The day after my lesson is usually a good ride, as I'm focussing on what I learned the day before. At least I'm still of an age I'm retaining it for a day, most of the time! I don't know what it was about this week, but I have been just miserable... heading to the farm, I could have easily turned around, headed home and had a drink... but I thought noooo..... you have a show coming up, and frankly you've got many years to try and catch up on.
Ozzys saddle doesn't fit any longer, and is leaving some marks along his withers... I didn't bring a screwdriver to change the gullet size today, so I almost convinced myself bareback might be better... but then my brain started to work again and I thought one more easy ride won't hurt him, and I'll take my saddle home to change... if this change doesn't work... my credit card will be buying me a new saddle! YIKES!!!!
A neighbour of the barn came up looking for riders for his cutting QH's, I have his name and number, and if your interested call me. But I have to say after this bad week at work I was seriously considering it. Something would have to give though, work or the boyfriend, because I'm certainly not going to cut into Ozwalds time... Ozwald - how do you like it? We are thinking that should actually be his new barn nae. It would help if I knew how to spell it. Ozwold or Ozwald... out comes the baby name book!
I actually really care about this man, so the only thing to give if I was to take it on would be work... and I started to think about hmmm if thats all I did was ride horses and shovel crap... how much would I have to do before I made what I do now....
So in the end if you know of someone that would like to apprentice under this gentleman give me a shout.
I was going to focus today on repeating yesterdays lesson. So I voluntarily tied my stirrups to my girth. But I tied them even closer then Brianne did yesterday. And do I feel the burn up the side of my calf. We worked at a walk, trot, 2 point and a canter with my stirrups tied. I have to say its nice to not worry about keeping your leg on your horse! Although I still have to concentrate on keeping my heels down. I think I'm finally stopping thinking about if I'm posting right, and I think for the most part I'm catching myself without having to think about it. So hopefully the heels down will come automatically.
His canter today was beautiful, and I felt so tall in the saddle. I'm sure there was a few times that I crouched forward into my fetal position, but not too many. It felt in control, he was able to transition into a canter from a sitting trot, rising trot and a walk, and he held it today far better then even yesterday.... He still does the whole motorbike/barrel racing on the short end and falls into my inside leg, despite me standing and bearing all my weight into the outside leg. But along the long side, it was absolutely beautiful and in control, and there were a few corners he was amazing going into.
Then, I'm not sure if I mentioned yesterday, Brianne rose my stirrups to jockey type length and had me focus on my core balance, and heels down. If my heels are not down then I feel like I'm going to fall. Yesterday this was an exercise from HELL. Today I self inflicted it, and I loved it. Reminded me of exercising the track ponies, knees up by my eye balls! We trotted around like that, with me concentrating on dropping my heel and feeling balanced. Although I didn't hold this for as long as my coach made me yesteday (nanana hahaha ) I did hold this during a collected trot, a large trot, and yep I had him canter while in this position. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the feeling of being balanced. Its like a natural high to have a horse trip, or jump, or do something under you that if you weren't sitting well in your seat you'd be all over him (like my last jumping show) but your sitting so well that you don't feel a thing, nothing jarring, nothing knocking you out of the seat.
I see that Zellers has a digital video camera on sale, I think I'm going to stop tomorrow and start taping my lessons and the practice session the next day.
I so love my pony! Which makes having to buy a new saddle not as horrible feeling! If anyone is looking for a wide Wintek English All Purpose Saddle, give me a shout.
And if you have a jumper saddle that would fit a wide draft then give me a shout.
One more week till our next show!