I've started to ride more consistently with Laurie again....the summer excitement has slowly ended and I think I have my weekly and weekend routine back. Oh but wait, there's a Red Cross drill this Saturday, an exercise the Friday before and an Emergency Preparedness night at Sky Sox this Friday. There goes that idea! But I am going out to ride on Tuesday at least!
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| Divine...the shocked look |
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| Laurie's indoor arena |
My last couple of lessons have been hard. I can't put it in any other way. I did free work, meaning off the lunge line while working with Divine on circles and figure eights. I had issues getting her into the corners the way I wanted to but eventually succeeded, albeit with an ugly "opening rein" to get the mare to listen.
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| Gadiel's stall Laurie and Dan have been building for a while |
The last lesson was a lesson in tolerance for my derriere. Sitting trot no stirrups and working on having my leg way back and sitting on my crotch more to accomplish that. That laid back Aussie saddle is looking better and better! I know I have a lot of work to do on my balance, I tense up and accentuate my chances of falling off. Should I look for a older horse then? Perhaps my husbands future horse? A horse that is rock solid? Am I being a wus? I think some of my falls have created more fear than I realized. I'm going to try to work with Laurie twice a week for a bit to get this balance thing worked on but I gotta say, the legs way back and crotch sitting feel so foreign and quite uncomfortable!
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| Stalls that were already existent in the barn |
I do have to realize I'm not in this to look great riding. Balance is one thing, perfect position while related to the balance is another. I don't have to be perfect. There are tons of riders that aren't perfect and do just fine safely riding. I try not too beat myself up with thoughts of "damn it why can't you do this!", "chill out and relax you ninny!" or "it's a saddle not a slip n' slide!". I have to have patience and tolerance of my weaknesses.
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| Divine..."oh no you're gonna ride me again!" |
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| Eksodus in the field with the mares |
And lastly I have to remember why I ride, to be near my favorite animal...the horse. Equitation and collection aside, riding up a winding path with a warm and happy horse beneath me and the grand blue sky above me.
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| Hello little Psylk! |
2 comments:
Some trainers try to get us to point M before we have point B and C. Focus on improving one thing at a time. That's really helped me make some progress. You will do fine! Many of us are not trying to be dressage competitors!
Laurie's concern for me has been safety and she's been very patient working with me...she cheers for the little victories. I know it will come eventually and I'm so glad I have an instructor who isn't all about horse showing since, like you, I'm not interested in that. She's about getting my confidence back after a few crazy falls and getting my seat stable. I definitely see that if I work on relaxing first instead of gripping up that will help my seat ten fold! Patience grasshopper...right? :-)
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