Gonna Get There Someday

Back In the Saddle Again

08:34, Tuesday, September 23, 2008 .. 1 comments .. Link

Whew... I'm a little sore today! I had my first real riding lesson in a good four or five years yesterday. I rode daily when I was younger, doing the Pony Club thing and a local show here and there, but once I hit high school and didn't have horses anymore it became harder and harder to ride. Moving to downtown Boston where you only see horses on TV or beneath mounted policemen furthered my distance from the riding world, but after a year here I decided to stop waiting around for a horse to wander into my apartment and actually *do* something about it all. So, I found a barn relatively close to the city, made a call, and set up lessons.

It felt SO wonderful to be on horseback again. Not just horseback, really - I've done a trail ride here and there in the past few years, but that doesn't cut it for me - but *riding*. Working at it. Riding is SO much more than just staying on and telling the horse where to go; people don't realize how hard it is even at a walk to have perfect position and exercise correct cues and aids. I could tell I was a little too dependent on my stirrups at the post, pivoting more at the feet than the knee, which was frustrating, but understandable after no riding so long. I was surprised to learn that my hands tend to actually be too low, but not surprised that I had a hard time maintaing a good contact with the bit - years of Western riding were telling my hands to stay the hell away from that horse's mouth! :-p We worked on bending on an indirect rein, my seat, my posting, my hands, maintaing contact, leg pressure and leg aids, and cantered a little, but didn't do much work at the canter, which was fine by me! Next time. Anyway, I had SUCH a good time. My instructor, Bailey, isn't too much older than I am and very nice. The horse I rode, a grey named Frosty, was very patient, which was nice of him; I'm pretty sure he had no idea what I was doing up there when I was trying to focus on my reining and leg aids *and* seat all at once, hee hee.

Next lesson is next Monday - I can't wait!!
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11:31, Friday, September 26, 2008 .. Posted by raspberrydreams
That sounds fun. I must admit to being a bit nervous of horses though I do think they are really beautiful.

I loved your comment about waiting for the horse to enter your apartment. It remimded me of a story I read in a paper over here once that someone was keeping a horse in a high rise flat. Different I suppose ........but would need a big litter tray.
have a great day.

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