I think I'm anti- social, but tonight, I truly am. :D
I'm actually happy that nobody's around in the entire apartment! It's just me, my lappie and my current fav song playing on WMA.
It's actually 2am right now... and it feels great!
It's a true blessing to be alone... nothing to think about, nothing to worry about and listening only to music that you're currently into.
Bliss.... Utter bliss. Perhaps this explains my limited success in making new friends and boyfriends? LOL!
-dances to the music-
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
What a lovely day
I'm bored from researching breast cancer for a upcoming presentation, so I thought I'd just blog for a little while about how riding went yesterday.
The title probably gives it away, but riding was pretty fun yesterday. After 8 long lessons in 2months, 1 lesson per week, I have managed to get Bob moving at a good pace without struggling with him. Allow me to do a small dance of celebration here. -yay-
In the first few lessons, it always felt as though I was going nowhere, even if the instructor was yelling 'Get Bob moving! Come on Weiie, you can do it!' or 'Show him you mean it' (i.e. thump him harder). You know, when you first start to ride alone, it's pretty difficult to show/ tell the horse you want him to move on, because the horse is always smarter than you. I mean let's face it, he's been teaching beginners longer than you've been around. He doesn't give you more than what you're asking for, and if you don't mean what you're asking for, why should he work for you?
So anyway, yesterday was a good day. Perhaps it was the cold weather, perhaps it was because Bob was fresh, or perhaps I made a decision early that morning to get rid of all negative thoughts before I rode, or maybe it was because Gussy gave me the magic pink stick early on, whatever it was, it was a good lesson. Bob was more responsive to my legs, and I could get him going actively without much of a struggle. I didn't need to thump him, I could squeeze and he'll walk. And if he tried slowing down after 2 paces, legs on, and tadah... he walks better. What a big difference from 2 months ago weiie... 2 months ago, a squeeze wouldn't have gotten you anywhere!
I thought I rode better in the rising trot as well, because Bob was going so forward, I didn't need to rise higher in order to fit his rhythm. I could just rise small and easy, and give my legs a rest. When I realised how easy the rising trot seemed to come, it was great. Throughout the lesson, I could obviously control and change the speed of the trot. I squeezed once, and the transition happened from walk to small trot. When I wanted him to go faster, I managed to squeeze him into my hands to make him go foward more. It's a notion that you have to feel for yourself. I used to feel like even if I squeezed with all that I had, he wouldn't go forward for me, but yesterday, I just squeezed him into my hands... like squeezing a lemon of all the juice. And he went forward beautifully.
The thrill when that happened. Wow.
That's not all... I've managed to get into a canter for a few lessons already, but I still have problems getting into it, because the horse wasn't respecting my legs. Yesterday was the first time I got into a canter pretty ok, and the first time I worked to keep it. A Day of firsts. Awesome.
I know I still have a long way to go before achieving my goal of being able to ride all sorts of horses with a reasonable amount of skill, but this is the first step to my goal. It's good to be able to stand on this step, and look back and appreciate everything that has gone into this step.
Of course, I wouldn't have made it without the efforts of my wonderful instructors Gussy and Claire, nor without the good temper of Bob and Monty, who don't hold grudges even with an inept rider who hauls on their reins and gives confusing signals. I cannot say how much I attribute this step to everyone's patience and hard work. Thanks everyone, and every horse. :D You guys are the best.
The title probably gives it away, but riding was pretty fun yesterday. After 8 long lessons in 2months, 1 lesson per week, I have managed to get Bob moving at a good pace without struggling with him. Allow me to do a small dance of celebration here. -yay-
In the first few lessons, it always felt as though I was going nowhere, even if the instructor was yelling 'Get Bob moving! Come on Weiie, you can do it!' or 'Show him you mean it' (i.e. thump him harder). You know, when you first start to ride alone, it's pretty difficult to show/ tell the horse you want him to move on, because the horse is always smarter than you. I mean let's face it, he's been teaching beginners longer than you've been around. He doesn't give you more than what you're asking for, and if you don't mean what you're asking for, why should he work for you?
So anyway, yesterday was a good day. Perhaps it was the cold weather, perhaps it was because Bob was fresh, or perhaps I made a decision early that morning to get rid of all negative thoughts before I rode, or maybe it was because Gussy gave me the magic pink stick early on, whatever it was, it was a good lesson. Bob was more responsive to my legs, and I could get him going actively without much of a struggle. I didn't need to thump him, I could squeeze and he'll walk. And if he tried slowing down after 2 paces, legs on, and tadah... he walks better. What a big difference from 2 months ago weiie... 2 months ago, a squeeze wouldn't have gotten you anywhere!
I thought I rode better in the rising trot as well, because Bob was going so forward, I didn't need to rise higher in order to fit his rhythm. I could just rise small and easy, and give my legs a rest. When I realised how easy the rising trot seemed to come, it was great. Throughout the lesson, I could obviously control and change the speed of the trot. I squeezed once, and the transition happened from walk to small trot. When I wanted him to go faster, I managed to squeeze him into my hands to make him go foward more. It's a notion that you have to feel for yourself. I used to feel like even if I squeezed with all that I had, he wouldn't go forward for me, but yesterday, I just squeezed him into my hands... like squeezing a lemon of all the juice. And he went forward beautifully.
The thrill when that happened. Wow.
That's not all... I've managed to get into a canter for a few lessons already, but I still have problems getting into it, because the horse wasn't respecting my legs. Yesterday was the first time I got into a canter pretty ok, and the first time I worked to keep it. A Day of firsts. Awesome.
I know I still have a long way to go before achieving my goal of being able to ride all sorts of horses with a reasonable amount of skill, but this is the first step to my goal. It's good to be able to stand on this step, and look back and appreciate everything that has gone into this step.
Of course, I wouldn't have made it without the efforts of my wonderful instructors Gussy and Claire, nor without the good temper of Bob and Monty, who don't hold grudges even with an inept rider who hauls on their reins and gives confusing signals. I cannot say how much I attribute this step to everyone's patience and hard work. Thanks everyone, and every horse. :D You guys are the best.
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