Thursday, June 5, 2014

Freedom


I am the type of person that doesn't like being dependent.  As an example, I loved smoking.  I smoked for a very long time and for the most part enjoyed it.  But when I realized that it was becoming inconvenient to smoke and that I was planning my social time around smoking, I quit.  Just like that.  And it was freeing.

After DH's Mom's conversation with me regarding trailering offsite, I gave my head a shake and set my jaw.   I was reminded that I did not want to be dependent on others when it came to riding and frankly, no one was going to tell me that I couldn't handle an offsite ride!  :-)

I booked a private lesson with LA, out in the loping field a couple of weeks ago.  I told her that I wanted to start riding on my own safely and confidently.  That I wanted to be able to have the freedom to come to the barn when I wanted and not feel the confines of having to ride with someone.   She eventually got it out of me how inadequate DH's Mom's comments made me feel.

LA:  Do you think DH's Mom is a good rider?
Me:  She's a confident rider.  She's been riding since she was a kid.
 LA:  Yes, she is confident.  But she's far from perfect.  We all have little technical quirks when it comes to riding.  But I can tell you right now, neither DH's Mom, TS or SS is qualified to make an assessment of your skills.  You are a much better rider than you give yourself credit for.  Stop listening to them and don't be so hard on yourself!

Of course, after her little pep talk, my lesson was awesome.  :-)  Gem and I jogged around the field numerous times.  The ground, with it's lumps and bumps and hardness, feels sooooo much different from sand!  Gem was fresh at the beginning, but he eventually calmed down.  He was very responsive to my requests to slow down or speed up.  He eventually dropped his head a bit and I think he was enjoying being out in the open.  I enjoyed being one on one with him.  LA did point out that the uneven terrain causes me to pitch forward a bit, so I have to work on keeping my back pressed against the imaginary wall. 

LA:  I think you should lope now.
Me: OK.
LA:  Walk him a few strides and then queue him.  It will be fine.  Don't over-think it.  Loping around a field is fantastic.... it's the most freeing feeling.

I cleared my head of thoughts tripping on rocks or small shrubs and focused on the sun, the view and how powerful Gem felt....and, of course, how beautiful his flowing mane looked.  :-)  There were a few times that I thought Gem was getting away from me, but I gently sat back and he ever so slightly slowed his pace to something I was more comfortable with.  Strangely, I didn't seem to notice the differences in the terrain like I did when we jogged around the field.  One time when we were going around a bend, he actually self-corrected his lead by doing a flying lead change!!!  LA clapped at that.  :-)  I felt wonderful....and free.  :-)

After that lesson,  I went out the trails with DH's Mom, TS and SS.  As we entered the large field from the orchard, TS said she was going to lope.  SS and DH's Mom said they would join her and asked if I was coming.  I told them to do their thing.  One of the things that LA told me a long time ago was to not always lope when others did; you didn't want your horse to think that he should lope every time others took off.  So, Gem and I came to a stop and watched them all take off across the large open space.  Gem's ears were pointed towards them, but at no time did I feel his body coil up and indicate that he wanted to lope after them.  We stood and watched them come to a stop at the other side of the field.  It was then that I asked him to jog across the field towards them....which he did at a beautifully easy and consistent pace.  

And that, my friends, is how awesome my horse is.....he stayed with me. He didn't race after the group and when I asked him to catch up with them he did so at the pace I determined.  I will admit that my heart did swell a bit, and I had a big smile on my face as we came up to the group.   As we jogged past my fellow riders, who had stopped to catch their breath, I mentioned that Gem and I were going to hang out in the loping field and left the group standing there.   He and I spent some quality time together walking around the field, enjoying the sun and the apple blossoms.  Bliss.  Yes, the umbilical cord has been cut.....  :-)

17 comments:

  1. Awesome!!!! Love Gem. He's such a wonderful horse. You and he make a great team.
    Im so happy for you cutting the cord. There's no stopping the adventures you'll both have now.

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    1. You are right, GHM! I feel good and I am looking forward now to spending one on one time with Gem.

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  2. Yay! You and Gem are an awesome team.

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    1. Hi Terry! Yes, I think we are now at the real team stage in our relationship. It's wonderful.

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    1. Thanks, Cindy! It felt pretty fabulous! :-)

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  4. Very well done! I agree with LA 100%. One can have experience and confidence and still lack skill. Doing something..even for a very long time doesn't necessarily make one good at it.

    Nice job. I think you guys make great partners. Aren't Canadian Horses awesome?

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    1. You know, I had never heard of the Canadian horse until Gem....and I am a Canadian!! I could not have found a better partner and I can't say enough good things about the breed. I am so fortunate that the person I went with to assess Gem knew what I needed as a newbie rider and new that Gem was the horse that was going to make my riding experience great.

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  5. Awesome! Gem is becoming the perfect trail horse :)

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    1. I think he is! He walks with purpose out there and certainly likes to lead the group.

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  6. OMG!!! Wolfie, I am so pleased and excited for you :) And I'm glad LA has helped you 'see the light'. You and Gem are turning into the Team Supreme, and any unhelpful comment that comes your way can only be down to plain old jealousy. And Gem looking after you like he does just makes me love him even more :) xxx

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    1. Thanks, Joy! You are one of the blogger friends that has been with us from very early on and I appreciate that you recognize how are we have come. :-)

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  7. Haven't seen you blog in a while. I hope all is ok.

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    1. Hello DD! Not to worry! I am here. I have just been really busy. I will be back soon. Thanks for checking on me! :-)

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    i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
    or
    call/whatsapp:+2349057261346





    ReplyDelete