Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Leaps & Bounds

The day before yesterday, I rode Shazaam in the round pen like I do every Sunday while my husband rides Maximus. I have been trotting him around and feeling very balanced and confident so I asked him for a canter and...we did it!! It wasn't very pretty at first but as I forced myself to relax it got much, much better. So I decided that I needed mileage at the canter and rode again yesterday. My transitions were smooth and my butt didn't come out of the saddle even a single inch.

Shazaam may be my horsey soul mate and while I believe my little fugly pony is as perfect as they come I'd be lying if I said he didn't feel like riding a jack hammer. To me this is a plus! My lower back has to be super elastic and that actually eliminates my back pain.

I've also started riding him around the ranch which really brings his energy up. I'm starting to be comfortable with this being his "normal" state of mind and have much less trouble keeping him thinking and staying relaxed myself. I don't kid myself, he is still the kind of horse who will invent reasons to explode and bolt but I'm becoming confident in my ability to manage him and I'm sticking to my plan gradually increasing the area where I ride him. This whole journey from mind numbing fear to confident competance is now 3 1/2 years in the making.

I know the entire thing is my fault for owning a horse I couldn't even get near with a brush or he'd mentally unravel instead of a steady old trail horse but to be honest, I'm getting an invaluable education through this and I would not trade what horses have taught me for all the peaceful trail walkie rides in the world.

6 comments:

xmuskateerx said...

Congratulations!

I've read your blog since the day it began, and I think you can see light at the end of the tunnel now :)

Good luck for the future and I'll be continuing to read, Lucy x

Jessica said...

I am so very proud!! Sorry we had to cancel yesterday. The inlaws are gone on Monday; so we can get back at it!

borderbratz said...

Thanks for reading Lucy!

Jess, I wouldn't have any of this if it weren't for you being my own private drill instructor. My riding may never make you famous or rich but you have my deepest gratitude. We'll pick up after your inlaws leave, no prob.

Jessica said...

I'd much rather have success storys like YOU under my belt than be rich and famous. My goal in life: connect horses and riders so they enjoy each other for a life time. Accomplished with you.

Cheryl Ann said...

I can't wait until this summer when I can ride again! My back should be healed by then! I enjoyed reading about your horse and your progress.

Brooke (FBX Adventures - In Parenting) said...

So even though I just found your blog, and it seems that you haven't written it a while, I've enjoyed it and it gave me hope. I bought a horse that turned out to be an OTTB, she was still very sane and calm until I had her in a very horrible horrible situation (boarding facility from hell.) She scared the crap out of me so badly I didn't know what to do and was going to sell her. Husband wouldn't let me (bless his heart) and so we've started our own adventure of me not freaking out if she moves the wrong way and her learning to trust me again. I'm glad someone else was able to do this also. Best of luck!

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