Riding Lesson Lessons

I had a lesson the other day that I really should have just put off for another day. I missed my usual time when I dear, dear friend called and said she needed the support when she had to give her wonderful dog of 15 years, Annee, the last gift we can give them. I was honored and gladly went, but I was still in no frame of mind to ride the next day. Call me a sap, I take it hard. The point is, it wasn't fair to Howie, the other person in my lesson or my instructor that my head wasn't in the game. Horses aren't something that you should do while you are distracted, they require, no they deserve your full attention.

I felt like Oliver Twist in the Charles Dickens novel. Please, sir, I want some more. Only I want some more leg. More leg, the manta of every riding instructor everywhere. "You needed more leg at the base of that jump!" Yea, and who am I going to get it from--because that is all the leg I have! arggg! More please, I feel like a begger with my cup in hand, looking forlornly at the teenagers that ride at the barn, going, ah the joys, no, make that strengths, of youth.

Cows in a field next to the ring can be very distracting to horses during a lesson. But, one would think a Paint horse (aren't they bred to be working cows horses?) should be less bothered by the cows than they other horses? But no, I had to smile watching the Paint do an Arabian snort and blow imitation. Unfortunately, his rider was not smiling, and we moved to the indoor away from the scary cows.

It is best not to question your riding instructor during a lesson. You just may come to the barn and find your stirrups missing...