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.