The price I pay for forgetting my gloves

I finally managed to get my life in order enough, and wake up early enough, to ride on Saturday. I got to the barn around 8, and worked quickly to get her ready. It was already getting pretty hot and sticky. I had to clean my saddle before I put it on her, because much to my surprise, it was sprouting mold. Not good. And, apparently based on what I've read so far, using lexol wasn't the best idea. I'll have to do some more research so I can try to get it under control. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know in the comments.

Once we were ready, I walked her down to the round pen to lunge her for a few minutes, since it had been a month, if not more, since I've ridden. She was very forward, and hunter-ish - with long, ground-covering strides at the trot and canter. Her hind end is getting a lot more muscular, and as a result, it seems her movement has smoothed out. I was enjoying watching her, but since she wasn't doing anything bad, and I didn't want to wear her out, I had to let her stop, lol. I mounted, and she walked (ok, pranced) right off, ears forward and ready to go.

As soon as I got on, I wanted to kick myself. I forgot to put my gloves on before we left her stall. Great. Guaranteed blisters, and it's my own fault. I decided to suck it up and deal with my mistake, because I didn't want to waste valuable riding time with no one else around to dismount, walk back to the barn, get the gloves, walk back to the arena and remount. I decided we would mostly work at the walk - even though it doesn't matter, I still get blisters no matter how light of a ride it is. I spent a lot of time working on direct and indirect reins. And, keeping my hands steady while using them and asking her to bend around my leg. We did some lateral work, too, to encourage her to take the steadiness at her mouth and work into it, engaging her hind end. I spent most of it with my feet out of my stirrups for better leg movement, to lengthen them, and because it's more work, even at the walk! When I picked them up again, they felt incredibly short, which is good.

We had some really nice moments, and when I asked her to trot, it really felt put together. She was soft in my hand, and round throughout her body. Plus, her trot was smooth and engaged, making it easier to post properly. I have been working out 5 days a week (Jillian Michaels' 30-day Shred DVD) and can feel I am getting stronger in every day life. The fact that I was able to physically and consciously stop (mostly) my body from bouncing when I was posting (with Promise's help, of course) proves it even more. I was very proud of myself, and I think it resulted in a better ride. :)

That's pretty much it. We didn't trot long, and I called it a day when my fingers could no longer take the pain. My left ring finger was mostly protected because I wear a ring on it, but my right ring finger has a pretty ugly blister on it. The price I pay for forgetting my gloves.

A Look Back -- Sweet William

Since I haven't had the weather cooperation lately (rain, rain, rain or HOT, HOT, HOT) to visit my own horse, I figured I'd get around to finishing a post I started a while back. I did visit with her on Sunday (in the rain, lol) and spent some time brushing her. Woohoo to no more winter hair at all! She is sleek, shiny and dappled. Her newly pulled mane (last weekend) looks great with her summer coat. :) Hopefully the rain will step aside for the holiday weekend and I can get back on her. Anyway...

I talked about William in the post "Me, Me, Me, Me, Me."

I said: "This quarter horse was just about the best horse I ever had the opportunity to ride, and he is probably one of three that taught me everything I know. He was wonderful for beginners, yet so advanced that he challenged me and other advanced riders. He belonged to the trainer who sold me Promise, and it was quite an honor to be able to ride him, and she typically only allowed the beginners on him in lessons. It was on William that I truly learned to feel a horse's legs underneath me and control them. I also learned how to feels when a horse is traveling correctly under you. Believe it or not, my fondest memory of William is riding up a 90 degree hill with no reins, no stirrups (and no MANE holding allowed) and in half seat at a full gallop."

The power that horse used up that hill is something I will never forget and even beats the amazing "I feel like I'm flying" jumps I experienced with Dizzy and Keough (also mentioned in that post, if I remember correctly).

This is William, my trainer and I at a horse show in Marlboro, MA in October of 1997. This was a pep talk after our warm up, and before our first class. I don't remember exactly what she told me, but I imagine it was along the lines of "You guys are going to do great, just keep focused and let him do his thing."

We cleaned up at that show. As you can see (below), three 1sts, one 2nd, three 3rds and two reserve champions. We placed in every class - what a confidence boost that was! William did everything I asked and then some - auto changes, perfect distances, correct lead every time, perfect sitting trot (I do believe with no stirrups...) and gave that "horse you want to ride home after a long day hunting" feeling to the judges in the flat classes.

And here we are proudly displaying our 2nd reserve champion, after our final class of the day.