A Lovely Lesson After A While

Dogs of the outside world. Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America: Bassets, Toews. Another dog museum to add to yesterday’s list.

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Almost two months to the day since my last ride. 12 November to 11 January. [A Lovely Lesson That Will Have To Last A While]

Goldy
Rosewood Stables
11 January 2015

The Ride

Mounting block. I knew, absolutely knew, 100%, that Goldy was going to be fine with this. That’s why I asked to ride him. Still, my lizard brain was convinced that I would touch down in the saddle and the horse would come uncorked. Wonder why. Gives hard stare to home team.

Walk. I was perfectly content to walk the entire time. Coach Deana asked about trotting. Nope, I’m good.

Trot. After a few more minutes of strolling about, Goldy pulled into the middle of the ring & announced, ‘You need to trot.’ So we trotted. Eventually did a bit of canter each way. Canter went well, as soon as I stopped fiddling with the outside rein during the depart, a saddle seat holdover. [Side By Side Seat Comparison, Things II]

At the walk & trot, we did what Couch Deana calls the circle of death, which is four poles splayed out in a circle that you have to cross over the center of each pole. A steering exercise. Of course Goldy knew all about it. However, if I mentally drfited, he physically drifted. When I put my eyes where they needed to be and rode, Goldy trucked around perfectly. Yes, I was showing off. That’s a challenge I will take. I am the pattern queen.

At the end of the lesson, I went to stroll around a bit more. Nope. Goldy circled back to stand in the middle of the ring. ‘You have run out of quarter. This pony ride is done.’ There is more that a bit of Alvin in Goldy. [You Can’t Handle The Trot & Team Awesome]

The Miscellaneous

As I started off, I found myself sliding to the back of the saddle, à la saddle seat. Had to remind self that this was hunter/jumper and I needed to sit in the middle of the saddle. That’s a first. [Dissecting My Position]

For an initial ride after an inadvertent vacation, I would have ridden Sam, who was chill, or Previous Horse, who was not chill, but we reached. [Sam I Am, In Defense of Caesar]

Wrist? No problem, as expected. Yes, I was tired & sore, but everything makes me tired & sore these days. The delights of rehab. There were no structural issues. Curl fingers. Keep wrist straight. Neutral position for that body part. [Wrist Update]

Onwards!
Katherine