First ride . . .

Tuesday

We got different horses today, did the bonding and other first steps, did some ground work, and then we got in the saddle. We learned how to disengage the hindquarters (See how the horse's hind legs are crossed over each other) and turn on the forehand, and turn on the haunches. At first, I was all arms and legs because for turning on the haunches you have to bump the horses shoulder, and for turning on the forehand, you have to bump behind the middle of the horse (with your foot.) But, I couldn't remember which one to do when and which foot to use! It's a lot to remember! My horse was named Geronimo. He seemed a little lame, so I didn't really want to trot him.

Then, we did a game like Simon Says, only you do everything every time . . . it's just hard to know what to do! It seems like I was always out of sync! Everybody would be facing left, and I'd be facing right and stuff like that! Frank would tell us to make a quarter turn to the right by disengaging the hindquarters or make a half turn to the left by turning on the forehand. Or back up four steps, or go forward two steps. Go straight across the arena, and then do such and such! It was fun, but more difficult than it sounds!

After that, we played the alphabet game, where Frank would call out a letter, and by using the moves we had just learned, we had to get the horse to draw that letter on the ground. I have to admit that I never really got this. I would need to figure it all out in my head first, and then do it. Plus, without being able to actually see it written on the ground . . . well, I just couldn't get it, but I tried my best.

In the afternoon, we watched a video that we had been given when we joined the class, so I had already watched it, but every time you watch it, you learn more. Then, Jim gave a talk on saddles and saddling, and how to evaluate a horse for pain. It was very informative.

By the way, Jim has this most amazingly beautiful solid black mustang that I have totally fallen in love with. His name is Cash. He's kind of reminiscent of Fury that I used to watch when I was younger. He's gorgeous.

After dinner, there was some kind of star show using telescopes and I started going over there, but I was too cold and too tired, so I went back to my room.