You are currently browsing the monthly archive for May, 2008.
I thought it would be a good idea to try Rinaldo in a private lesson. Less pressure to keep up with the ride if I couldn’t make him go, with the added benefit [or greater pressure, depending on your point of view] of undivided attention from the instructor.
I went to mount, just about got my foot in the stirrup, and he reared a little, started jigging back with intent, I almost had it, realised in a split second that no way in hell did I have it, and down I went. I saw a flash of hoof over my head, and I hit the sand.
We couldn’t figure out why he did it. I got on, second time lucky.
And off we went, into what was probably the worst performance I’ve ever delivered on the back of a horse. Even worse than my worst early days, which actually weren’t as bad because what could be expected anyway, and Argo, whilst jittery, was never as highly strung as this guy.
I managed to get a reasonable trot, but the cantering was an unmitigated disaster. It felt great, don’t get me wrong, amazing impulsion, when we managed to put together a few paces, but he ignored my half halts, and the downward transitions? Oy.
I got off, and just felt like crap. I couldn’t do anything right, and I was sure I’d reached the limit of my development. I can’t ride Rinaldo. I suck, and I’m never going to get better. Read the rest of this entry »
YES, SHE ABSOLUTELY DOES Once it was decided that our Saturday lesson would take place in the lower arena, I went to fetch Rebel out of his stable.
Beautiful day, the kind of day that finds us cantering up the fields. I wasn’t sure enough abut my thumb to countenance a ride out. There was also a question as to who was going to be available or not, and it transpired that an arena hour would be the best bet.
Excellent. I wasn’t going to be asking for Rinaldo— more about that anon— and I was happy enough to get His Bolshiness. I had been thinking… well, it might be nice for somebody else to have him, and by ‘nice’ I mean ‘time for somebody else to learn her/his lesson’ from the master of the balk.
I paused at the barn doors, having a short chat about Rinaldo’s defects of character [with some humans, not with Rebel], which boosted my morale no end. I entered the indoor to mount, only to be greeted by intent reorganisation: someone else was indeed getting Himself.
‘Sue, take Ruby.’
Ah. Ruby. I remember asking for Ruby about a year ago, and being told, after an infinitesimal wince on the part of the instructor, that she was ‘difficult’. Okay. I wasn’t ready. No problem.
Would I be ready today? Read the rest of this entry »
We were jumping doubles, in trot, and it was good. Still not managing to avoid slowing Reb around the turn, but going at decent clip, up and over, stride, up and over, landing much improved.
I think it was over the third go, maybe the fourth, that I felt my right hand slip. We rose over the first fence, and — jam went the thumb into Rebel’s neck.
Funnily enough, I had just been thinking that morning that apart from the sandy arse episode and the mad dash up the field, I hadn’t really hurt myself on Rebel.
Will I never learn? Read the rest of this entry »
Cool! It’s not the highest fence ever, but it does look like I know what I’m doing.
Although I’m thinking that my left shoulder’s dipping down a bit. And that my elbows are sticking out.
So that’s himself, anyway, Mr Smartypants, His Bolshiness, the one and only Rebel.
I know, he’s handsome, that’s why he gets away with it. Typical.
Photo credit: Conor Horgan
So, what kind of horse should I be riding?
If the horse is difficult, as Rebel has been difficult, should I then continue to ride difficult horses?
But if the horse is difficult, as Rebel has been difficult, how many habits do I get into that will not translate happily to another mount?
I’m not let ride Delilah anymore [although I will insist on her in the fields] because I know how.
I’m guessing I won’t be let ride Rebel for much longer… because I know how.
It is amazing that I’ve gotten to this point with him. I had him through a really bad attitude patch, and we’ve come out the other side, dumping at the top of the field notwithstanding. His bucks alarm not all. I nudge him on the flank with the long stick with aplomb. I still feel I have so much more to learn from him, jumping-wise. But sheer logistics may knock me out of his saddle.
There are a lot of people coming in to the lessons. Fair weather riders. Summer hours are contracting classes. More bodies mean that there need to be sufficient mounts. With Charlie out of the school, and Argo retired, there’s less leeway. So it may be me and Rinaldo now.
He looked far easier than he was with me. Part of me was mortified at myself, riding him so poorly, and part of me exulted. So I’m not perfect. Rinaldo’s not perfect. Here comes a bunch more lessons. His canter, when I got it, was powerful and gentle at the same time. More of that, please!
If I can just get him to move.
My hands were once again like concrete breeze blocks. More sensitive than Reb, if my seat got that bit too heavy, he slowed all the way down. But the way he listened to my leg! He yielded like a high school dressage horse! That was cool. I know I was pissing him off, my signals mixed, leaning in the reins, falling into the seat. He shot me a look over his shoulder at one point — Make up your mind! ‘I know, I know,’ I said, and tried again.
So riding a difficult horse has made it difficult for me to ride a responsive horse. Looks like it is time to move on.
But after I’ve had Rebel just a few more times…
My bum still hurts.
Last Saturday, we took the horses out into the field. I was on Rebel. It didn’t feel like a good idea.
He kept breaking out of the ride, cantering off, upwards. I immediately reactivated all my fears about riding out, and I know I ought to have just gotten off him and called it a loss. Read the rest of this entry »
It feels like that, every time I ride a new horse.
I’d mounted Reb, only to be told to get down and take Rinaldo.
Rinaldo. A livery chestnut now doing some duty in the school, the girls had alerted me to his presence last week. Long and lean, about 15.3, 16hh, I watched him jump like a dream and I knew I’d have to try him.
Today was apparently the day.
It didn’t go well.
His previous rider had told me he was a bit dull on the flat, but wait ’til he started jumping!
Never got there.
There were seven of us in the indoor, kicking up dust and going around in circles. Or at least everyone else was— I was struggling to get Rinaldo to go.
It was shades of Tango all over again. He wasn’t as obstreperous, but it was a battle that I lost. I was bouncing all over the place, wasn’t keeping my heels down, my hands were flying up in the air. I felt like a n00b all over again.
He wouldn’t give me the canter, and yes, I get it, it’s me. It is, in fact, a problem I have every time I ride an unknown horse. I’ll have to ask someone about it. When he did though: wow. Smooth and strong, my bum finding the seat without having to think about it.
Not a fun journey home, the usual self-recrimination, but nipped in the bud, solely through the benefit of experience. It was the same with Delilah, the same with Rebel. Tango, forget about it, never got into the groove with him. So, Rinaldo. Something tells me we’ll be seeing more of each other.
To think I missed Rebel! If that’s not something to think about it, nothing is.
TO QUOTE HELEN MIRREN I’m dead chuffed. Beckz has very kindly given me my very first web award. I couldn’t be more delighted, particularly as it comes all the way from New Zealand.
I’ll get to work on passing it on. Meanwhile, I’d like to thank the Academy…
ARGONE, BUT NOT SO FAR AWAY Argo’s not in Kildare! He’s in a field near to the yard, over by the dual carriageway! I could go visit him!
For some reason, the image I have in my head is of an Edwardian picnic, complete with parasol and mutton-leg sleeves and Argo in a detachable collar and dicky bow.
He’s already got the spats.
