Rebecca Needs a Better Seat
In about a month we will be down at the Winter Residence. The leaves are just beginning to change and we have been close to having frost on the pumpkins. So departure is getting close. I am almost packed and even Mrs.T has started to gather things. The muse has not written anything lately because we have been busy with art events, she has been tending to her forest garden, and she has been riding through the forest in our UTV and her new chainsaw. Additionally R has had a few minor injuries, one of which is described below – and others noted in a previous posting - that have set her back a bit. Writing has been down on her list.
The chainsaw is a big deal. It has a longer bar and uses a 40v lithium battery which gives it more oompf and a quicker recharge. Mrs.T feels almost like a full-fledged woodswoman now. Recently, however, she overdid it and strained a shoulder. She has had to admit that she is no longer a teen. (I am not sure the picture of Mrs.T with her chainsaw will come through. -dt)
The glass working season has been over for a bit. Additionally our co-op studio Glass Axis, www.glassaxis.org, is in the process of relocating. So Mrs.T felt the tug of a long-desired hobby to indulge in – riding horses. Below she gives a thumbnail description of some of her exploits in that arena. She has made quite a bit of progress and is definitely competent. However, Mayor Mink need not fear that she will be assisting him anytime soon. On to her story:
"Well, it was bound to happen," one of my friends told me. And I suppose she was right. I fell off the horse. It was not Bet's fault. I was not paying attention.
But to start from the beginning, I have been taking horseback riding lessons. This is something I have wanted to do and when my puppet making class was canceled I decided now was the time. Tori, an artist friend, has a small stable on her farm and gives lessons, even to fat old ladies. Dan and I visited the barn to look the place over. I brought carrots. I was introduced to the horses and patted their noses. Dan watched from a safe distance. There were two very large horses -Belgians; their names were Jack and Jewel. I gave them carrots and Jewel smiled at me. There was a beautiful but excited horse named Hazel. I gave her a carrot. Tori is still training her. There was a pretty little horse, whose name was Sassy. After I gave him a carrot he bowed. Then there was Bet; after I gave him his carrot he rang his bell. Bet would be my training horse if he was willing. "How do we know if he is willing?" I asked. "Well since you are a little heavy it might be hard for a horse the size of Bet to carry you; if Bet is unhappy you will probably ride Jewel," Tori explained rather diplomatically. "How will you know," I asked. "Bet will give a big sigh and look at me with sad eyes," Tori replied. I understood immediately - I have used the same method on Dan many times. (Yes, R is a master of the doe eyes technique. –dt) Last we met Lena. Lena really liked her carrot.
I was ready to start. After I explained that I was not interested in showing or jumping but only in trail riding we set up my first lesson. "How about you Dan, would you like to try it?" Tori inquired. The answer was a very definite NO. (I bear no antipathy towards horses and I like Tori very much. –dt)
So I started riding. I rode Bet who did not complain about my weight. Perhaps it had something to do with the carrots I brought every time. (Bribery works well even with animals. –dt) Bet is a very smart horse. He might not have complained about my size, but whenever I did something stupid he turned his head around and looked at me sarcastically. I took to mumbling to him, "Am I doing this right?" When he did not give me the LOOK I was usually okay. I think Bet really likes me but he thinks I am rather slow. There are three ways you can talk to a horse: you can use words, you can use your legs and feet, or you can use the reins. Unfortunately when you are a beginner your reins may say one thing while your legs say something else. Generally beginners tend to use the reins while good riders use their legs. I think Bet is kind of like Dan, in that he knows what I mean most of the time, even if I don't say it right. Dan often shouts at me, "That's not what you said! Say what you mean!" (This is probably an accurate statement, although the boldface is not necessary. –dt) Perhaps it is just as well that Bet can't talk human. Or maybe Dan thinks he is a training horse when in reality he is just --- but I digress.
As I improved Bet raised his standards. He will no longer do what I want unless I tell him correctly. In fact sometimes he just won't do what I tell him. He knows I am easy. "You have to make him do what you tell him. Hit him!" Tori said. So I gave Bet a fairly hard pat; I didn't want to hurt him after all. "He didn't even feel that; hit him with your whip," She said. I got the whip and gave him a light tap. Nothing. "BET" Tori called warningly from the other side of the ring, he immediately started walking at a fairly fast speed. How embarrassing! About five minutes later Bet stopped again. He turned his head around and smirked at me. I was fed up! I picked the whip- and gave him a smart crack on his rear. Bet looked shocked. "Well that got his attention," Tori exclaimed as Bet immediately moved out. He behaved very well for the rest of our lesson. (I firmly recommend that Mrs.T refrain from using the same method on the editor – although she undoubtedly would like to. –dt)
I have gotten a lot better. I can make Bet go forward and backward, left, right and around in circles. I even bounced around a lot in a trot. I guess the trot bouncing was when Tori decided my seat needed some work. Rather a personal comment don't you think? So the next week I rode on a dressage saddle. I usually ride on a western saddle which sort of surrounds you. A dressage saddle is just a little lump of leather and you have to hold yourself on with your legs and your, ahem, seat. Well I did it. I stayed - or maybe I should say swayed - in the saddle in a more or less vertical position approximately on the center of the horse. I was so proud – not to mention sore in the thighs.
The time came to dismount. I had gotten pretty good at this. You stand on the left stirrup, hold on to the mane and, swing your right leg over the horse, pull your left leg out of the stirrup and jump down. Simple - in a western saddle. But I, you will recall, was not in a western saddle. When you stand on the left stirrup in a dressage saddle, the saddle slides around the horse and you wind up lying on the ground. A second later the horse puts his nose in your face in amazement - or you might think amusement - as if to say, "What are you doing down there?" Well I wasn't much hurt except for an enormous bruise on my thigh and since purple is my favorite color that was not so bad.
I am back riding and having a great time too. But I am keeping a wary eye on those dressage saddles. (ST, I doubt R is ready to challenge you in the ring. –dt)
Mrs.T failed to write about her most recent lesson. She finally went on a trail ride and had a wonderful time. However, Tori made the 'mistake' of asking something about wildflowers. The lesson extended for another hour+, but Tori also enjoyed herself.
Here is a picture from the Lazy A Stables – of Blue Rock - Facebook page: (use Ctrl+click)
We are excited about a visit from some friends from that great country up north from whence our cold weather comes. We hope they are up to a ride through the forest on the UTV.
Best wishes to all,
Dan and Rebecca
www.casa-de-terrible.blogspot.com
