Cathy Reynolds
18th Apr 2002, 07:13 PM
I've just got round to doing a report on this course as requested by another thread. It seems like ages ago that I piled out of the train at Fleet on the Wednesday pm (to be met by Kathy, my pint-sized compadre on the epic journey). After a long and entertaining drive we finally found ourselves in even narrower roads than round here in 'Naarfuk'. They're certainly hillier. We crept into the flat (all unknowing that Sue and Heather were exchanging late night phone calls worrying that we hadn't arrived!) Everso comfy, warm as toast, all mod cons. Up 'an at 'em the next day and the first ride round on Millie so Sue could see how dreadful we were. Then onto the Equisimulator - oh dearie me, yes thank you Heather I do have VERY long legs - we were almost at the point of tieing two sets of leathers together! But what a saddle – comfortable enough to sleep in.
Sue immediately spotted I am bent over to the right like Quasimodo, which now means I ride round singing a mantra of 'sit up, left shoulder down' even when sitting at my typing chair - physiotherapist now says I have scoliosis, and is dreadfully embarrassed she'd missed it before! Magically we don’t seem to be too disgracefully awkward and are soon released back into school (was this before or after food?) to ride on the lunge. That evening we ate piles of Marmite toasties and watched loads of horsey videos – often wildly disagreeing with the content! By the second day another session on the simulator and then finally, off the lead rein (on Ringo, sheer heaven) we got to practice loads of transitions, even a little shoulder in. In the interim we’d also watched Heather (twice) on Fanta, and seen her video of ‘the extravagance’. I’ve fallen deeply for Heather’s dad – what a SWEETIE – and what an outrageous Norfolk accent, and decided I don’t want a cob. Got back late Friday night, knackered.
I think what makes this sort of course so rewarding is the high risk:high trust combination, as you expose yourself to criticism which is constructive and supportive and you DO IMPROVE. Absolutely vital to have the overnight to think things over before you get back on, well that’s my opinion. MANY thanks to Sue – wish I could clone her to get an EE teacher up here.
I watched bits of the video we made of each other yesterday again. It seems like a dream, and I keep having to retread my memories of what I learnt……which all went out of the window when I first sat on Henry yesterday (Henry is the horse I hope to buy). He was in a pelham WITH ROUNDINGS – YUK. I freaked out, panicked and hauled on the poor boy. I was so ashamed. I shall have to scrounge 2 reins before I ride him again tomorrow, at least I know how to ride with 2 reins now.
Over to you Kathy to fill in some of the gaps.
Sue immediately spotted I am bent over to the right like Quasimodo, which now means I ride round singing a mantra of 'sit up, left shoulder down' even when sitting at my typing chair - physiotherapist now says I have scoliosis, and is dreadfully embarrassed she'd missed it before! Magically we don’t seem to be too disgracefully awkward and are soon released back into school (was this before or after food?) to ride on the lunge. That evening we ate piles of Marmite toasties and watched loads of horsey videos – often wildly disagreeing with the content! By the second day another session on the simulator and then finally, off the lead rein (on Ringo, sheer heaven) we got to practice loads of transitions, even a little shoulder in. In the interim we’d also watched Heather (twice) on Fanta, and seen her video of ‘the extravagance’. I’ve fallen deeply for Heather’s dad – what a SWEETIE – and what an outrageous Norfolk accent, and decided I don’t want a cob. Got back late Friday night, knackered.
I think what makes this sort of course so rewarding is the high risk:high trust combination, as you expose yourself to criticism which is constructive and supportive and you DO IMPROVE. Absolutely vital to have the overnight to think things over before you get back on, well that’s my opinion. MANY thanks to Sue – wish I could clone her to get an EE teacher up here.
I watched bits of the video we made of each other yesterday again. It seems like a dream, and I keep having to retread my memories of what I learnt……which all went out of the window when I first sat on Henry yesterday (Henry is the horse I hope to buy). He was in a pelham WITH ROUNDINGS – YUK. I freaked out, panicked and hauled on the poor boy. I was so ashamed. I shall have to scrounge 2 reins before I ride him again tomorrow, at least I know how to ride with 2 reins now.
Over to you Kathy to fill in some of the gaps.