#Blessed
Jk, but really. I feel extremely fortunate to have found work and a horse to ride at a barn near us in Durham.
The horse I'm riding is named Opa. He's 15 years old, a blood red bay Thoroughbred, and just the sweetest little peach. I'm currently able to ride him Saturdays and Wednesdays thanks to my and the owner's present schedule, but I might be able to add in some evening rides, especially if the owner feels comfortable letting me ride Opa when he's not there.
Tomorrow will be my third ride on Opa, and I'm nervous (because it's been a while), and excited because he is such a fun guy to ride. He has a great big trot that practically launches me out of the saddle, so I really need to get my seat and legs working again. But his canter is a joy, a pleasure, a delight. It's like riding a rocking horse, so smooth and full. I could canter allllll day.
Now this is a new sort of thing for me. My pony had a very flat canter, it was hard to ride sometimes, especially when I was first learning. When I took dressage lessons post-college, I really struggled with Bo's canter. It was heavy and big, he liked to get on his forehand and pretend he couldn't be steered. I never really felt like I got it when I was riding him, just felt very off balance. But, Opa, wow, now that's something I'll definitely look for when I start looking for a horse of my own.
So our first ride was really great. I rode for a long time and tested out his buttons. He can do lateral movements, collect and extend, and passage. It was fun and I was sore for 4 days. Our second ride was a bit more challenging. I couldn't quite get my body to cooperate and Opa was evading the bit and not answering my cues. More forward. I keep telling myself that and was trying to do it, but just really struggling to get my body to cooperate. When we were cantering, I must have gotten my hips a little funny and my legs in the wrong spot because he gave me a couple flying lead changes! So, he can do tempis if I ever want to try that...
I really think he's going to be a great horse to re-learn my skills on. I feel safe riding him, confident in his responsiveness. He's going to prepare me very well, I think, to feel confident getting on the back of an OTTB I don't know well and then bringing one home to teach.
I'll try to get back here after each ride, and if my husband gets a break from schoolwork, drag him out to get a few pics.
Jk, but really. I feel extremely fortunate to have found work and a horse to ride at a barn near us in Durham.
The horse I'm riding is named Opa. He's 15 years old, a blood red bay Thoroughbred, and just the sweetest little peach. I'm currently able to ride him Saturdays and Wednesdays thanks to my and the owner's present schedule, but I might be able to add in some evening rides, especially if the owner feels comfortable letting me ride Opa when he's not there.
Tomorrow will be my third ride on Opa, and I'm nervous (because it's been a while), and excited because he is such a fun guy to ride. He has a great big trot that practically launches me out of the saddle, so I really need to get my seat and legs working again. But his canter is a joy, a pleasure, a delight. It's like riding a rocking horse, so smooth and full. I could canter allllll day.
Now this is a new sort of thing for me. My pony had a very flat canter, it was hard to ride sometimes, especially when I was first learning. When I took dressage lessons post-college, I really struggled with Bo's canter. It was heavy and big, he liked to get on his forehand and pretend he couldn't be steered. I never really felt like I got it when I was riding him, just felt very off balance. But, Opa, wow, now that's something I'll definitely look for when I start looking for a horse of my own.
So our first ride was really great. I rode for a long time and tested out his buttons. He can do lateral movements, collect and extend, and passage. It was fun and I was sore for 4 days. Our second ride was a bit more challenging. I couldn't quite get my body to cooperate and Opa was evading the bit and not answering my cues. More forward. I keep telling myself that and was trying to do it, but just really struggling to get my body to cooperate. When we were cantering, I must have gotten my hips a little funny and my legs in the wrong spot because he gave me a couple flying lead changes! So, he can do tempis if I ever want to try that...
I really think he's going to be a great horse to re-learn my skills on. I feel safe riding him, confident in his responsiveness. He's going to prepare me very well, I think, to feel confident getting on the back of an OTTB I don't know well and then bringing one home to teach.
I'll try to get back here after each ride, and if my husband gets a break from schoolwork, drag him out to get a few pics.
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