Today I went for my first night-time ride. When I started, the sun was just setting and it was so pretty. I wish I had brought my phone out to the arena so I could have taken a picture. Sox and I were the only two riding as the other two ladies out tonight were untacking when I was pulling in. They hung around the barn and my trainer showed up too so I wasn’t completely alone out there. We didn’t do much. Sox was a little “look-y” today – and normally he’s not like that, so it was weirding me out a little, then someone nearby was setting off fireworks which combined with the look-y-ness, made me a little hesitant. Which stinks because we started out strong and ended in a fizzle. Oh well. Usually it’s the other way around!
Yesterday I had a lesson with my friend for the first time in many months. It was kind of a nice ego boost to hear her say so many times how much I’ve improved on this or that. She was especially impressed with my progress in my sitting trot – so YAY for that!! Sitting trot is, in my opinion, one of the harder things to master. Not because it is especially complicated, but precisely because it isn’t. I know exactly what I am supposed to do. Getting my body to actually do it is a whole other process. That’s what makes it so hard for me. I can’t figure out how to make my body do what I’m telling it to do. And I know that nothing but time in the saddle working on it will actually make it work.
Anyway, it was a good lesson overall. She was probably just covering all the basics (it felt like we did a tiny bit of all the things) to see where I am since we haven’t worked together in a while and she’s taking over for my trainer while she’s out on maternity leave. We worked out a deal too – I will be her groom on Tuesdays and I get a lesson on Wednesdays for free. Yay. Well, only for another month or so since my lease ends when I go back to work in the middle of August. 😦 I can’t believe it’s almost over. Normally, my trainer rides these horses, or tacks/untacks the horses so my friend can ride them (these horse are on training board) so my assistance isn’t needed, but for right now, I can help out, which is cool. I get to interact with the horses in a different way (other than feeding them treats when I am at the barn) and I’m learning a bit too by watching her ride these horses. Since we are friends, I don’t feel like I am imposing when I ask a ton of questions. Plus it is fun to just shoot the shit with her and not have to worry about Sox or anything.
Well, happy riding! 😉 Going back tomorrow morning for some more!
Auntiechichi Learns to Ride 