …
Quite the Thing
I've gotten rather blasé about the long stick. I'm handling it better, both in the arena and out. The first few times, handling it was like trying to juggle babies: it felt funny, it felt wrong, but it had to be done correctly or else. Now I can [almost] switch it from hand to hand …
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 …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 