Normally I ride on Thursdays but because of Veteran’s Day, the university had an administrative holiday. I just traded Tuesday for Thursday as my day home then rode at 4:00. When I arrived for my lesson, I was the only rider. Apparently the instructor thought he was going to be late coming back from a horse show so he cancelled everyone. I’m not normally his student so I assume he forgot about me. Not a big deal and I still got to ride!
Had a great lesson on Wembley. He’s a well-trained black Thoroughbred with white socks and has smooth gates. At first it’s hard to convince him that I want him to have a forward walk and trot. Then it’s hard to convince him that I want a 3-beat canter, not a 4-beat (which isn’t really a canter). After a lot of leg work against his sides to move him forward and bend him around turns, he actually responds quickly to the leg cues. Wembley is a lot of fun to jump to because he just goes over the jump, doesn’t stop in front of it unless the rider doesn’t have him going forward enough. After the jump he canters very nicely, doesn’t run around like a maniac. Also, he jumps straight, doesn’t dive to the right AND act like a maniac like Rainy.
We warmed up at the posting trot on a couple low cross rails then cantered a series of low cross rails that required a flying lead change before the last jump. I’m not accustomed to asking for flying lead changes so it’s kind of a big deal to me but not for Wembley. It feels like he crosses in front then in back. I think to do it correctly, both ends are supposed to change at the same time. Once, I was concentrating so hard on asking for the lead change that I forgot to look at the upcoming jump. Fortunately I looked up in time. Also I’ve been having to work on not jumping ahead of the horse (the horse comes up to you!) and also not being left behind, otherwise the saddle bonks you in the butt. The timing is kind of tricky and it’s easier on some horses than others. I got it right with Wembley when I concentrated.
I’ve learned a great deal from the days when I was numbering my lessons as I wrote about them, back when I was riding at Mill Creek Stables. I have no idea how many lessons I’ve had now. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’ll bet I’ve had about 25, give or take a couple. Devilyn says soon I’ll just need some polish. I wish I felt that confident in the saddle. I still don’t feel entirely secure in the english saddle. It’s just so little and the stirrups so floppy compared to a western saddle. Every time I finish riding and managed to stay in the saddle the entire time, I’m grateful. Some day I hope to take it for granted that I’ll stay in the saddle. But I suppose that’s when accidents happen.