I am sorry it has taken so long for me to update! December has been jampacked with all kinds of activities at school for my class, decorating for Christmas at home, all while trying to take care of Dakota and prepare for the holidays!
After my return from our trip to CT for Thanksgiving, I began working on "no stirrup work". According to my riding trainer, most riders don't look forward to this work. It is hard- it is like doing cross fit on a horse. But sometimes I feel like being an adult rider and learner gives me an advantage that young people don't always have- life experience to know that you get back what you put into anything you do. If I want to become a stronger rider, I HAVE to do this work. The first day of work without stirrups, we began with a lunge line. After having such control on my own of Dakota without a lunge line, the lunge line's presence in a small ring seemed scarier than the mere thought of not having my boots in stirrups. I was more afraid of Dakota tripping over the stupid lunge line! Taking my feet out of the stirrups was alone overcoming a fear. You anticipate having no control anymore- nothing to keep you in your saddle.
The first thing I noticed is how inaccurate that assessment prior to taking my feet out of my stirrups was. Once my feet were out of my stirrups, I felt deeper in the saddle than I have ever felt. I felt grounded, like I could feel every move Dakota was making under the saddle. But this was only at the walk- how would trotting go? We began setting goals throughout the month of December...trotting with no stirrups, trotting with no stirrups while being on the right diagonal while posting, as well as doing it all alone without the lunge line or my trainer.
As of yesterday, I have more confidence on Dakota then I ever have. No-stirrup work has given me an immense amount of courage by forcing me to trust Dakota even more than I already do. My legs are dying with each and every trotting step, but it's worth it. I feel stronger, especially when my feet are in the stirrups. I feel like I can handle Dakota even on her crankiest days. Granted, I also bought myself the new Charles Owen AYR8 helmet which helps boost courage! (Thanks to my students!) After putting on this helmet, I'm not sure how I have ever been riding in another helmet!
I hope everyone had a wonderful end to 2012, as I know that 2012 has been wonderful to me. I have been blessed with Dakota- one of God's most incredible teachers. In 2012, she helped me overcome one of my biggest fears, but not without a fall! She challenges me when I'm desiring to be a lazy rider and quickly reminds me to keep my head in the game. In 2013, I look forward to challenging my riding even more by hopefully riding some other horses as well as maybe beginning to canter. Happy New Year!
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