même pas tombée!
My horse riding lessons are on Mondays, so today was obviously a good day. I jumped, and while it wasn't my best day, it went okay. My hand position has improved, although it's not what I'd like it to be (I still forget to grab some mane). And I still can't think of a jump far enough ahead, but that should come with time (who knows when...). A good thing was that Red actually wanted to jump today, meaning that as soon as I let the reins go, he sped. It's not very comfortable, but at least I can be sure that he's not going to stop before the fence. That's always a plus. Cat noticed improvements in other areas that I had actually been working on by myself with Red. It's always good to know that the extra practice actually pays off. Now I need to work on controlling his speed (big time), i.e. slow him down at canter and sitting trot, and extend at posting trot. This shall be my new mission.
After the lesson, Red was so sweaty that the sweat had actually accumulated into foam. Yuk! We were inside (so not in the sun) but it was hot, and I think we jumped more than usual (I jumped one fence over and over cantering for 4 times, for example). So Cat suggested that I gave him a bath, which I had never done before (I had done showers though - the bath is just a shower with soap and a sponge). It was quite fun, although Red doesn't care for water that much. He stepped on the hose at some point, which stopped the water. Fortunately, he hasn't made the link between him stepping on the hose and the shower coming to an end, or I know he'd do it all the time just to avoid the water. I wonder if a horse ever figured that one out.
Here's a shot of Rue de Fegersheim in Strasbourg, the street I moved to when I was 10, and where my mom still lives. The apartment is at the end of the street (you can't really see it here) on the left, two buildings past the no-entrance sign. I like this street which mixes old-fashioned Alsatian buildings and houses with modern ones (although I wish there were no modern ones). I recently learned that about 45 years ago there was actually a pig farm at that intersection.
Breathe (2AM) - Anna Nalick
After the lesson, Red was so sweaty that the sweat had actually accumulated into foam. Yuk! We were inside (so not in the sun) but it was hot, and I think we jumped more than usual (I jumped one fence over and over cantering for 4 times, for example). So Cat suggested that I gave him a bath, which I had never done before (I had done showers though - the bath is just a shower with soap and a sponge). It was quite fun, although Red doesn't care for water that much. He stepped on the hose at some point, which stopped the water. Fortunately, he hasn't made the link between him stepping on the hose and the shower coming to an end, or I know he'd do it all the time just to avoid the water. I wonder if a horse ever figured that one out.
Here's a shot of Rue de Fegersheim in Strasbourg, the street I moved to when I was 10, and where my mom still lives. The apartment is at the end of the street (you can't really see it here) on the left, two buildings past the no-entrance sign. I like this street which mixes old-fashioned Alsatian buildings and houses with modern ones (although I wish there were no modern ones). I recently learned that about 45 years ago there was actually a pig farm at that intersection.
Breathe (2AM) - Anna Nalick