A Story of Addiction, Dysfunction, Codependency… and Horses
28 OCTOBER, 2006 It was the shittiest hour yet. There was, of course, no way of knowing how shitty it was going to be. It’s my eighth week of lessons, Argo and I an indissoluble team. I’m feeling pretty good, considering that all I did was walk for my entire first lesson, two short months …
Continue reading "The Shittiest Hour Yet"
TUESDAY, 2 OCTOBER, 2007 Not me, my whip. I am dead bummed. Particularly so soon after recounting its miraculous appearance on the road last year. Lest anyone think I broke it on the back of a horse, let me tell you that I broke it on myself. We were jumping, Rebel and I, and Emma …
OCTOBER 18, 2006 I am reminded of the last time I was in London. I went over for the day. It was kind of silly, I had an exam to study for, I certainly didn’t need to knacker myself spending a day roaming round London, but I bought a cheap flight, figured that if I …
JUNE 2007 We’re out in the field, going over the cross country fences. Three in a row, Delilah loves it, loves being outside, she’s fast and it’s uphill over the tires, then a plank fence, then up and around to a log, maybe 30 cms, not much. We’re coming around, and she feels… sluggish? I …
LONDON Karen was saying wouldn't it be funny if my bag got searched in Gatwick, considering? 'Pardon me, Madam,' beamed the security dude. 'Would you mind terribly if I was to search your bag?' Bugger! I grimaced at him. 'I don't imagine I have much of a choice,' I 'laughed', and he 'laughed' and proceeded …
THE LAST MISSED SATURDAY OF 2007 Posting from Dublin Airport, in the shockingly revolting Ryanair wing, bracing myself for the riot to board the plane, off to London for the weekend. I will, of course, miss the horses tomorrow, but it's good to take a break, somewhat in the same way I've gotten better after …
JUNE 2007 Riding out sucks. It’s boring. Up the road, down the road, up the road, good luck if your mount has the munchies, spending half the time in walk, it is dull, dull, dull— And it scares me stupid. My first walk out— and in fairness, I had no business being on the back …
DECEMBER 2006 ‘Anybody ever jumped before?’ Are you kidding me? It’s December, the middle. I have been riding for… thirteen weeks? Twice a week now since the middle of November so that’s more like sixteen weeks if you count the other days as weeks, as one lesson per week, and— oh, stop it. I’m still …
26 MAY, 2007 I’d had Tango once before, in a small class of only three. I got up, he immediately began stepping backwards. I’m trying to get the length of the leathers right— ‘Tango!’— I keep letting out the reins, kicking him on, he stops, I adjust a stirrup, he dances back. Bugger. We get …
I love Rebel. He’s a lovely dun colour, and he’s feisty, playful, he kicks up a bit, he lets me know when I’m doing something he doesn’t like, but he’s willing, so willing, and he jumps like a dream. His canter—oh, his canter is just perfect, I’ve never felt so centred in the canter, and …
