Check me out

So I posted my first video on youtube tonight. I figure I am now well on my way to superstardom, and I so can't wait I can't wait till I get to dictate what drinks have to be in the waiting room before I appear on a show. And the flunky page tries to substitute generic raspberry tea for Bigelow raspberry tea. And I am all: "I'll wheel out of here right now." And then the flunky gets fired until I graciously get intervene. And everyone loves me some more. And I hire people to be professional hangers-on; I already have a few feelers out.

Or not.

It is a silly little video, and I used iMovie's twirl effect to go between clips. I figured when else will I get to look like I am on the old Batman show. I could be the nefarious villain The Horseman, and Batman could call me the Evil Equestrian. That would be awesome.

It is just a practice when I ride around sticks. I am on Bella. We seem to be moving kind of slow, but it doesn't feel that way when I am on her back. I am sitting pretty straight, though.

Here is the link if the image at top fails to work.

SWM ISO horse, but nothing weird

Dada has a new idea to get me riding more -- we get me a horse.

Well, sort of.

Dada wants to find a good dressage horse that someone will donate to Lift Me Up for use exclusively in para-Equestrian riding. She said she would take care of the board and I could ride whenever I wanted. So I guess could any para-Equestrian rider. I am the only one at the moment, though.

How awesome would that be?

We would need a wide horse like a Morgan or Shire horse. This horse would be better than Bella or Charm because they are used to being therapy horses and being led. So, Dada says, Charm and Bella are used to ignoring the rider. But I need them to pay attention to me.

So if you want to donate a good dressage horse, please let me know.

The lesson was OK. I was a little out of rhythm because I hadn’t ridden for two weeks and Bella was a little put off by the weather but I didn’t fall. I had trouble walking Bella next to the wall, which is where horses are supposed to be in dressage. She is always looking to Dada; maybe a para-Equestrian horse would not do that. Probably, though, all horses are Dada friends.

Going in circles, but it's good

Another really good lesson today. My niece Meghan came to watch and we rode outside, and I did pretty well. I rode a lot of small circles and most of them looked pretty circular. I had some trouble getting Bella to walk straight and also to use my legs to get Bella moving.

Dada was having me work hard on my legs and feet positioning and I found it hard to keep everything in the right position and still be able to press my heels into Bella to encourage her.

When I was in Colorado and was graded a Level 2 rider, Dada said not to worry. Either it would get changed to a lower grade, or it meant she was too respectful off my disability. It hasn't been changed yet - though I am sure it will - but I am worrying that we are underestimating my disability. Dada said I need to keep my heels under my hips and not forward or too far backward. She asked if I could feel when my feet are in a bad position. No, I can't. I told her. I just am scared that I am going to hit a wall and not be able to do any better.

I don't know why I am scared of that. I mean I rode so well today. They even had me posting a little. I continue to improve. But ... I think this is one thing my disability has done to me: Left me doubting, unsure, sad, even after a good ride.

I've got legs; I know how to use them

A really good ride today. The dressage saddle is pretty awesome because it allows me to use my legs. I can hold on pretty well, but I can also encourage the horse to ride with my heels. Today I was riding Bella. She is really good at accepting encouragement. It is amazing: She sure speeds up when I push in my heels. My boots have a little metal thingee on the back. And when she speeds up, she gets in a much better rhythm. So it feels great. Dada also has me using these reins that clip on the real reins, so I can get a better grip. And finally, Dada and Kate said I was sitting up quite straight, even without the whip in the small of my back.

It started to rain right when we got there, and several other riders came into the ring to join us. It was a bit of a tight fit, but we managed. I think I like competitions, though, because I don’t have to listen to anyone. I just memorize my test and go. It is hard to hear with three other riders, rain and just my general hearing loss.

I had to laugh as I left the ring because all through the lesson I was just squeezing my legs together to encourage Bella -- just one extended squeeze. It wasn’t until we were on the way out of the ring that I figured out that Dada was telling me to pump my legs in rhythm with Bella’s walk.