I got home last night, had a quick dinner and went off to the horse park with my youngest. She did really well in getting her horse tacked up. I only had to help her with the saddle, and once that was cinched up, she walked her horse out to the arena, climbed on the fence and got on her horse. I got a little tear in my eye and thought to myself “and just like that, she grows up even more.” The joys of parenting/getting old. LOL.
I took Big John to the round pen, warmed him up, got him saddled up, and rather than do my normal routine of spending 30 to 40 minutes in the round pen and saying “Ok, well thats enough for today,” I started in the arena… got on him, walked him, and then trotted him around, practicing my balance, getting him not to die in the corners, getting him to turn. When it was all said and done, 40 minutes had gone by, and had my daughter not needed to get home for bed, I likely would have stayed another 30 minutes. It was… dare I say… fun, exhilarating, rewarding, satisfying…. Yeah… really it was. I have been trying for 2 years to actually be able to ride. My horse has transformed from an underweight, ill mannered, scared animal to a very handsome, well mannered, but spooky yet proud Belgian. Up until Sunday, my transformation hadn’t occurred yet. I was safely ensconced in a cocoon of excuses as to why I needed to be cautious, why I needed to get my confidence up, why I couldn’t ride, and every once in a while my back would twinge, reminding me, yes, I’ve had my share of actual broken bones, rope burns, massive bruises from being stepped on, kicked or bumped into with prejudice. In the final analysis, I was holding my horse back as well as myself… My horse, even though he’s a draft, loves to run. No, I haven’t mastered the lope yet, but I am comfortable at the trot. My fear and sometimes terror has been replaced with a sense of calm, a sense of focus, of being in tune with this magnificent animal that is my horse…. listening to him while getting him to consistently listen to me…. practicing neck reining, leg cues and actually driving him through the corners.
I’ve also managed to have a new feeling added to my repertoire associated with riding… aches and pain. I’m serious… I feel like the human friggin’ wishbone… the insides of my thighs are ridiculously sore… I’m feeling my age, but I don’t care… I’m riding my horse again tonight!
