Fun but exhausting

We went on a trail ride this lesson because there was a jumping show in the ring and as much as I would like to gallop and leap over jumps, I am pretty sure I can't.

Dada always says trail-ride lessons are supposed to be fun and relaxing. I enjoy them, but they are anything but relaxing. With T wandering over uneven ground, I am squeezing real hard with my legs, holding tight with my hands, trying to push my heels down.

By the end of the lesson, I am sagging. But it was fun.

T yields for me

I will post a picture tomorrow, though you won't see the freakin' awesome thing I did with T today. I leg yielded her.

By that I mean I held her head straight and pushed against her with a heel and she walks diagonally but facing straight ahead. It is so cool.

Dada said it was T just staying under me and Mom said T looked kind of happy or proud of herself. I was sure proud of us both.

The last time we tried leg-yielding was with Bella ages ago. Dada helped me hold Bella's head straight and Kate pushed my heel into Bella's side. It did not go that smoothly and when it was dropped from Grade 1a tests, we stopped worrying about it. Sort of. I always wanted to try it again and now I have and I succeeded and I can't wait to do it again.

Can't have the blues when you win a blue

I won a blue ribbon today at the Ride to Thrive show sponsored by the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program. The show was broken up by schools so I beat the other folks riding with SPIRIT.

More importantly, though, I had one of my best show rides ever. Dada was in the ring, but she stayed as far away as possible, so I felt pretty alone with T, which was awesome. T was in wonderful form -- she stopped perfectly and didn't mind that we had to change a big circle to a small one at the last minute.

She had great rhythm, too. She only hesitated twice, once at the end of the circle when I suspect I pulled the reins or shifted oddly in my saddle. She also started to stop when we passed A the second time. We do have a halt at A on the first pass so I guess T just decided to pause there again. Both times, though, she started moving again with a click from me and Dada.

Dada said I surprised a lot of people with my ride. Even myself, to be honest.


It was fun to see everyone, too, gathered together. The only disappointing part: I did not get a photo of the Virginia Quarter Horse Association queen giving me my ribbon.

My stupid left foot

I told Dada that it makes me nervous whenever she says she has big news. She assured me I had no reason to worry this time, and then she told me about a dressage competition they went to last weekend.

Becky, a little 10-year-old but a very good rider, was riding T, who apparently has never done just dressage. T has a history of eventing, which involves running and jumping as well as dressage, and Dada said T was a little unsettled to be in a show setting but without all the running and jumping. Becky got off T and they put her in a small ring and T apparently spent the next 15 minutes bucking and running and jumping. Then she was OK, and Becky won fourth place.

What this means for me is that at my show next week and for the immediate future, I will have Dada as a sidewalker even during competitions. She won't hold me up, just walk next to me. If Dada feels that is needed, then it is needed, and lord knows, I am not at all embarrassed to have a sidewalker -- I know I am not a great rider.

But I am still sad about it. Shows are the only time I get to ride alone. I like that it is just me and T. When Dada is close, even though she is not talking or riding T, Dada is in command. T will be following Dada. Riding alone is the only time I really feel like I am connected to the horse, that it is just us against the world ... or at least a world-shaped big circle.

And today's lesson was not great either. It felt like my left foot was falling out of the stirrup and that there was something digging in to the top of my foot. It was real hot, too.

The first ride I made was good, I thought, which made me glad that I could ride so well despite my left foot. The second ride was pretty good, too. But I just lost it on the third one and my foot was killing me. So we stopped.

I guess we need to get the stirrups lined up. And I know everything will work out OK.

Smartest horse in town

I had a great lesson today. I used the dressage saddle with my toe stoppers. It makes me feel closer to T somehow, and the toe-stoppers make me able to push my heels down. They don't stay down, but …The only bad thing about the dressage saddle is I lean on T's neck so my arms get tired. I tried to stop leaning, but it was awful hard. I will keep trying, though.

Anyway, I did about 4.5 runs of my test. Yes, 4.5. on my fifth run I flopped on to T's neck and we decided to stop. Two of the big circles were good and two others were passable. Two serpentines were good, too. Three halts – the one bad one was because T stopped a little early. She is memorizing the test, too. That is so cool!

Vested

I did not have time or energy to change into my riding pants, so I felt OK about forgetting my camera. It was so rainy, too, that I did not even think I'd have lesson. But the rain stopped, and the ring was not slick, just a little messy.

Unfortuately, Dada got a real nice vest for us riders. It is just like one I wore when I started riding. It really keeps me steraight and I feel safer, too. I would have liked to see how I looked.

