Today is my second riding lesson. My friend Mary is going to come with me and have her own lesson. Should be fun having her along; Mary's game for most anything and looks every bit an equestrian. She also grew up around horses and had to tell me about her aunt (who owned a racetrack) who had her eye kicked out by a horse. Ah, "Thanks, Mary!" I could have gone a lifetime without hearing that!
That said, whenever I go ice skating, DH always tells me, "Keep your feet on the ice, your butt off the ice, then call with a full report." Now when I am going for a riding lesson, he puts his clasped hands up to his mouth and yells (as though he is the riding instructor), "Keep your butt on the horse!" I wish I could describe this well enough in words because it is quite hysterical the way he does it.
Yesterday, we purchased a riding helmet. I got a very English-looking black, velvet-like helmet. Quite pretty, although it completely flattens my hair. It took an hour to figure out how to put the thing on and properly adjust the straps. This horse equipment is complicated! While I was there, I purchased some riding gloves (must have these, of course) with black horses on them. Very cool looking. This is all in keeping with "It's not how you ride but how you look when you ride that really matters."
We spent some time talking with a vet who happened to be at the store giving vaccinations to dogs about the topic of falling off a horse. I asked him pointblank, "Does everybody who rides fall off?" You can imagine his response - "Yes!" And why is it the minute you start talking with someone who rides and they know you are a beginner, they immediately feel compelled to tell you about falling off the horse? Yikes, I thought I could avoid this experience. I suppose it is only a matter of time. But as Roy Rogers said (see quote above) maybe I will just splatter!
I hope Mary decides she to continue taking riding lessons. It would be great fun to have a buddy along for the ride (no pun intended).
Before my lesson today, I must decide about Western vs. English. I'm so drawn to English and dressage, but I looked at the dressage wear yesterday at the riding supply store. The jackets start at $300.00 and go up from there. And that's just the beginning. Then there is the issue of owning a horse (so you can bond which I guess is really important for dressage) which is not going to happen. The vet told us that the best way to ride a lot is find a friend who owns a horse but doesn't ride often and wants to have it exercised. Bingo. I'm on the prowl for one of those friends.
Onward into equestrian land. I am planning on keeping my butt on the horse today!
OMG, J. What an experience! I would have ended up bumm-over-tea-kettle for certain. And, on your first ride. One of the instructors at the stable told me out of 30 students in a year, maybe one or two fall off a horse. Hoping I'm not one of them! I can just picture you hanging on to the mane. Sorry for laughing a bit, but the visual is pretty humorous. :-) Quite an inauguration for you.
ReplyDeleteSomeday I will take up a hobby that doesn't cost an arm-and-a-leg! Alright, clogging is a bargain at $1.63 per lesson! :-)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I am logged in as Traveling Shoes.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen. your blog is very fun and interesting.
I also rode as a child and teenager. I loved it.
It was nothing fancy, just simple Horseback riding with a friend who was deaf. When I was 16, I went with another girlfriend's family to Mexico. We rode our horses on the beach, which was great fun.... We camped on the beach as well.
It looks like you are reaching the moon with your fun activities. I say...You Go girl, Life is short and we must make the best of it.
I also had the pleasure of riding a horse in Mexico about twelve years ago. We rode through the Butterfly jungle.
You are right, Clogging is a much safer hobby.
Take care and also enjoy yourself. Send me a photo of yourself decked out in the gear.....Your Clogging buddy, Linda
Hi, Linda! Thanks for reading my blog and posting on it. I think you are much the same with your activities. Many interests which you enjoy. Clogging is great! Wish I could dance like you, but perhaps that will come in time. Have a wonderful day and "Clog on!", Karen
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome....One suggestion is to make your photos clickable so we can see a larger image. Especially your beautiful quilts. I want to see a larger picture of them.
ReplyDeleteAs time goes by, you will get more experience as a clogger and rider...Practice helps alot....
Linda, I can't figure out how to do that. You can click on the photos in the actual post to enlarge them, but not on the ones included in the 'gadgets' in the sidebar. Strange thing. I'll give another try at poking around on Google help, but so far I haven't had any luck! :-( Practice, practice, practice - that's how you get to . . . well, you know the rest. So nice talking with you yesterday!
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