Mhm, tis Saturday which is lesson day. Well me and my new pony get along pretty well. He's very lazy so he needs to be pushed. The start of the lesson I was talking to a girl who was just riding in the arena (out of our way) to work her new horse. A gorgeous bay warmblood. She had another horse at the stables too. I thought it was crazy! She's 14/15 and jumping things taller than me! I'm slightly jealous but she was a sweetheart. I could have a conversation with her unlike the other girls. I know a lot about horses and she was surprised it was my fourth time riding (only by the way I spoke, not by the way I ride haha).
First, we were trotting poles. But I had to fight with good ol' Jovie to get him going and actually working. Then she set up a pole course for us. So basically a little jumping course but the poles are on the ground. The other girls did it splendid except the one girl still rides with her toes pointed down and I just can't understand how it's comfortable. The instructor gets on her but it's just her hard habit. My turn came and we did wonderful! I was very proud of my trotting pole course haha.
We did that a few rounds, then the put the little crossrails up (only three jumps and the others were still poles). Now my foot is in my mouth because all I could think was ... crap. These girls have been riding for years I recently found out. I am rather behind them but I'm catching up pretty well. (I'm told older riders can start easier than kids because were stronger) so they went wonderfully again ... then my turn came. IT WAS AMAZING. my first little hop sucked then I did the two and then the third then the last jump I felt perfect. I could even feel my heels down and everything felt easy and smooth. I was just too happy. I did the little course three times, then the other kids were allowed to raise the three jumps to oxers and I agreed with my instructor that me doing that was a no no. So I can only say good thing. I have to work on being a bit more stern to my pony but I ended on a good note and am just too happy.
Next lesson my father will take pictures then we shall see. =))
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
11/10/08 - and it starts ...
I do not expect people to read this nor do I expect anything from it really. This is for me and my little trip of learning to ride at 17 and anything else that interests me. Yeah it's been done and it's nothing new but it's huge for me.
My family supported me but we could not support the habit. I started a job a few years ago and now my dad received a promotion and works steady days so he now can drive me and help me with lessons. I pay for the lessons but he takes me and is helping me towards a vehicle etc =)
I've had three lessons ... well technically two.
I now ride at an amazing place called Paramount Equestrian. The first 'lesson' was with the owner, Joe. He evaluated me on the lunge and I was a nervous wreck (bad experience in the past) we discovered I can calm down and apparently have a great position.
Second lesson I was put in a group lesson with two girls one is a great rider and she is pretty young the other is ridiculous and spoiled beyond belief. Anyways I was so incredibly nervous riding in front of people. My trot sucked but the instructor got them doing other things and then I got my rhythm back and did a few laps. I heard the girls snickering and all I could think of was how I had better hair than them. Take that kids!
Third actual lesson I was with the girls again. I was asked which other horses I had rode. I simply replied I had only ridden the little white pony named Smokey. The woman was shocked as she thought I had had a couple months already. (THAT sounded like a compliment). The girls were above me definitely but she was very impressed to learn that the last lesson was my second time riding, so I got a new pony who is kind of ugly but I adore (okay he was probably nice looking when he was young but he's an adorable old man now).
We were trotting around the arena and she had the other two girls go to the center ... ohhh god was all I could think. She actually said how I had an amazing position (I don't know how) and that the girls should see what I was doing right (YESSS again haha). If only I, unlike them can fall out of the rhthym much easier though :(
These girls are above me and jumping little cross rails, I was allowed to attempt one but I just didn't have it so on my turn I did a trotting lap haha, which is understandable. The one girl (spoiled) doesn't have her heels down a lot ... it drives me nuts because that's been drilled into my head from all the books I read (HAHA) etc. Anyways she has a nippy horse so we can't ride closely by her. Her thing is though (she strongly expressed to the instructor how she could if given the chance, ride a 4ft jump) mhmmmmm ... the instructor dissagreed. =) anyways I was trotting my turn and she decided I was taking too long so when I was between the jumps and the walls she took the jump, well her horse snapped at mine. My little old man had a few side hops then was fine. But the girl was hanging on her horses neck (right side) while her left leg was somehow still stuck in the stirrup(thus heels down) her horse stops, then she starts SCREAMING so he bolts which of course makes her scream more. Said instructor steps in front of the horse like the brave soul she is (or I'm just a baby?) and grabs him. Helps her on and makes her do the jumps again. I giggled inside because the instructor calmly pointed out how that was why she couldn't do 4ft jumps yet etc etc.
My family supported me but we could not support the habit. I started a job a few years ago and now my dad received a promotion and works steady days so he now can drive me and help me with lessons. I pay for the lessons but he takes me and is helping me towards a vehicle etc =)
I've had three lessons ... well technically two.
I now ride at an amazing place called Paramount Equestrian. The first 'lesson' was with the owner, Joe. He evaluated me on the lunge and I was a nervous wreck (bad experience in the past) we discovered I can calm down and apparently have a great position.
Second lesson I was put in a group lesson with two girls one is a great rider and she is pretty young the other is ridiculous and spoiled beyond belief. Anyways I was so incredibly nervous riding in front of people. My trot sucked but the instructor got them doing other things and then I got my rhythm back and did a few laps. I heard the girls snickering and all I could think of was how I had better hair than them. Take that kids!
Third actual lesson I was with the girls again. I was asked which other horses I had rode. I simply replied I had only ridden the little white pony named Smokey. The woman was shocked as she thought I had had a couple months already. (THAT sounded like a compliment). The girls were above me definitely but she was very impressed to learn that the last lesson was my second time riding, so I got a new pony who is kind of ugly but I adore (okay he was probably nice looking when he was young but he's an adorable old man now).
We were trotting around the arena and she had the other two girls go to the center ... ohhh god was all I could think. She actually said how I had an amazing position (I don't know how) and that the girls should see what I was doing right (YESSS again haha). If only I, unlike them can fall out of the rhthym much easier though :(
These girls are above me and jumping little cross rails, I was allowed to attempt one but I just didn't have it so on my turn I did a trotting lap haha, which is understandable. The one girl (spoiled) doesn't have her heels down a lot ... it drives me nuts because that's been drilled into my head from all the books I read (HAHA) etc. Anyways she has a nippy horse so we can't ride closely by her. Her thing is though (she strongly expressed to the instructor how she could if given the chance, ride a 4ft jump) mhmmmmm ... the instructor dissagreed. =) anyways I was trotting my turn and she decided I was taking too long so when I was between the jumps and the walls she took the jump, well her horse snapped at mine. My little old man had a few side hops then was fine. But the girl was hanging on her horses neck (right side) while her left leg was somehow still stuck in the stirrup(thus heels down) her horse stops, then she starts SCREAMING so he bolts which of course makes her scream more. Said instructor steps in front of the horse like the brave soul she is (or I'm just a baby?) and grabs him. Helps her on and makes her do the jumps again. I giggled inside because the instructor calmly pointed out how that was why she couldn't do 4ft jumps yet etc etc.
picture of the second lesson
crappy but we were trotting poles in the jumping position
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