The riding was pretty good. The ring was not quite the right size, and I didn't know whether to ride the pattern the right size or try to match the ring. I mean, it the ring was 19 meters, do I make the big circle 20 meters in circumfrence asnd gto outside the ring or make it 19 meterts. I am still not sure. I'll ask Dada.

Testing surprise

Dada came up at the start of the lesson and said she had good and bad news. I think she exaggerated both.

The bad news was that we aren't riding in a show this weekend. The arena or whatever had no mounting ramp, and while I have mounted often without a ramp, it isn't worth it. Weather looks questionable. We did not have ride times; we were hoping for cancellations.

The good news was that there will be a show at Frying Pan Park. I am learning a tougher test for that show.

It is tough. A big circle, which always turned out misshapen, a serpentine, which I forgot how to ride until Dada said "Where are you going? Straight." It also had several other patterns I had not done in months.

I got it memorized so now I should do better, but it was a real workout of a lesson. I don't get sore, but when I am concentrating real hard, my mouth gets real dry. It was real dry yesterday, let me tell you.

Quick pic

Too tired to write about my lesson tonight, but it was good. Will write more tomorrow but here is a photo. And I am not pregnant. Also, no show Sunday.

Practice makes perfect, but waiting's good, too

Dada got lost on the way to lesson today. She called so we knew she was late; Mom even sort of gave her directions. I am useless on directions. What I did do was wait. Turns out that was just what the doctor ordered. I had a really good lesson.

I don't know if it was because I was relaxed or really ready to ride, but T and I did some nice work. It definitely helped to have all the right gear at the same time. I rode a Western saddle with regular stirrups but we had rubber bands. We also had two reins extenders. It felt good.

I think I am ready for the show May 18. I am still not sure when I am riding because we entered late. We actually may just ride to ride and be non-compete.

All this kind of made more rotten the news from the American Morgan Horse Institute earlier this week that I didn't get its scholarship. I was annoyed at myself until I saw the essay question I scored real low on: “List your competitive dressage accomplishments on a Morgan(s).” I don't have many ... yet. Not my fault.

Holding on tight

I woke up this morning, and for the first time in ages my legs were sore from riding.

Dada said that yesterday would be a relaxing and fun trail ride. It was fun, but relaxing is not the right word. It was hard.

T moves along at a good clip no matter the terrain. Of course, the uneven terrain does not faze her, but she is even more bouncy than usual. So I wound up clinging with my legs for all I was worth.

Not that I minded. It was a nice change.

We tried an Australian saddle with my toestoppers, and that contributed to my clinginess. The saddle didn't sit real straight and tight. Next week we are back to the Western saddle, but with rubber bands to hold my feet in the stirrups.

Learning to ride

As I said in an e-mail today, T is the horse to get me as far as I can go. Maybe Sleipnir would be better, but other than that ...

I had my first lesson of the season today, and it was good and hard and fun and disappointing and different and new.

The new riding area is a wonderful ring that was dry despite all the rain the past few days. We still have the steep ramp, although I am told a better one is on the way. A passer-by didn't think it would work, and he helped us. We would have been fine, but the extra shoulder to lean on was nice.

One of the big differences is that Kate, another instructor who always helped with me, is not working with SPIRIT at the moment. I am far from the only one who misses her. She is teaching at another program and no doubt she will be a success.

For me, this meant that after we got in the ring, only Dada was with me. That was fine. She didn't need to catch me or anything, although I did wobble a lot.

Dada stayed close to me and T -- just as well -- but as usual that means T really follows Dada, not my commands. That is one reason I think I do better at shows. The horses are so despondent that Dada is not there that they follow me. Also, like usual, my first ride of a test was the best.

After that I started having problems with the reins -- we did not have both rein clips -- and they were either too long or too short. Also, I can't really squeeze and release the reins constantly like I need to if they are always sliding on me.

And my feet kept coming out of the stirrups. The toestoppers do not fit on the Western saddle stirrups, and we did not have rubber bands. We will have to decide on which saddle works better: the Western one with the horn or the dressage one with the toestoppers.

We will fix things, and despite the problems, it was such fun. And I am going to a show in a few weeks!

On top of the world

I had forgotten how joyous it is to sit astride T and feel her move along, quite fast, too, I might add.

Today was the open house/opening ceremony for SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program. We area riding in a new place that has more space and seems lovely. My youngest sister and her family brought me and watched. It was pretty awesome to hear the chant of "Uncle Matt" every time I passed their side of the ring.

