Have a nice trip?
Aug. 12th, 2003 12:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prowler1971Another exciting night at Bobby's Ranch. As I was driving up, I saw the storm clouds rolling in. As I got there, it wasn't raining yet, but I knew it would. Apparently, Bobby had a bunch of important people there for a meeting. Which Rick was going to be a little extra strict in the lesson. This, IMHO, was good. It meant when Brawney didn't listen to my commands, he kicked me off the horse and rode it and showed me he'll listen if I'm firm. I was also forced to ride with a crop. I only had to use the crop a couple of times which made me happy.
We started in the outdoor ring and the downpour began as Frank showed up late (hey, at least he showed up). So we went to the indoor ring. Stephen had to change horses so there'd be one big enough for Frank. Our riding was completely disjointed. These horses think they're supposed to follow other horses so getting them to do what they're supposed to requires a lot of effort. Well, we eventually rode single file, close to each other as we do on the trail. It worked. I was in full control of Brawney, or at least he made me think so. If he tried to veer off, I made him do the right thing.
It was all lots of fun... then Brawney tripped. Both front legs. I saw myself about to take a header into a bale of hay (there are worse things I guess). I let go of the reigns with both hands and kicked my feet out of the stirrups as I prepared to go flying over the horses's head. Only, he quickly righted himself and I was back in the saddle with the reigns and the crop still in my hands, and my feet in the stirrups. I actually felt a little like a super hero. My biggest fear was that he was going to roll over on my leg as he went down. I truly didn't expect him to recover. But he got up and kept righton trotting.
Overall it was a good lesson. Probably the best group lesson we've had. I need to tell Rick so.
Rick had to tell Frank to shut up and listen. Every time Rick tried to give him instruction and direction, Frank would start yapping. Between that and cancelling as often as he does, I'm sure Rick is fairly unhappy with him.
This is exactly the type of thing we need. I've scheduled a private lesson for my vacation week. I want it at least half in the ring so I can get used to controlling the horse without others around. See if I'm doing the right thing. Maybe weaving in and out of the poles holding the roof up. But on the trail, we get to canter so I might want to do half on the trail so I can get more accustomed to cantering.
In the end, I only need to be able to make the horse canter in a straight line, but if I can't control him if something goes arwy, it will be a bad scene.
We started in the outdoor ring and the downpour began as Frank showed up late (hey, at least he showed up). So we went to the indoor ring. Stephen had to change horses so there'd be one big enough for Frank. Our riding was completely disjointed. These horses think they're supposed to follow other horses so getting them to do what they're supposed to requires a lot of effort. Well, we eventually rode single file, close to each other as we do on the trail. It worked. I was in full control of Brawney, or at least he made me think so. If he tried to veer off, I made him do the right thing.
It was all lots of fun... then Brawney tripped. Both front legs. I saw myself about to take a header into a bale of hay (there are worse things I guess). I let go of the reigns with both hands and kicked my feet out of the stirrups as I prepared to go flying over the horses's head. Only, he quickly righted himself and I was back in the saddle with the reigns and the crop still in my hands, and my feet in the stirrups. I actually felt a little like a super hero. My biggest fear was that he was going to roll over on my leg as he went down. I truly didn't expect him to recover. But he got up and kept righton trotting.
Overall it was a good lesson. Probably the best group lesson we've had. I need to tell Rick so.
Rick had to tell Frank to shut up and listen. Every time Rick tried to give him instruction and direction, Frank would start yapping. Between that and cancelling as often as he does, I'm sure Rick is fairly unhappy with him.
This is exactly the type of thing we need. I've scheduled a private lesson for my vacation week. I want it at least half in the ring so I can get used to controlling the horse without others around. See if I'm doing the right thing. Maybe weaving in and out of the poles holding the roof up. But on the trail, we get to canter so I might want to do half on the trail so I can get more accustomed to cantering.
In the end, I only need to be able to make the horse canter in a straight line, but if I can't control him if something goes arwy, it will be a bad scene.
