Wednesday, 1 November 2000
This day is a holiday here in Portugal. I took advantage of the opportunity to take my family to see a lesson.
My brother-in-law took his camcorder and I gave my camera to my sister for her to finish the film I had left. That way I had my incompetence properly documented!
During holidays there isn't much of a schedule with the lessons. You just show up and something will get organized. Me and my "audience" showed up after lunch, we waited for a while, and entertained ourselves by watching the school pony bullying two other horses (each twice her size) that were loose in the paddock.
Here I am saying hello to Jubileu (remember, the 17 hand horse?). Jubileu is a real "Gentle Giant", a calm and dependable horse.
By the way, no comments about my receding hair line please! That's just not funny, OK?
I'm admonishing Miguel for breaching our agreement and filming me in my jods without a horse on frame! It's just too embarrassing!
The lesson was with Catraia and it started with me being the sole student. We worked on the walk to begin with, including a few circles. My first attempt was so much off the mark that Francisco, my instructor, described it as "... a radish". I did another one with about the same result. We stopped as Francisco tutored me on the use of the outside rein and inside leg. With a couple more tries I was finally able to do something that could (in a loose sense) be described as a circle (or maybe as a tomato if we wish to keep the salad motif).
Me, Catraia, my instructor Francisco and a couple of dogs on the way to the covered arena.
Walking past E riding Catraia gives me "pleasant" memories. My forced landing took place just in front of where Francisco is standing in the picture.
Ohhh, I look good! (Though I can point half a dozen incorrections in my posture, but let's not spoil the fun).
Catraia makes a break to answer Nature's call. And me thinking she was camera shy!
First attempt at a circle, described by Francisco as "...a radish!"!
Second attempt. As you can see still a few meters off the track.
No, Francisco is not trying to push me off the saddle as punishment for my "radishes"! He is just exemplifying the need to apply inside leg pressure.
Third attempt. Looking better! A little too much, but at least, a change of scenery.
Shhhhh! I'm trying to concentrate here!
Afterwards we did some work in trot. That was when Catraia pulled the first stunt of the day. When I asked for trot she went straight for the opposite corner of the arena, knowing I would have to let her stop if we got too close.
I had to "fight" a little with her to get her on track and tap her in the rump to get her to trot and warn her that she would not be taking advantage of me. It worked quite well and she was responsive for the rest of the lesson (with one exception I'll discuss later on).
Catraia pulling a trick from her bag when I called for trot. She resisted by moving straight for the opposite corner of the arena, knowing that I had to stop if she got close enough. At this point we were doing a pretty good Shoulder In. Alta Escola all the way!
Pedro Fortunato
Lisbon, Portugal
