RIDING LESSON

My gosh

I haven't done this for a while.

Riding post!!

I had my first lesson since coming to UW. The barn seemed nice, clean and tidy with a large indoor sand arena. There was plenty of fenced turnout ( which I like) and bright and clean stalls. Our instructor was a plump friendly blonde girl called Lauren. ( she reminded me a slighter larger, blonde and Ontario version of Melanie) I was to rie a cute pinto pony called Jack. Lauren showed me to the tackroom, a rectangular space which connected two barns.

The bridles were hung on gold hooks with the girths above it. Saddles, all individually numbered were covered with saddle pads placed on top. A calico cat lay sleeping on a nearby hay bale. After picking out the tack, i went outside to groom. First, feet picking, he picked his feet up easily without a fuss, he was REALLY quiet, probably a kid/ beginner's horse. Tack was easy, then we went off into the arena to mount up.

I was wearing my new boots so it felt a little awkward like there was now an extra layer to my shoes, as compared with my other rubber boots, felt a little stiff. Getting back into the saddle, literally. Jack moved off easily and we fell into line. I decided i should try to stay aware of my riding position, that my reins followed my arms, i was sitting up and not leaning forward, my feet turned in. Started at a walk, then onto rising trot. I kept bumping into jonathan' horse, so was told to make circle, which jack ( bein the school pony he was) tried his best to resist and protest.
Onto sitting, trot- remember sit back, sit deep, push weight into heels. This pony was on auto trot, i had to do nothing.

We then moved on to cantering. I was told by lauren that i would probably need to push a lot suwith the leg....So i expected that, to my surprise, i gave the signal and off he went!! i didnt even have to try!!
Then when we went again, he tried to resist, and i realised that yeah he does leg.
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When the lessons was over, there was a slight confusion about wherae to go to keep my pony, what the barn did etc ( each place is different) A teenage girl, who looked no old er than 14 eyed me suspiciously as i put jack in cross ties " Do you kno w how to ride? " she asked. SLightly taken aback i replied " yeah, I just haven't taken regular lessons for a while" she pouted slightly before asking again " How long have you ridden for? " Of which i wanted to reply " I started when you probably an infant" but instead smiled and said " Well, several years, i started in 2000 but haven't had regular lessons for the last three years"

It felt so awesome to be back in the saddle, of course, i wasn't working overly hard ( like RL tends to do) this was mid-level, i was still working hard but not too hard.

What I want out of this
1. JUMPING experience- I have a shitty forward seat over jumps and i know it, i am nothing next to the hunt-seat babes they have scattered across all the hunter barns all over north america

2. Perhaps try out for the OUEA team next yr?? Now that they won this year... i probably do not stand a chance

Side note- Dammit i wish OUEA had Dressage, I would SOOOO DO IT
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- Not jumping a lot in lessons kind of forced me into Dressage. But I do love it. It's far from boring.

At the end of the lesson lauren suggested I try riding another horse next week, I agreed. This means something - I do not claim to a terribly great rider, but i think i was the best of the three! maybe cos i have the most experience. Oh wells. I am happy

Horses make me Happy
the end

5:52 PM ·