Yep, I'm back !

It HAS been a long time, has it? So much so I barely remember how to upload a new post. But tonight I felt the need to share with you all that has been happening since I last told you about my horsey life.

It has been two years now since I started riding, almost day for day. And my, how much I've gained from it all. What was then something I was dared to "try" is now a full blown passion. I just cannot imagine not riding for more than a week.

Since budget is now an issue with the new home and all (yeah, the infamous move), I have accepted the generous offer of a friend to give me lessons in exchange for a little help in terms of barn administration. Yay! She had never tought before so she told me we would start from scratch, review all the basics: position, transitions, deepness of seat, steadiness of hands, all that stuff you really have a hard time grasping & appreciating as a beginner but the value of which you really recognize as a more seasoned rider. But somehow, most probably to please my eagerness to learn new moves, stuff that my previous teacher had quickly moved away from when I started to beg for more exciting challenges than just staying in my saddle. My fault!

So we worked on all the above for a few months. Woah! I can barely recognize myself now! I am the queen of confidence, so much more secure in the saddle, my hands are fixed, my seat a lot deeper and more supple, and my position pretty much flawless (except after a jump, where things usually get a little messier...)

However, things are going great, I still looooove riding. To the point I wish I could make it a carreer, well maybe not as a pro rider, but at least something that would keep me around horses every day. It's ok to dream, isn't it? I'm even considering buying my own saddle. Does anybody have advise when it comes to buying a saddle when you don't actually own a horse? Any models more adaptable? Let me know!

And the new house? Ahhhh! F-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c! I wish I had done it before (even if it never would have been possible). And since my boyfriend pretty much moved in with me the same day, it's a 2 for 1 happiness combo special. Yeah, for those of you who have followed this blog for a while well... the cow-boy is back, he's never really gone that far.

Anyways, I have missed this little horsey community. I'm going to try to resume writing here and read about you guys more often now that my life is back on tracks.

Cheers!

M.I.A. Blogger (that would be me...)

Guys, I'm moving... I wish I had more time to post, but unless you want to read about packing countless boxes of books, numerous adress changes, booking movers and other similarly fascinating stuff, you'll have to cope (she says, humbly) with another few weeks of reading something else than my horsey ramblings.

Are you going to be ok??? (Again, you've got to notice the modesty here...)  ;-)

I'd loooooove to hear about you though. 

A note to Dea: Are you on Facebook Dea? I see you come by but, poor thing, you have nothing more to read. When are you going to have YOUR horsey blog so that I can read about you once in a while? (Thus the Facebook question...)

Anyhow, I need to get going. Hopefully my next post will not be so far along and will include SOME new riding insights. 

Cheers!

Next time I say all is perfect...

... please gag me with a sock!

Ok, first of all, the BF is gone. That's it for that. Back to square one!

Then, Angie, the mare I had a half lease on, has been put on foal duty and inconspicuously moved from the barn before I could even say goodbye (and before the end of my half lease term...dammit!). And since I had gained a tremendous amount of confidence riding her, I'm a bit anxious (being the queen of anxiety and all...) that my next ride won't make me feel as bold and confident as she used to. So here again, back to square one!

So today, I was introduced to Lexie. My first reaction: gorgeous!!! She was very sweet while I saddled her and I thought we would make a great team. Well, not so much...

First of all, a few minutes after my lesson started it started raining very hard, and a barn being a barn, full of creaks and squeeks and wistles when it's windy, Lexie started spooking. Real bad! I must admit, I'm just not used to that. I managed to stay in the saddle (my only achievement in today's lesson) but did not enjoy the feeling one bit. So I became nervous...

And from there downhill. The canter was awful, I held her way too tight because I wanted to be in control of the NEXT spook, and when Cynthia told be to let go of her mouth, I lenghtened the reins which made me feel even less "in control" but she just meant to keep a soft hand in contact, to stabilize my hands. And there I was, trying my best (as Lexie was doing probably) but making her more and more frustrated with me, which in turn made me more and more nervous. We were spiralling downwards uncontrollably... End of lesson, by coach decreet. And was it ok with me!!!

So to reconnect with the equine species, I spent a few minutes in awe, looking at a 6 days old Halflinger foal that was born last Monday. Soooo cute! She's in the video as well, right after a few seconds of how I look when my confidence has been shaken and when I ride a horse that doesn't appreciate my "technique" so much...

Well, Cynthia told me we were not a match made in heaven anyway, and next week, I'm going to have to try another horse on the school roster. I do miss Angie already, and Meeka too. But I'm going to keep my hear open for another horse, and see what he or she has to teach me. 

Lexie? She taught me horses aren't all equals, which is also true of men or women for that matter, and that you can't force some relationships if they're just not meant to be. 

Did I tell you the BF was gone? Well then, I rest my case.