Last Lesson

Today I quit my riding school. I did it after my lesson, when the instructor told me my package of 5 was up. I said "I won't be coming back because I'm not comfortable with the side-reins/draw reins on all the horses." She was surprised because I'd just had a really nice lesson on a new horse and had overcome some big hurdles that morning. I said "The horses here are nice, the ladies are great, but I am morally against the devices."

I didn't go into detail with her, because I believe any riding instructor should already know the arguments circling these devices. I did, however, go into great detail with Anja on the way to the barn this morning. I gave her the run-down:

• The horses are always on the forehand
• The horses never learn to collect willingly because they are forced into a headset
  
• The horses become heavy and dependent on the devices
• The devices are not used part of the time, or on some of the horses, rather all the time, all the horses
• The riders never have the chance to really learn to ride

Anja said, "Oh, but so many kids get on those horses..."

And I interrupted her, "Everyone knows that these devices are 'Not for Beginner's Hands' yet no advanced rider would use them."

She said, "Practically all the riding schools use them." This is reminiscent of what Sjef Janssen (The Dutch rollkur coach) said, "All top riders use rollkur!"

Then my search will be difficult.

It was hard because I really like the people, and the horses aren't that bad.

Anja gave me the name of a couple of riding schools she thinks might not use devices, but in looking at their websites right away I see photos like this:















So anyway, I wanted to share about my lesson. It had been 3 weeks so as the other ladies eagerly picked their favorite horses, I was left with the horse I said I would never ride --Scarlett. I'd seen her freak out under one rider, resulting in that rider handing her over to a trainer, and I'd seen her bucking a fair share. And she's gi-nor-mous. Over 17 hands. I said "No" when told I'd be riding her. I was told I must, and promised she'd be good for me.

The horse is so big I don't know how she fit though the doorway but I started grooming. Her feet were the size of plates. Her ears are twice as long as Baasha's. Her back is so high, only on my tiptoes could I reach the brush up there to groom it, but I certainly couldn't see it! But her manners were great, and she seemed really calm, which really helped me. I gave her some long strokes, massaging her neck and chest, telling her I hope we can be friends for the next hour.

She actually lowered her head for the bit, which was good cuz I did not have a ladder.

Then I got in trouble for ---GASP--- walking the horse to the arena with the stirrups let down! Good heavens I never realized what a danger stirrups hanging down could be. I wonder what they do with the western horses - saddle them in the arena? I was annoyed as they told me "The stirrup could bang against her and scare her." That means she's probably not broke to ride. *sigh*

I got her to the arena and the instructor came right to me and tried to make me breathe. Yah, I was terrified, looking up at this monster horse. I don't think I've ever ridden a horse this big and I was kind of hyperventilating, or not breathing at all.

I adjusted her flash too loose, and I adjusted her side/draw reins on the loosest possible setting, and to my delight, I saw that her head was not held behind the vertical. The instructor somehow let that slip, I don't know why, but her head was not set in that place all the others' were. And looking at this photo from a few weeks ago, I see that usually it is adjusted 8 inches tighter than what I did today. See the extra leather bit hanging down in front of the rider's foot? I had nothing hanging down because I used the very last hole. How did I get away with that!

The instructor helped me get on with a very tall mounting block. It was almost dizzying for me to be so high up. I was very grateful to be sitting on a Wintec, with its grippy seat, it felt like my own saddle.

"Don't worry. Take a deep breath. Now remember: this horse doesn't like her reins tight." OK good to know.

My mind's eye was on her bucking the other riders, and balking suddenly with another. I said a prayer.

Oddly as soon as she started walking, I settled down and was able to relax. Faking it can only go on for so long.

I just thought, "OH, we'll just walk circles for an hour and then I can get off as quick as possible."

But it was actually a really good lesson. And I had hoped for the chance to ride a different horse, after all.

I had to use the crop to get her light off my legs and seat cues and then she was springing forward for me. I kept the reins so loose she stretched down, and everytime I saw our reflection in the mirror, I was shocked at how tiny I looked. My legs did not even come down her sides, I looked like a kid. The other riders were all way down there, also looking small. I felt like I could have held my arms straight out sideways and never hit anyone as they passed.

The mare is white with a dark mane and her long forelock and long roman nose made her face look like an Andalusion. The arena was definitely too small for her big strides.

Then I ran into her issue - she likes to just zone out and follow the other horses. I can see how that would be easier for a school horse. And how it became habit with other riders just allowing the follow. I purposefully spent the hour doing things independently of them, staying clear away. She'd still tend to drift when one came near. And when it was time to canter, and all the others were blazing around, I was too scared, on such a big horse, but then I realized she was zoning again and wanted to "Just Follow" so I grabbed the Oh S*** handle and let her go. Her canter was so big in a couple strides were were at the end of the arena facing the too-small short end. My first thought was this freight train is gonna wreck but somehow we didn't. I don't know the word for "freight train" in German so I shouted to the instructor, "She's a semi!"

And I had to laugh, cuz I was having fun. I let go of the O.S. handle. She was even able to counter canter for me when I asked, something I was nervous about asking Gina (and I saw Gina give a good buck when asked today!).

Then I wanted to see if I could collect her huge body. Sitting the trot was fine on her, because her strides were gigantic, but she resisted collecting. She kept telling me, "I can't!" and the instructor said, "Yah, collection is really hard for her cuz she's so big, but she can do it."

Finally I had her mind all to myself, and we did figure 8s and many small circles and lots of transitions and then I had this really great moment: she did a trot serpentine for me collected, properly switching bend back and forth, and on a loose rein even! The instructor saw it and from her reaction, I knew I'd really achieved something.

The mare didn't know/remember how to back up, so we worked on that a bit too. By the end I had her backing three entire steps (hard for her) and then springing into a trot. She became light and really a pleasure, but to be honest, her canter was way too exciting for me. She simply needs a bigger arena for me to feel safe, especially with so many other riders. I'm used to having a little more time before being faced with another wall coming at me.

I have learned so much these past few weeks. I learned that a quick tune up can make a light, forward horse. I learned I can ride enormous horses - even the ones who weren't as huge, seemed huge to me at first.

Once you're up there it doesn't seem as different compared to the view from the ground.

(The top photo is Scarlett.)