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.