I always feel at a disadvantage at these functions because some people tend to know me from this blog, but I don't know them. Or at least I don't remember meeting them before. Ah well, I guess it is how Brad Pitt must feel, huh? Of course, I am kidding; I have a long way to go before I am even as famous as Brad Garrett. It is so fun to see everyone again, especially the kids who just seem to love riding. One little girl just started clapping when she saw Dada.

Because a lot of folks were riding, not just me, T did not have any of my usual adaptive equipment. So no rein clips, or toe stoppers or different length stirrups. I don't know if they would have made a difference, anyway. I really felt awkward at first. I kept sliding to the left, despite my best efforts.

About midway through the ride, Dada, who was working with other riders, came over and walked with me. First, she tightened the saddle, which helped a lot. Maybe just having Dada nearby helped, too. It was nice to see her, especially riding. I hardly ever see Dada ride.

And in case I thought she might go easy on me the first time I had ridden in months, I needn't have worried. She told me to stop at X, and I didn't. Mostly, I forgot to plan my stop so T knew we were stopping; partly, I could not get the reins in my hands properly. After a talking-to from Dada about using my head, I got us to stop at the right place. I missed that. Dada is quite a good mix of encouragement and constructive criticism and praise.

T was great, really walking with a fast pace. I think she might have been bored this winter.

We have to get schedules set up so I don't anticipate riding next weekend, but I am back in the saddle. Figure 8's, here I come.

Matt the athlete

I got a letter in the mail today from the Challenged Athletes Foundation. I got a scholarship for riding. Now i really can't wait to start up again. Soon.

Hurry up, spring

I think I miss riding.

I just performed one of my dressage routines in the dark, in the cold, in an empty parking lot. Twice!

The first time I didn't do it right.

It was kind of like this.

Tidings of comfort and dressage

No lesson today, but I did ride a little in SPIRIT's first holiday party. It was pretty fun.

I rode last with one little girl, who Dada hopes will soon be riding dressage. Not that it is a competition, but she'll be better than me no doubt.

The best part was that I rode totally alone for part of the ride. Dada led me into the ring and then away I went while she stayed at one end of the ring. I think I did two or three rotations around the ring before Dada started walking with me again.

That time with just T was precious. It was just us, and she kept moving, and I remembered to keep squeezing my legs. I will ask Dada if we can do that more often when I ride next.

I also tried to smile, not that I really have to worry about looking cute because I am adorable. But I watched a local ice skating program last week and the one I liked best was the performer who looked like she was having the most fun.

The other cool thing about the ride today was that the little girl and I rode up the center line next to each other and then turned opposite directions at the wall. Best of all, it worked and we looked like we knew what we were doing!

Happy holidays!

Not relaxing, but still good

Yesterday's ride was a new experience, not bad. It was fun, just definitely new.

First, I was without Kate, my friend and the woman who has been helping Dada with me almost since the start. In a recent scholarship application, I called her my assistant trainer. It's not like I haven't ridden without her before, but this time I know she won't be back next week. Kate is taking a deserved break from SPIRIT. I can't wait till she comes back.

Whitney, another instructor, helped us mount and was with me for most of the ride. She and Dada traded riders because two people were having lessons. For a long time, Whitney was just a name to me, someone I liked and talked to a little by email because she and her husband had provided plane tickets to get me to my first real competition out in Colorado. It has been a pleasure getting to know her better, and we had a nice ride yesterday.

I was going to write "nice, relaxing ride," but it wasn't too relaxing. After I got on T, we realized that the neck strap that I hold had not been put on and it was too late to add. We finally took the reins extender I use and attached that to clips on the saddle for me to hold. That worked, but then we had no reins extender for the reins. I had to use regular reins and let me tell you, tough, tough, tough.

One side of the reins was usually longer than the other, so T was confused about turning, but she did her best, which was quite good. She was even better when one of the volunteers started walking in front of her, not leading her with a rope but just giving her a path to follow. I was pretty unstable, but Whitney kept her hand on me so I felt safer. I think I made Whitney and T nervous.

Whitney and I talked a lot as I rode. It really helped figure things out, like why I don't always use my legs to motivate the horse. Part of it is I hold on with my legs, but part of it is T moves so well usually, I just forget till T stops. By then, it is too late. I did look up sort of, because I was trying to watch the rein-length and that is kind of forward.

It was nice, and it's always fun to be on a horse. I am even a little sore, not very. But even a little is a rarity. I always wonder if I need to really push my limits because I am not usually sore. But then I remember my 2-plus year streak of not falling. I have no desire to tumble off T because I am tired.

