Today I went back out to the ranch to observe some more. First they took out Tambien . . . a "green" horse who has only been ridden a couple times. We put him in the round pen, and Alicia got on him, very gently, with Jennifer lunging him. He did really well. The training time didn't last too long. Tambien started getting distracted, so Jennifer knew it was time to quit. Later, she explained to me that even though he's "older" (somewhere between four and six, I think) ("usually" horses are broken at two years old, which is really too young), Jennifer said that he's not used to weight on his back, and it will take him time to build up to that. I never thought of that before, but it makes perfect sense to me. Jennifer is so incredibly knowledgeable and I am like a sponge.
Susan came for a riding lesson today. Jennifer said something to her about me living in Mancos, and Susan said, "Oh, the county where there are more horses than people!" That's good and well, but I'm considering leaving Mancos . . .
This was Susan's first riding lesson with Jennifer. Susan has her own horse, I think a Tennessee Walker, but she's selling it. Jennifer started her out from the very beginning. She put her on a horse bareback, and tried to get her to move her body correctly to give the horse the correct signals. She spent the entire hour on that! Susan has some kind of back issue, so part of it was that.
Jennifer told Susan about how when her kids were young, they got used to riding on tractors and four wheelers, and how your body learns to move with the machine. She said that's what you have to do with a horse. She said it also works like that with skiing . . . your body moves with the terrain that you're skiing on.
After Susan left, we took a couple mares that needed exercise, and set up a mini-course in the big arena. First, Alicia and Jennifer lunged them over some jumps, and then we set up the jumps so that they would have to go over them as them ran around the arena by themselves.
Afterwards, Alicia brought out a horse they call Mud. He was beautiful. Jennifer said that he's the horse for me . . . one quarter Arab and three quarters Lipizzan. I don't know anything about him or how old he is or anything. But, he probably cost in the multiple thousands. I'm thinking it would be much better for me if I fell in love with a mustang that cost twenty-five dollars! But, who knows what the future will bring. I still think my newest book will become a best seller!
Dancing
Monday and Tuesday dancing was great as usual. These will be my last beginner classes, and now I'm "ready" to get into the intermediate class. In the class info, it said that usually after six lessons you can move up. I've had several more than that, but I don't feel confident yet. Maybe confidence isn't a requirement for moving up!
I was just about to leave, when Denise called me back in. There is an intermediate class on Tuesdays right after the beginner's class. Denise asked if I wanted to stay. I told her that I'd start the intermediate in two weeks.
She was talking to some long-haired guy when she called out to me. He turned around when she started talking to me, and he gave me the biggest smile. Oh, be still my heart! I LOVE long-haired men! I think it's a throw back to my old hippie days. When I was in high school, I used to say that I wouldn't go out with a guy unless his hair was longer than mine! Where I live now, I often see long-haired men because there is an Indian Reservation close to here, and a lot of Native Americans live in town. And a lot of Native American men wear their hair long. Usually, it's in a pony tail. This guy at the dance class had his hair loose, and he wasn't Native American. I don't know how old he is or anything else about him . . . just that he had a very nice smile, and very nice long hair! I'm eager to go to my next dance class now! Even more than before!
And let it be known that I am not really actively "looking" right now. I haven't been on a dating site for weeks because of a couple friends' advice. So, I'm not looking, but I am totally open to finding! That's okay, isn't it!??!?
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