Tiny saddles

I rode today. For the first time in over a year. And, boy, was I scared!

Let me elaborate.....

Another boarder at our barn owns several horses that are currently just sitting in the pastures. His children aren't currently using them so the horses are really living on easy street. I approached him about possibly leasing one of them (horse, not child!) and he thought it would be a great idea.

So today was my first trial ride on Badger, the 18 year old quarter horse. Badger is a generally sweet guy, is supposedly well versed in trail riding and prefers to go at a slower pace. Sounds perfect for me, doesn't it?

I was warned that he will try to test a new rider, making steering and just plain forward motion difficult, but that once the rider shows who's in control, Badger will buckle down and do what is asked. Okay. I can do this.

Upon arrival at the barn this morning, I discovered that the western saddle we currently have available (remember, R is using the good one at camp) does not fit Badger. Alrighty, then. E and I saddle him up with her English saddle.

E rides first and says that yeah, this is the horse for you mom - meaning, he doesn't want to go faster than a toe-dragging walk. Badger does try to take her out of the round pen at one point and she has a bit of a struggle keeping him going in the right direction, but they get it worked out.

So, it's now my turn. First challenge - this guy is tall! Taller than Curly, anyway. And I have no strength in my legs to hoist my fat butt up there. So we walk over to a mounting block and on I get. Did I mention the English saddle? Well, it's tiny. At least, it feels tiny compared to the huge ol' Western ones I'm used to. And I've never sat in an English saddle before. So there I am, riding for the first time in over a year on an unfamiliar horse, in a saddle I've never used, with weak legs and suddenly I'm scared. There is nothing holding me on there - no horn to grab, no comforting seat cradling me, nothing.

But I don't let on how scared I am....I just squeeze....no motion....okay, I kick his sides, and forward we go. And true to his nature, Badger starts his toe-dragging walk. He is very quick to halt when asked. Steering turns out to be bit of a problem for me. I kept forgetting that there is no neck-reining in English but other than one moment when Badger tries to run me against the gate (E gamely gets between the gate and my leg, saving my knees from scrapes and bruises), we manage okay.

So, I think Badger and I could get along. We still have to work out who is boss....and I definitely want a Western saddle. It was so strange being perched up on that little saddle, able to feel the movement of the horse so much more fully (and alarmingly!). Eventually, I think I want to learn to ride English. But for right now, I just want to get my courage back. And maybe Badger is the horse to help me do that.

The Tunnel of Death

The kids heading out for camp instruction...

What a first day at horse camp....and not one I'd like to repeat. I'm sure R is thinking along the same lines.

The morning started off breezy (not a good thing), but bright. R caught Monte, nice and easy, and we loaded up and headed out to the first day of horse camp. I helped her unload and set up her stuff and then headed out for a trip to the grocery store.

As I was checking out at the store I decided to take a quick look at my phone - and then panicked when I saw a message from the camp instructor. R had been thrown - twice - and was on her way home with Dad.

So here's what happened: R saddled up (with help, of course) and easily mounted Monte and then headed out to the trail course. She immediately headed towards the tarp tunnel (a.k.a. "The Tunnel of Death" - at least according to Monte now!) - in hindsight, probably not the wisest choice. As they were standing at the entrance, a big gust of wind came up and the tunnel expanded into a huge horse-eating monster, which terrified Monte, who then proceeded to back up as fast as possible, leap over a pile of logs, dash off to a back corner of pasture, do a speedy 360, helicoptering R out of the saddle in the process. I hear the display was quite impressive. They even broke one of the reins.

The Tunnel of Death

There were tears (Of course! Who wouldn't cry after all that!), but R got back in the saddle and went out into the arena. All was going along smoothly for about another 10 minutes until other riders began to speed up. Well, Monte (who's still plenty amped up from the previous performance) decides that he needs to speed up too. And he kept speeding up, as R tried to (ineffectively/inexpertly) slow him down. Her death grip on the horn and with her thighs weren't helping much, unfortunately, and the end result is that she fell off again. After this fall, she was done for the morning - and it was only 10.

Luckily, there were no serious injuries but she does have a nasty bruise on her side and it now hurts to run or walk on uneven surfaces. And surprisingly, she wanted to come back to camp for a second day. What a tough girl! I am so impressed with her courage, 'cause heaven knows I probably wouldn't have gone back for round 2!

R's bruise. She also has a scraped up elbow and bruised knee.

The camp instructor has very generously offered up the use of her amazingly trained horse, Julima, for the remainder of camp week. R went out this morning, saddled Julima up, and tackled the trail course again. She even went through "The Tunnel of Death" with Julima. Did I mention how courageous she is?

R and Julima, getting their morning instructions.

R is scared, of course, and is pretty much keeping Julima in a slow, steady walk, but she's up there, conquering her fear and trying new things right along with the other kids.

A, handing a flag to R

At the end of the lesson today the kiddos were asked to show the instructors one new thing they learned to do with their horses that morning. R immediately came over to the side rail, picked up a flag, and proudly showed A that she can walk and trot while holding the flag. We were all very proud of her today.

R & Julima, doing parade practice. :)