Holy Hell time has flown - and so did I
Ahh no excuse really but I think I will post something on a more recent item and work backwards from there.
So it is summer over here in Britain - well what the British term the summer anyway. It is not particularly warm and it has been raining almost every day for a couple of weeks - but at least it gets dark at 10pm right now. So to celebrate, one of my buddies at my horse riding class decided that we should sign up for the cross-country clinic last Friday. She really only wanted us to join so she wouldn't feel compelled to chicken out. So three of us from our class (and about 9 other people) set out to learn how the art is done. Bear in mind that it has been about 15 years since us three tried anything like this.
So we hopped on our horses and off we rode - around the arena trying various types of jumps - arrowheads, faux water jumps, bounces, brushes - you name it. Helena had a horse that you just pointed at a jump and it would go - FAST! I had a horse that would be crazy to steer going into the jump but would eventually do it. Poor Linda had a horse that was broken in last year and had no confidence. She would refuse, and when she did jump it ended up bouncing on all fours.
So once we made it around in the indoor arena, then it was time to go outside. Now this is where the fun begins because the horses don't really go out that much and it is FAR too exciting for them. My first canter up the paddock meant loads of bucking and a lot of yanking on the reins from me (you can see in the pictures that my horse isn't exactly small). My horse wouldn't stand still either when waiting for the other horses and thought it was great fun to try and dance around the midges and try and eat the grass. But we eventually made it over all the jumps - they look small to you - but they are still an accomplishment to us all the same.
So at the end of it, Helena won the prize for speediest round, Linda won the bravest soul and I won the sorest ass (which lasted five days but I am sure by the end of the summer I will win buns of steel competition).
Helena
Linda
And Moi - proof to all of those who have never seen me ride (including my closest family) that I can actually do this - well sort of.
So it is summer over here in Britain - well what the British term the summer anyway. It is not particularly warm and it has been raining almost every day for a couple of weeks - but at least it gets dark at 10pm right now. So to celebrate, one of my buddies at my horse riding class decided that we should sign up for the cross-country clinic last Friday. She really only wanted us to join so she wouldn't feel compelled to chicken out. So three of us from our class (and about 9 other people) set out to learn how the art is done. Bear in mind that it has been about 15 years since us three tried anything like this.
So we hopped on our horses and off we rode - around the arena trying various types of jumps - arrowheads, faux water jumps, bounces, brushes - you name it. Helena had a horse that you just pointed at a jump and it would go - FAST! I had a horse that would be crazy to steer going into the jump but would eventually do it. Poor Linda had a horse that was broken in last year and had no confidence. She would refuse, and when she did jump it ended up bouncing on all fours.
So once we made it around in the indoor arena, then it was time to go outside. Now this is where the fun begins because the horses don't really go out that much and it is FAR too exciting for them. My first canter up the paddock meant loads of bucking and a lot of yanking on the reins from me (you can see in the pictures that my horse isn't exactly small). My horse wouldn't stand still either when waiting for the other horses and thought it was great fun to try and dance around the midges and try and eat the grass. But we eventually made it over all the jumps - they look small to you - but they are still an accomplishment to us all the same.
So at the end of it, Helena won the prize for speediest round, Linda won the bravest soul and I won the sorest ass (which lasted five days but I am sure by the end of the summer I will win buns of steel competition).
HelenaLinda
And Moi - proof to all of those who have never seen me ride (including my closest family) that I can actually do this - well sort of.
posted by CarenT at
10:04 pm
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