Chronicles 1

I've finally started with riding lessons!

Wednesday, 11 October 2000

The title says it all... I've loved horses since I can remember but riding has always been too expensive to be considered. Just last year, as I graduated from college, picked up my first pay cheques and went to New Zealand for a month, did that nagging dream resurfaced.

I took the opportunity to take a 5 hour long trail ride, and what can I say - I was definitely hooked. The ride was my first riding experience and it went perfectly. I felt confident with the people and the horse (a real four legged angel), and I was very keen in learning and enjoying it. When I came back I had to settle down a bit, but this summer the (obvious!) idea struck me - why not take riding lessons? I could afford them now!

So, I bought the needed gear and looked around for a stable. I ended up finding one rather close to where I live, and I've just started.

School

The school is a smallish family business with the good and bad that comes with that. There are about 15 horses that look happy and well care for (to my inexperienced eye), two arenas (one covered) and a medium paddock. The only negative issue is rider safety - but that's pretty much a national (Portuguese) issue .

I had to search just about everywhere to find a certified helmet. When I was resigned to buying one online, I stumbled on a store with a good ventilated schooling helmet which I'm now the proud owner of. Everyone I've seen, without exception, was using £10-coconout-husk-apparell-only type helmets (ironically helmets are compulsive for lessons). I have yet to talk to anyone who knows anything about helmet certification (including the storeowner I bought my helmet from)!

As for the lessons, I've had a short introductory lesson and a full one. Both were lunge lessons without stirrups and saddle, just a blanket and this thingy in front of me with two handles. The instructor is high on saddless lunge lessons, and I have to agree with him. The lack of saddle helps feeling the movement of the horse under you and forces you to relax, correct your position and balance - specially at the trot and canter (no rising trot here). Although my "male appendages" did tremble with fear .

One of the first things the instructor taught me is using the seat to speed or slow the horse. One of the first things the mare taught me is the different way a horse will behave with a novice rider if the teacher is present and the student is carrying a whip. At the beginning of the lesson, I was left following an advanced student trotting around the arena as a warm-up, as the teacher had to leave for a few minutes. The mare would not keep up by accelerating (as much as I might kick her - she knew I was too shy to kick harder), but by cutting corners (as much as I tried to turn her the other way she would bend her head all the way and keep going the way she wanted). After the lunge lesson I spent another half hour following the other student, this time with the instructor and the whip the mare was a different horse .

Well, that's just it for today , I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Pedro Fortunato
Lisbon, Portugal

The Chronicles of a Part I