Adult Lessons
I have not posted in a while. Lessons and clinics consume my weekends, work my weekdays, several contain a commute.
Lessons are focused on breaking through the barrier of insecurity and fear. Trail riding is a rare event as I work to become a better rider for my 19-year-old pony. I know it’s silly to anthropomorphize horse behavior, but Jigs truly seems to enjoy the first half hour of our lessons- especially the cantering part. Beyond that, not so much.
Fun moments are strung between frustrating ones. I’m relearning to balance both trot and canter. Proper riding is critical for elder fitness.
I struggle with turns on the forehand, turns on the haunches. Last lesson my instructor put a whip through my elbows and behind my back to retrain my hands – like a kid learning the basics. But I understand this is needed to get clean turns. Years of structureless riding built up bad habits of hands, body, and mind. Retraining is hard but then there are the moments when it comes together, and we get a neat turn or canter to a clean stop between poles. There is a glimmer of what can be.
Days are longer, Summer, nearly here. There will be more lessons, clinics, and maybe even a few competitions. Balancing the canter is not unlike life, it’s about slowing down, sometimes even stopping to gather yourself and try again.
Explore posts in the same categories: #besthorseintheworld, #smartesthorseintheworld, besthorseintheworld, Living in the moment, poetry of apaul, Responsible horse ownership, trail riding, UncategorizedTags: aging, horse, horse crazy, horse ownership, horse training, horseback riding, horses, responsible horse ownership, trail riding
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Heccateisis's Blog 
May 12, 2022 at 5:40 pm
All us older riding students need to encourage each other. You keep up the good work. Think of me, I’ve never cantered.
May 12, 2022 at 6:49 pm
Yes, as we age we are more aware of our mortality. You will canter one day! Don’t give up.