Riding Diary – 11/18/21

I cannot remember coming out of a lesson as pleased and happy as I did last night.

Last week, my main goal was creating a more positive attitude, which I can check off 100%. I felt great going in, especially since the windy weather I was preparing for died down. The evening was perfect. The briskness in the air pepped Riley up with a forward, manageable energy. Most of the barn was away at a show with Barn Owner/Head Trainer, so it was quiet and serene.

There's normally a group lesson that happens during my private, but since St. Trainer was manning the ship, she asked if I was comfortable riding with the group for the full hour. Happily, I said I was game to ride with the two younger girls and their ponies.

Riding Diary – 11/11/21

From the last lesson we had, I could only go up, so up we went.

The more I ride Riley, the more I'm intensely grateful to ride a mature horse with a nice brain. It does so much for my confidence and allows me to hone in on how I can improve myself. Short version, we did get to jump a little crossrail, working on straightness, creating a good pace and starting to train my eye again.

The lesson was crafted around opening up Riley's stride to get a nice, forward pace by getting off his back and reinforcing my leg with a light tap of the crop. The crossrail we went over several times on the left rein was positioned at the quarter line, angled about 45º from centerline.

Riding Diary – 10/28/21

A baptism by fire is still a baptism, right?

Many new things happened during this lesson.

I rode in the middle of a group lesson with about five other riders in the ring. Not a problem, but more to keep track of.

A cold front brought intense winds, so the entire barn was rattling with spooky monsters according to Riley.

I went in with a sparkling attitude, brimming with excitement and optimism. Truly, this is the best I've ever felt going into a ride.

I fell off.

Riding Diary – 10/22/21

My second ride back was a pleasure!

This time, I rode another senior, been-there-done-that eq horse named, Gunner. He's a lovely, dark chestnut with an adorable face and a quirky personality. If I thought Riley was behind my leg, Gunner was even more so. Luckily, we spent the majority of the lesson focusing on getting some quality gaits out of him.

The First Ride Back

Riding Diary – 10/15/21

This week, after about five years out of the saddle, I got back on the horse.

My emotions leading up to the lesson were high. Sometimes, I'd catch myself tearing up imagining what it would be like again. I felt like a kid again, bursting with pure energy.

Other times, I'd desperately wrack my brain for dusty memories. Did I remember how to tack up? What all did I need for a walk to canter transition? Often, I'd have small epiphanies and remember that I do know how to do this. It's just going to be a matter of unlocking my muscle memories and being open to teaching.