Dear Readers,
I am sorry it has taken me an immense amount of time to get back to posting since my vacation to Connecticut! Of course, I have no excuse since I have at least been out riding!
My trip to Connecticut- especially the riding part- was more than I could have asked for. The ability to talk horses with someone much older than me that has been riding since a young child growing up in England (where my dad is from and family still lives) was just the beginning. There is nothing better than knowing you are in the company of horse people- the lifestyle is calm, soothing and comforting. Beyond that, being able to ride someone else's prized possession (aka their horse) and them trusting you fully and guiding you is amazing. I have been told on multiple occasions how riding a different horse helps you grow as a rider, but I always imagined it as this fearful experience, especially given my limited riding experience and time in the grand scheme of things. Amazingly, I woke up the day I was to ride Kimanchi without any anxiety. We had been out to the barn the day prior to my ride after Thanksgiving Day, and the barn was the medicine the doctor had ordered. I had been away from the barn for too long- and it had only been 3 days! The smell, the sense of animals, watching other riders do jumps I can't even begin to do.....it's all perfect and relaxing for me. The next day, we headed up to the barn in Bedford, NY and I watched as Andrew's stepmom tacked up Kimanchi. I, of course, evaluated the riding atmosphere- taking it all in. Watched how the horses functioned in below 32 degree weather as calm as a pure black sparkling night sky. In Florida, the temperature drop of 5 degrees makes Dakota spooky and looky at everything. The wind was blowing and it even began to flurry! But I was too excited, I could hardly contain it. I mounted Kimanchi like a boss. It was like I had never struggled with riding anxiety. I think my mind had prepared itself- I knew I had to take charge from the beginning and not let Kimanchi sense I had any ounce of anxiety. He began walking....lazily. Hayley urged me not to let him walk that slow, to give him kicks. My kicks were gentle, as I am used to Dakota- a horse that reacts greatly to even the tiniest kick. Kick, kick, kick....now we were walking at a quicker speed. Then I started to trot and all I could feel was his hind end pushing me up into my post! He felt so fast, but I realized that he takes longer strides. I switched directions with him, changed my diagonals correctly, and eventually Hayley walked away! I guess she trusted me with her baby!
This ride alone changed my perception entirely of the idea of getting on a horse you aren't used to riding. I saw my growth and how my brain was able to trick itself for me to overcome any fear. Once you allow yourself to accept the challenge, the anxiety goes away.
On the airplane home, I mentioned to Andrew that I didn't expect to have any anxiety when we returned once I got on Dakota. After all, I had ridden a different horse and practiced everything I knew how to do- sitting trot, posting trot, diagonal changes, etc. After we got home, I headed out to the barn ready to mount Dakota without a fear in the world.
I pulled into the barn eager to see my baby girl, and she greeted me with a fart and her butt! She pushed her back end up to the stall in true mare fashion as if to say, "Huh....so where have YOU been?!" She gave me a tough ride that day. But when I looked at the situation from the other side, I saw it in a positive light. I officially had a relationship with my horse. She NOTICED I had been gone for a few days and had even given me mare ATTITUDE! That in itself is a win- regardless of whether or not the ride is what you expect it to be.
