TUESDAY LESSON

Yesterday I had my regular Tuesday lesson. On Tuesdays I appreciate my job--English professor and Department Chair--because I can arrange my schedule to accommodate this hobby/obsession of mine. If I were still a middle school language arts teacher, I would be in the classroom from early morning until late afternoon and too tired to ride a horse after work. I admire my riding partner, Carrie, who teaches first graders all day and still rides Artie several days a week. Or maybe if I had started riding before the age of 55 I would have a different mindset and think nothing of jumping on my horse at 6:00 pm to unwind. Instead I ride Tuesdays and every weekend and vacation day I can with an occasional Friday thrown in for good measure. To unwind, instead I muck poop, feed, and water various species. Riding Cleo is still a 'special occasion' rather than a daily habit. Maybe that's good.

But back to yesterday's lesson.... What great fun. I invited Emily and her horse Kinkaid to practice the pas de deux with me. Paula is still helping us to work out the kinks and turn it into a treat for both horse and rider pairs and spectators. Considering Emily is 24 years old and has been riding since she has been a young child, and Kinkaid is still a teenager in horse years himself, Cleo and I had to be on our toes. Cleo was wonderful. She behaved better than usual and demonstrated her best speed! In fact, she was very competititve refusing to allow Kinkaid to get ahead of her even when we were supposed to be trotting next to each other. Cleo picked up the pace and and gave the youngsters a run for their money. I had a blast and hung on for dear life. I can hardly wait to practice again.

I think I'm becoming a real horsewoman.

A typical Sunday

Today I rode Cleo with my friend Carrie and her horse Artie. We were alone in the arena and had a good time walking and trotting in circles, diagonals and along the rail. Cleo was pretty obedient and we practiced for about 30 minutes. Our friend Jen watched. Often she rides her horse, Duncan, with us, but today she had a headache. One thing I like about having a horse is that I have friends from different generations. Jen is in her 30s with a three year old. Emily whose horse I took care of this weekend because seh was out of town is in her 20s, and Carrie is in her 50s. My border, Janice, who also has a horse at Freshwater is in her 40s, as is Shaelawn, the barn drama queen. Sue Natzler and my trainer Paula are in their 60s like me.

My training routine

Most every Tuesday at 11:00 I have a 45 minute lesson with my trainer, Paula Lacy. Paula is a well-respected dressage judge who is in demand for shows and clinics all over the Country. She is my fourth teacher. I have learned many lessons from all of my riding instructors--not all good ones. (A future blog) But Paula is an excellent teacher and horsewoman. She usually works with students who have ambitions to master the sport of dressage--often with very expensive horses bred for this activity. I was leary of asking her to give me lessons since I don't own English tack; I will never be able to post and maybe never canter, and my skills and ambitions are very basic. But she is as attentive and respectful a teacher of me as she is with all of her students. And I think she enjoys our lessons as much as she does those leading to blue ribbons in the show ring. She appreciates how much she contributes to my happiness and self-confidence.

As of last Tuesday, we began preparing a new pas de deux for possible half time entertainment at the next official dressage show at our barn, although it's in two weeks and I' don't think we will be ready. My riding partner, Carrie, and her paint gelding, Artie, performed a pas de deux at the last show and we hope to repeat our success. I should have practiced today, but I had to work until 1:00 today--yes on a Saturday--and I had too many other things on my mind. Sometimes Cleo can fill myb gloomy times with gladness, but other times, I'm just too weary. Tomorrow, though, I plan to ride and make myself feel glad again.

My first horse competition

Sunday I actually competed in a schooling show--for fun. In the morning Cleo and I did two dressage 'tests' both at the introductory level because they don't require cantering. We had a great time; she behaved well and I didn't even notice the 'audience' which was why I had resisted showing before. But I accomplished my riding goals. In the afternoon, we played games on horseback. I actually lasted half way into the egg and spoon relay before I lost my egg, and we did quite well in the pole bending contest although we didn't make it into the finals. Cleo likes it when we are the only ones in the arena, and for the games there were several horses and riders. She was literally chomping at the bit. But I'm gaining lots of confidence and feel likea real rider, not just an old lady on a horse. Today, at my lesson, both of us were sweating from trying so hard. We are preparing a pas de deux for the next show in November. The problem with getting better is my expectations change and I don't want my horse activaities to shift over into demanding more from me. Work is bad enough.

A new leaf

Since setting up my blog, I haven't written a thing. But today, now that the rainy season has begun in Humboldt County, I am going to capitalize on my forced houseboundness. Tomorrow, I am going to be in my second horse show. Both have been schooling shows--the first one I did a pas de deux with my friend Carrie on her paint, Artie. Tomorrow, I am going to ride in two classes--Intro A and B, and participate in 'play day' events. Cleo and I will also ride in the pole bending contest, Simon says on horseback, and doing patterns with cavelleties (ground poles) to trot over. It's all in fun. Let's hope it turns out that way. Whoeverw ould have guessed that this woudl be my hobby? I'll post another entry to document my level of success tomorrow.