For my ‘Something Different’ today I decided to take myself to a horse-riding lesson. I have not had a horse-riding lesson for over twenty years! Where did the time go? Its so weird typing such numbers representing time passed! Alas – I decided this would be a good project because I have not ridden a horse properly for so long. I have been on a few trail rides here and there whilst on vacation – but that never amounts to more than a slow walk behind the lead horse. So, a ‘brush-up’ lesson seemed like a good idea.
Was I nervous – hell yes! I was not sure if I would remember any of the things I was taught as a kid. Was I excited – extremely! What a mix of exhilarating emotions.
As a kid I owned a pony. I was given the pony with tack and all from a man who was leaving the country. It was one of the happiest days of my childhood. Up until then I had been taking lessons once a week. I was never one of the greatly confident kids in the group – to be honest I always felt a little less than them – but I enjoyed riding enough to push through the perception I held at the time. So, when I was given the pony, I was beyond the moon happy. This pony however had been previously abused and taken away from its first owners by a horse welfare group. They named him Rattles, because, since he was so mal-nourished (fed dry leaves!!!), his bones rattled in his body. The man who gave the horse to me had restored his health, but he was understandably at that point a little untrusting of humans, unschooled and not yet neutered. My parents saw to his needs and soon enough Rattles was ridable – to a point – but still very unpredictable. He would buck me off without warning and often try to bite me – but despite all that – I loved him so very much and we had many good times together!
After a few years I had to give him up, for I was on my way to boarding school in another province. Thank goodness, a fellow horse-school scholar, who did not have her own horse and had spent countless hours with my horse in the afternoons, had formed a remarkably close bond with Rattles. I admit I was even slightly jealous of their bond – it was stronger than mine with him. Therefore, one of the best things I have ever done was give Rattles to her. Years later I heard that it was a good decision indeed – Rattles was leading parades all over town and as happy as a pig in mud!
So that is a bit of my horsey background. Perhaps this explains why I suddenly wanted a horse-riding lesson all these years later. My life circumstances and choices had taken me away from horses, but a tiny flame still shone in my heart for them. I just needed to remember. And so, I did – and off to a lesson I went.
On arrival I was given a beautiful horse to ride. I know that horses are very perceptive and pick up on their riders’ emotions. He was beautifully patient with me at first, as I settled into the saddle and began letting go of my anxiety. Then as my confidence grew by taking him into the arena for a trot, he willingly obliged with grace. I was elated to find that I had remembered so much. In fact, my riding teacher said it did not look like I had not been on a proper ride for over twenty years. However, there were some things I did not remember, I did not have the confidence I had gained through time as a kid, and I no longer had the horse-riding body strength that I used to have. Regardless – the lesson continued, and I was incredibly happy to be on such a beautiful horse. As my confidence grew, I decided to take it up a notch and try get the horse to canter. This particular horse had long legs and an exceptionally smooth canter. I managed for a minute or so, but then began sliding my hands too far forward on his neck – which I had forgotten tells a horse to pick up the pace! In a hilarious moment – after the scary bit – I had veered off track, almost come off the horse (perhaps), but managed to bring him to a stop. That was a moment that rattled me a bit (sorry Rattles – I had to use this word here). I had lost a bit of confidence and from then on, the horse put me through the paces by testing me – over and over. He was trying to see if I would take back control. I must admit that I did not completely, and by the end of the lesson, the teacher mounted him to make sure that he did not think he can get away with refusing to canter when asked to.
That was what happened, and I am not unhappy. I am the opposite. Even though I did not get everything right, I did not expect such a generous energetic interaction between the horse and myself. I was left with a feeling of such gratitude toward him. He gave me so much in that hour! So much that I would like to return – perhaps carry on with some lessons for the foreseeable future.
The bond that can be created between a horse and a human is powerful. Horses are incredible creatures. They are very emotionally aware and can give a human so much, without uttering a word. I know this first-hand because I have seen it happen with my son when he was once given a ‘horse therapy’ session a few years back. Perhaps one day I will record the story and share it on my blog. It was such a profound and powerful moment.
Anyway – there we have it. I did something different today with a horse-riding lesson, and it was exhilarating, and challenging, and I am so glad I did it. I must confess here that there was a moment before picking up the phone to book the lesson where I almost chickened out. But I didn’t – yay!!!
If you would like to see a bit of the video footage, please click below. Have a happy day y’all!