Forget the cowboy, give me my horse.
Two words: frickin' cold. I honest to God would not have been surprised if at least some of the girls who had been their longer than three hours went home with mild frost bite. And then, of course, there's lovely little me dressed on the bottom with PJs under dance pants under jeans, and on the top with PJs under a ripped old sweatshirt under a fleece. No, I don't wear jackets when I ride. I did, however, wear gloves. I had to. I already thought I was going to loose my feet to the cold. Not to mention I couldn't talk after a certain point for loss of diction from the bitter cold.
First lesson was all right. Didn't do much. Rode Sassy. I love her and she works for me, but I don't trust her enough to slack off with her as she's very out of shape. If one tries to leg steer, she's off and running and gaining speed. She hate's having her mouth pulled on, but there's no other choice, and she HATES to be set up into anything (i.e. from a walk to a trot, from a walk to a canter, etc).
Didn't work much because of the cold. Mostly watched two other girls screw around. Was freezing by now.
The piece de resistance of this lesson was riding Monet. Anyone remember Monet? He was the first horse I ever rode. An appalousa, blind in his right eye. Horrible bouncy trot. Swung up onto him, set him up into a trot, and managed to sit to it without too much problem. He was stubborn, so I had to hold a crop for a few seconds. He knew I had it, so he listened better, and then I threw it to the ground. I hate the crop. I don't like using it. Horses listen to me well enough without it. Sharron said my seat made he sick (because it's better than hers). But OMGF Monet has THE most BEAUTIFUL canter in the world! It was breathtaking, fun, and I wasn't afraid. He just glided into it; no terrifying lunge like with Sassy, and no painful bouncing like with Datter. It was flying, and I wasn't afraid. He listened so well, transitioning just as I wanted him to. Sharron was very, very happy. I love that sweet old man horse.
Wow, so that entry was not my best writing, but I'm tired, and have a crap load of homework yet do to, so I'm off to shower.
Later~