Roheryn
29th Oct 2007, 12:16 AM
You all who post on this forum really do inspire and encourage me. Just coming here, reading posts, helps me a lot.
I went to the barn today to ride. I've been sort of "ouchy" for the past few days, sort of sore, tired, achy. I got on the horse today and just didn't feel coordinated, or in balance. Back was hurting a bit, knees weren't really there, everytime we halted I felt sort of off balance.
But we persevered. I thought of other riders I've "met" here at New Rider who, like me, deal with ouchy joints, pain, balance issues, nerves, other difficulties just to get up on the horse and go. Who want special saddles for comfort and security. Who want really quiet, and fairly short, horses. I said to myself, "You are not the only horsewoman in the world who doesn't just leap into the saddle and gallop away" (and what horsewoman/horseman would do that even if they could?). I talked with a friend, who'd already ridden her horse today, and she said that these days they're doing the old-stiff kind of riding.
I felt today I was triumphing just to be in the saddle, moving around the school. I don't have to go out and do cross-country, or barrel racing, to be a rider. I don't have to compete with the younger, or more physically fit, riders who can post a trot for several circuits of the school and who aren't reluctant to canter because their joints don't hurt or collapse on them.
My guy and I had a great ride today--he was quiet, and soft, and afterwards I took him out to a new part of the farm to graze.
It's been a lovely day. :)
I went to the barn today to ride. I've been sort of "ouchy" for the past few days, sort of sore, tired, achy. I got on the horse today and just didn't feel coordinated, or in balance. Back was hurting a bit, knees weren't really there, everytime we halted I felt sort of off balance.
But we persevered. I thought of other riders I've "met" here at New Rider who, like me, deal with ouchy joints, pain, balance issues, nerves, other difficulties just to get up on the horse and go. Who want special saddles for comfort and security. Who want really quiet, and fairly short, horses. I said to myself, "You are not the only horsewoman in the world who doesn't just leap into the saddle and gallop away" (and what horsewoman/horseman would do that even if they could?). I talked with a friend, who'd already ridden her horse today, and she said that these days they're doing the old-stiff kind of riding.
I felt today I was triumphing just to be in the saddle, moving around the school. I don't have to go out and do cross-country, or barrel racing, to be a rider. I don't have to compete with the younger, or more physically fit, riders who can post a trot for several circuits of the school and who aren't reluctant to canter because their joints don't hurt or collapse on them.
My guy and I had a great ride today--he was quiet, and soft, and afterwards I took him out to a new part of the farm to graze.
It's been a lovely day. :)