Horses…always a learning moment (Part 1)

I am on a roll with my posts! I’d been meaning to post about my show for weeks now, but you know how that pesky thing called life gets in the way.

Now for a more current “Horse Life” post. 

MONDAY (cue Law and Order “duh duh”)

I have changed a few pieces of equipment, and by gosh, they have changed our rides! I punched a new hole in Clinton’s nose band, added spurs, lost the whip, and added a strap to the saddle (for extra hand-stilling support). Clinton has really been stepping under himself and staying on the bit for longer and longer….instead of fighting for control for 20 minutes (thus leaving a mere 10 minutes for learning), we have flip flopped. Yay!!!

Feeling confident, we had several good rides, both in instruction and by ourselves. On Monday, I was feeling like a champ. Confidence to the extreme. So when Mary left the arena to talk to her son for a second, I decided that Clinton and I should practice just a bit more with our trot on the bit while waiting. As we rounded a corner at the other end of the arena, Clinton spooked.

Clinton, as I’m probably sure I told you, is a spooky horse. I like to think that he is simply a sensitive soul. He often sees goblins and ghouls, especially at the far side of the arena, the gate to the outside arena, the outdoor dressage arena, any open door, and any area where a scary pigeon may be (I agree with him there. Damn pigeons will swoop on you and fly in a horse’s face). Often, the spooks consist of a spontaneous canter, which lasts a few steps, or a balletic jump in the air. Once, he tore off at a full gallop. I have not fallen off yet, each time able to calm Clinton (in the case of the gallop, I didn’t have stirrups, but I managed to stop him by making him turn circles).

My time was up.

Clinton went one way, and I went the other. I’m not sure what he saw, or what I did…whether I tensed, or Javier (the barn manager of sorts) scared him, and I don’t know why I fell…just that I did. As Clinton made a sharp turn, I went over the side, hitting the wall, and sliding facedown into the dirt. I looked up just in time to see Clinton slide to a stop in front of the mirrors (no doubt to admire his rider-less appearance, silly pony).

The funny thing about my falls (I don’t know if you do this too) is that I have two reactions. The first is to get up and out of danger immediately (when one falls off a horse, one wants to make sure the horse doesn’t then turn around and trample said stunned body into the ground). The second, is to test all body parts to make sure they are not broken, bleeding, swelling, torn or bruised. Seeing that Clinton was stopped (and a boarder was heading over to catch him), I took the time to check myself out. Nothing broken, but my shoulder was twisted, and I could feel my boot tighten around my ankle (just a hematoma. I love that word. Say it like The Terminator. Silly, I know. But try not to laugh at yourself after saying it).

Once I figured out nothing was particularly maimed, I started walking toward the boarder and Clinton, as well as a clearly worried Mary. She took Clinton, and made me sit down, thus eliminating my good intention to get back on.

Fast forward to Thursday. Now, I wanted to ride Tuesday and Wednesday, but the eye doctor dilated my eyes on Tuesday, and Wednesday I had plans. So on Thursday, a lesson day, I had some serious nerves.

But there was nothing to fear. Despite a plethora of little girls running in and out of the arena, Clinton was calm and collected, and his sweet normal self. I had to remind myself to breathe, and not anticipate a spook, but we did really well. And on Saturday, I rode again. Still a bit nervous, but Clinton was fine.

So what did I learn? First, that I really need to work on my balance. I really shouldn’t have fallen…he didn’t trip or buck or rear. He simply ran off. So I am starting yoga and trying to work on being centered and balanced. The second thing I learned (and it’s a lesson I learn over and over) that horses are unpredictable. I have been bragging lately that I don’t fall off Clinton. Lesson learned. 