The stable I'm now going to for riding lessons is excellent, and I'm really enjoying them so far! I've only been up there twice: once on Saturday (first lesson) and Sunday (trail riding), but it's been very nice, and already I have ridden four different horses.
Now, first off I'd like to thanks (again!) my parents and Grandma for buying me these horse lessons, because they're just great. :) I do like this stable, which is called Peavine Creek Farm. The instructor knows her stuff, and is quite the character; her horses are very nice, and so are her dogs which always make a fine point to greet you when you come by.
My first day there I was introduced to the instructor, Miss Terre, and one of her students who has been there for two years, and boards her own horse at the stable. Then after we haltered (funny how I was confused how to do that at first... I'd knew how---I read, you see---but had never done it,) the horses we, and also another student, would be riding, I brushed them down and she helped me tack up (never done that before either). Then we worked inside for a few minutes, while Miss Terre introduced me briefly to her assertive manner of informing the horses what you want them to do. I swapped horses (I had formerly been riding an old gelding named Saber) with the third student, Brooklyn (a nice little eight-year-old), and then we headed out quite promptly onto the trails.
Sarah and I trail rode (walk, trot, canter; up and down hills, through trees,) for seven hours.
I was very thankful to be able to ride for so long with Sarah, because she was able (in response to my many inquires) to help get my form up to shape somewhat before my "riding lesson" even began.
We went back to the stables to remove the tack from Sky (whom I was riding) and Sarah's horse Apollo, then I went to fetch Paint, Sky's full brother, whom I would be doing my lesson on. We tacked him up, and I rode for another two hours inside the barn.
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I could not figure out what to do yesterday.
After riding horses for nine hours, what exactly can you do the next day? I was very, very close to pulling out schoolwork (that way I would have extra done, and I was really bored) when Miss Terre called and said she had beginner trail-riders coming out, and that I was welcome to come as well.
So I went, knowing that she had been talking on the phone Saturday to a lady who had a group of eight beginners who wanted to trail-ride together. Luckily, they decided to split up, and only four were at the stable. These ladies were very nice, but had pretty much no experience with horses for around fifteen years. At Miss Terre's directions, I haltered the chosen horses and tied them to be brushed down and saddled. The whole while Miss Terre is talking to these ladies and getting their papers ready. I helped them fit their helmets on, carried tack around, brushed the horses, and checked their hooves quickly.
None of their horses that I have seen so far have shoes, and Miss Terre doesn't ever mess with their hooves, though I like to check them anyways if I have time.
So then I went around with each of the ladies, and introduced them to their horse, talked a little about their blind spots, where they liked to be touched, and so on. I also told them that two of the horses---Sky and Foxy---will kick at the other horses, and each other, so you have to watch carefully when riding. Sky also likes to be close to his brother Paint, if possible, who was also going out on the trail.
Miss Terre gave a ridden demonstration on the does-and-don'ts, then got everybody up on their horses.
Going around behind her, I re-explained everything she'd told the ladies (sometimes in a different manner, because Terre certainly has her own style :) ) and then helped them adjust.
Then for the next two-or-so hours I ran around with them each in the stable, correcting their hands and reins, explaining, re-explaining, giving pointers, and helping them move about some. Meanwhile, Miss Terre saddled up the horse I would be riding, who is easily spooked, and led him out. He is really a pretty thing; his name is Blue and he has two glass eyes. I mounted him, and rode him around a little to try and re-practice what I'd been working on the day before. Then I went back to the ladies and was able to show them much easier what to do, and we all went out on the trail.
We trail-rode for a couple hours with Terre on foot, and myself supervising the ladies. Then we went back to the stables, and got there about the time my Mom came to pick me up. We took care of the horses, and Mom and I left. I must have been there at least five hours that day.
So unsurprisingly, I waddle a little when I walk.
But oh, I am enjoying it. I've actually done extra schoolwork today, so hopefully I will be able to go back up to the stable again soon this week, even if it's just to brush the lesson horses for her other students and trail-riders. Miss Terre kept telling me yesterday that I was heaven-sent and that she really hadn't called me into work...but was it really work? I mean, brushing the horses and helping the newer riders? I was just happy to have something I knew how to do---and to be there also. It doesn't feel like work at all.
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