New Job
I'm amazed. I was paid today, and I didn't have to beg, bully, push and wait for months for it!. How much easier is that than Greece!!!!! It's been over a year since that's happened!.
So my first week went well I think. Well, the weeks not really over as I'm working tomorrow too, but hey. I only really know about racing from books ('the black stallion' - lol) and the melbourne cup on the news which I've caught a few glimpses of. I have heard many things about working in racing yards, none of it good. So, it was with a little trepidation that I started at 5.30am monday morning. Monday was a shocker, I was completely baffled by loads of horses coming and going and doing this and that, but I did manage to look over at the track every so often, and see groups of horses with the jockeys up high, hooves beating around the track in the mist with the sun rising behind. The horses came in, steaming and happy after their run.
By day 2, I was more aware of what was going on, and started learning the names of some of the horses, and really enjoyed riding over in the predawn dark - riding a big horse jow, leading Syd along to the track. It was picture perfect again, with mist just sitting over the track, and hooves beating along rhythmically. All the horses seem fairly well behaved - the young ones a bit excitable and pushy, but that's to be expected. Everything seems really calm and relaxed, and it all just looks exactly like it's described in books and movies and stuff. The horses have a nice life, they're all in big yards or reasonably sized paddocks, and they get a roll in some deep sawdust or a swim after their gallops, which they LOVE!!! Well, some don't like the cold water that much.... It's great taking them for a swim, some are happy, and throw their front legs out, swimming away cheerfully, whilst others struggle and can barely keep their heads above the water. It's a really neat swimming name really, very handy!.
Mark gave me a 'how to ride' track lesson too - showed me the position to sit in (yes, I have to have short stirrups!! lol) and I took Buzz out for a 'canter' round the track. GREAT fun, though I'm not sure I managed to figure out speed control, it's a little harder to adjust when you can't sit back and use your weight to do it! I have to keep reminding myself to keep my weight in my hands on the neck - and foward. Very odd, but it feels comfortable when you get it right. I can tell if I did only a couple of rounds, I'd be knackered!!
Everyone seems pretty nice, and the best thing is, everytime they tell me to do something, or that i've done something wrong for some reason - it always makes sense why to do it their way. None of these silly rules that don't have a point!!!!
So my first week went well I think. Well, the weeks not really over as I'm working tomorrow too, but hey. I only really know about racing from books ('the black stallion' - lol) and the melbourne cup on the news which I've caught a few glimpses of. I have heard many things about working in racing yards, none of it good. So, it was with a little trepidation that I started at 5.30am monday morning. Monday was a shocker, I was completely baffled by loads of horses coming and going and doing this and that, but I did manage to look over at the track every so often, and see groups of horses with the jockeys up high, hooves beating around the track in the mist with the sun rising behind. The horses came in, steaming and happy after their run.
By day 2, I was more aware of what was going on, and started learning the names of some of the horses, and really enjoyed riding over in the predawn dark - riding a big horse jow, leading Syd along to the track. It was picture perfect again, with mist just sitting over the track, and hooves beating along rhythmically. All the horses seem fairly well behaved - the young ones a bit excitable and pushy, but that's to be expected. Everything seems really calm and relaxed, and it all just looks exactly like it's described in books and movies and stuff. The horses have a nice life, they're all in big yards or reasonably sized paddocks, and they get a roll in some deep sawdust or a swim after their gallops, which they LOVE!!! Well, some don't like the cold water that much.... It's great taking them for a swim, some are happy, and throw their front legs out, swimming away cheerfully, whilst others struggle and can barely keep their heads above the water. It's a really neat swimming name really, very handy!.
Mark gave me a 'how to ride' track lesson too - showed me the position to sit in (yes, I have to have short stirrups!! lol) and I took Buzz out for a 'canter' round the track. GREAT fun, though I'm not sure I managed to figure out speed control, it's a little harder to adjust when you can't sit back and use your weight to do it! I have to keep reminding myself to keep my weight in my hands on the neck - and foward. Very odd, but it feels comfortable when you get it right. I can tell if I did only a couple of rounds, I'd be knackered!!
Everyone seems pretty nice, and the best thing is, everytime they tell me to do something, or that i've done something wrong for some reason - it always makes sense why to do it their way. None of these silly rules that don't have a point!!!!