Third lesson

I woke up this morning not sure I could ride, because I'd twisted my ankle last night in a mad dash down the hill to rescue Baasha from a sudden thunderstorm. I don't know which step I fell off in the dark but I couldn't move for a few minutes, I just stood there with my foot in the air saying, "Ow, ow, ow. OK stop hurting now."

I'd promised as soon as the rain came I would bring him in, I just had to do it more slowly than usual.

I put this topical painkiller on it and it still wouldn't let me sleep, but I was gonna use a mounting block anyway so my lesson should be a go.

I was so grateful when I was told to ride Gina again! I knew I could really enjoy myself on her.

I knew which one Gina was because I recognized her snarling face as I approached her haystation. (She looks like a big huge Morgan horse - dark bay with an amazing long wavy mane, a long tabletop back, and hairy fetlocks. She also has this fatty crest that looks pretty but stays ice cold for most of my lesson. I've never felt anything like it - it must be solid fat because it feels almost like unliving flesh. Have any of you felt this on a horse before?)

It was pouring rain and there was over an inch of water on the paved paddocks, flowing like rivers, and some rivers were running dark brown from manure, and I had to walk in that too, and my shoes each have 2 holes. I tried not to think about it.

I knew how to deal with Gina so I tied her short in her stall in the very middle so I wouldn't have to make her move over at all. I had her softest brush and used it mostly to flick the water out of her soaked coat. I realized she wasn't glaring or grouching at me at all. HM. She even turned to me at one point with her ears forward, what could be called a sweet expression for her. I stopped what I was doing and gave her a long slow stroke on her chest, telling her, "That's the face I like!"

I hooked up the sidereins wrong and had to be corrected, but oh well.

I had a devious plan. Last week they said we could drop the side reins when they are loose, when we aren't using them. Since I cannot figure out how that would be possible - the horses are already cranked on the vertical with them, I thought I'd just ask how exactly I should do that. She misunderstood me and thought I was trying to get them off and I said, "No, I want to learn to ride in them so they are loose."

She said that I should just ride with very long reins, and the mare will drop her head down and they'll go loose. OK, that seemed to work, so when do I get to drop them completely!? I didn't say anything - I will though.

I gasped when I saw that there would be 6 riders in the arena, oh dear, more chaos!

But somehow it didn't happen. It went smoothly! Even though we had lots of free time, and we all were doing circles, I was confident enough to do several 4 loop serpentines (and comfortable enough to do it SITTING, *grin*), and many 10 meter circles.

Gina was amazing. We finally understand each other. I did not overcue her, she never bucked, she only winced at other horses a few times...oh yah, she did spook big time when someone parked a car right outside the door. I was so pissed! I made her circle by that car until she finally settled down.

That reminds me - as I came to the arena this morning I had no raincoat so I used an umbrella. Well I guess umbrellas are not allowed - the trainer called to me, "Close your umbrella!" and I was so annoyed cut it was pouring and I was standing in a river and when I finally got there she said, "It will spook the horses." Riding were Anja (my next door neighbor on her jumper) and Kerstin the barn owner, on her reining horse. I said, "They need to learn about umbrellas then" and she laughed and said, "Tell Anja that!" but then she did. I've seen Louis taking stadium jumps, and he has issues with umbrellas? Come on.

Ironic that I had to ride the car-spooking horse after complying to put my umbrella away.

Anyway, we did these exercises where we all took turns trotting a 10 meter circle at M, and then cantering to A and circling again at the canter. I had some performance anxiety cuz all the other riders were staring at me, but I tried to ignore that. I swear Gina just understands German and listened to the instructor, or maybe just watched the other horses do it first, cuz I barely had to ask. I did have the "oh-scheisse-handle" in my hand though after last week's bucking.

Later Gina did some nice shoulder-ins, haunches-ins, and some turn on hindquarters for me. She is so light and I'm thinking I could really learn to just ride with my seat with her, given time.

Two new ladies were there, one riding a bay spanish gelding that had dreamy gaits - he was tiny in comparison to the hulking warmbloods, but he belongs in a dressage ring with that movement.

The other new lady rode this gray Arab cross that reminded me of Baasha, he was so gentle and unproblematic. I wouldn't mind riding either of these geldings.

Ulrike rode Olga, and I pray I never have to ride her. She just cuts across the arena at will, throwing her shoulder out and Ulkike was doing everything she could to just get the horse back on the rail. Also there was a lot a lot of whipping to get that mare to canter.

Chris rode Amanda, (old ironsides) and I was impressed. She did not have to whack her hardly at all. I'd like to give Amanda another try.

Afterwards I bought Ulrike a hot chocolate and we all sat in the lounge and talked. It was nice to meet new people and I asked them which their favorite horse is - they all agreed on Gina. I was the lucky one today. And the trainer probably knows, if she wants to keep my business, she'd better let me have a little fun!

I am impressed by the courage of these ladies as they ride these recalcitrant horses. I have absolutely no desire to spend my hour fighting with certain horses. I selfishly want to work more on me, and less the horse. But don't we all want that: )

I'm gonna "shop around" other barns and see how many offer lessons without devices - I will quit this barn on moral grounds if there is no possibility of ever riding without devices. I am so enjoying my Fridays though!