My manhood survives trotting intact, slightly squished

Today was a good ride, even if we could not find the reins extensions that enable me hold the reins easier.

What Dada did was string the one extension across T's neck between the two reins. It was perpendicular to the reins, and I held just that. It worked quite well, except when I turned could not pull the reins toward me. I had to pull them down.

Kate was with us today after missing last week. She reminded me to look forward so I did a little. I think that helped a lot with the circles I rode. I have a tendency to cut them short, not sure why, but the last ones we rode were good.

Dada reminded me to use my legs, which I did remember a lot but forgot when I was making circles.

We also did a fair bit of trotting, more than usual anyway. It felt pretty good and I did sit straight throughout it. I don't post so the bouncing up and down on the saddle was a little, well, uncomfortable.

I even did a tiny bit of unsupported trotting. Dada wanted me to be able to stop a trotting T, so she got her to trot and had me stop her after a few steps. I did it fine, but I was so tempted to let the "few steps" last longer and longer. Manhood be damned; trotting i fun.

Straight as an arrow

Go ahead, look at that picture and tell me I don't look good. I dare you.

It was my first cold weather ride, which for me means it was below 55. i wore long johns under my riding pants and my jacket and scarf, and I was quite comfortable. The scarf adds to my dashing look, too.

At the start, Dada pointed out I am not sitting as straight as I had been. I had been leaning forward a bit much. I thought she had told me to lean forward -- I actually feel more comfortable sitting straight.

T seemed to like it, too. She was walking really great. After we were warmed up, we rode through a series of cones. That went really well. She was keeping a rhythm and we were turning this way and that. It was great.

I remembered to look up sometimes -- it is easier to look ahead when I am riding a test because I know what is ahead. In practices, I have to pay attention to Dada and Kate (although she wasn't there today) and other stuff. Competitions are almost easier than practices.

I did remember to keep squeezing and releasing my fingers on the reins so T remembers I am in charge. I don't know if it worked , but she was good with the turns.

I have to work on my walking rhythm. Dada said I don't have to squeeze hard into T's sides to encourage her to walk, but I do need to squeeze in a rhythm. My legs aren't used to that.

But it was a great lesson.

This is competition, not therapy

Thankfully, those words came toward the end of the lesson, not the beginning; otherwise I'd have been scared.

It was a beautiful day to ride, and T was quite energetic. Dada said that winter is a great time to practice rhythm and not worry about the movements. That's OK by me, it was so nice to ride up there on T and move my legs in unison with her's.

We did a few small circles, and they were pretty good, at least when I heard Dada tell me to do a circle. A few times I did not hear her so rode straight, then tried to turn sharply when I realized I missed a command.

The big issue today was my left ankle. Dada says I have no strength in it, and she kept lowering the left stirrup to keep me from putting weight on the left side.

It seemed to me that I kept pushing down on the left just to reach the lowered stirrup. And more than once my foot came out of the stirrup.

Dada wants me to wear a brace on that ankle at least. I will, but I sort of wish I wasn't. My ankle will never strengthen if it has a brace.

But as Dada pointed out when I raised this concern: "This is competition, not therapy."

Walking with T

The only good thing about not riding for several weeks is how great it feels to get back on a horse.

And, wow, did it feel great today.

It was only two weeks without a ride. T hurt her mouth so I could not ride a couple weeks ago and I was out of town last week.

I got these things called Toe Stoppers to help my ankles stay in the right shape. They worked great. They go on the stirrups and keep your feet from bending too much down. They seemed to help. My ankles did feel a little tired after the ride, but it felt like they were sore from being held in the right place.

They also made it easier to "walk" with T.

Her rhythm tended to flag a little when we started to do circles. I think she was looking askance at Claren and mom, but Dada usually pointed out something else. I know I was not really watching where I was going. Again. I still think Claren was a burr under T's saddle.

Anyway, to keep up her momentum, Dada told me to squeeze my heels in rhythm with her walk. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially for those of us with no walking rhythm. But T was forgiving and we got a little rhythm going, not Motown rhythm, mind you, but a little. My legs are still feeling that as I write this; I love that.

And I got to trot with T. It was our first time. Dada and Kate jog alongside to hold me and I jiggle all around. I have no illusions about doing it on my own – I can't see where I am going – but it is so fun. In the picture, I am getting ready to trot and am smiling widely.

I didn't need to use my legs early in the lesson. T was walking fast. Kate said she was a little surprised at how fast we were going. It felt real good, but I get into bad habits when I don't ride every week. I forgot to look ahead. I leaned forward a bit. So much to improve, but now that I am riding again, I can fix them!