The 30-something (beginner) Eventer

So, despite Mr Toad's Wild ride the previous weekend, I sucked it up and had a lesson this past Sunday. I had two short rides on Classy since the hunter pace, and I figured a real, structured lesson (read: not a lesson by which I learn through trial by fire, as the pace was) would be a good thing. So at 9am on Sunday, I was sitting on Classy.

Before I bein, I have to say that H doesn't claim to be a trainer or an instructor... but the wealth of knowledge she has accumulated over the past 20 years (and she's only 26... yes, my "teacher" is younger than me!) is vast and has thus far been invaluable to me. She also "gets me" and my sense of humor, which is paramount when dealing with teaching me anything. Many of my lessons with H contain name-calling and swearing and a great deal of laughter (both at me and with me). And I love her as a person, and hope that we have a friendship that lasts many years. She's just cool!

My non-instructor, H, starts Classy and me out warming up at the walk, then asks me to show her my wonderful 2-pt without stirrups. I got a gold star ... but it also demonstrated that for the life of me, I just cannot pick up my stirrups and get them in the correct position across the ball of my foot. Can't! I dunno why, but I can't. H doesn't miss a thing... and we proceed to spend the next 15 minutes of my lesson (one which I do pay for, by the way) walking around and dropping & picking up stirrups. She even started counting...out loud... so she would know how (shamefully) long it was taking me. More than just getting me to the point where I could get my stirrups in a decent enough position, H also asked me "So, why do you think its important to be able to pick up your stirrups and get them in the right position quickly?"  Told ya she doesn't miss a thing. I have found, as I've gotten older and continued to ride, that I was never asked questions by other instructors. At least, not good ones like the one H had just posed. I think if both you and your instructor  aren't asking questions... time to get a new trainer. Being asked questions in a lesson is like having to go up to the blackboard to solve an algebra problem in school... it proves (or disproves as the case may be) that you understand what you are learning and recognize its importance. What a concept!

Then came the time to practice our Free Walk. We spent more time actually working on getting a nice, round(er), forward march--which is achieved far more easily than one would guess if one practices the "finger-finger-squeeze" technique. Classy, being the smart girl she is, has hidden buttons that H reveals to me rather slowly, but I assume with good reason and better timing. We actually did a very nice job Free Walking until H asked me to circle and Free Walk. It wasnt so circley as I would have liked. But for Free Walk on the long side, another gold star for great improvement! Walking is still, very, very hard work...

My lesson wrapped up with quite a bit of trotting, with and w/o stirrups and even dreaded two point w/o stirrups at the trot... even if was only for a couple of seconds! (theres another one of those pesky goals) While I was "cooling Classy out" (she loves these w/t lessons with me! We didn't even get to cantering this lesson, which we had planned to do when we started at 9am) H and I discussed more goals. Competition goals. A whole new ball of wax.

At the pace, H and I touched on my personal goals personally... which isnt much. I have no expectations for my eventing "career" much beyond Beginner Novice, but Novice and maybe Training level would be total icing. So H took this into consideration and actually came up with a proposed game plan to get me heading along my path. We are going to do the Adult Beginner classes at a local (and cheap!) H/J show, 2 or 3 of these shows between now and spring. Nice little 18" classes! We will also try our hand at schooling cross country a couple of times, and plan to enter a few combined tests (dressage test and show jumping only) late spring, early summer. Assuming all goes well, I'll do a weenie 3 phase late summer/early fall 2008. Depending on where we are in our progress, I'll do 18" or 2'... huge! But I don't care how big the jumps are, or even if I get a ribbon ("But *I* want you to ger a ribbon" says H)... I just want to ride my best in all three phases and finish without being eliminated.  Having these kinds of "steps" towards my goals is making me want to actually work harder.. a lot harder... so I can get to the end result in really good form. And maybe I'll suprise myself and get a ribbon afterall...

I'm recovering today from my second ever Hunter pace... surprisingly I am not nearly as sore as I was when I rode in my first back in March of this year, so thats a bonus I did not expect. I suppose making a true effort to ride and work on my goals the past month has paid off. And in the end I had a blast at the pace.... in the end. Things did not start out so well for me and Classy.

Classy is much, much fitter now than she was in March, and I knew that. I warmed her up a little and her trot was really energetic and she was antsy, but I expected as much. Even though Classy is a small (15.2) appy mare, she truly believes that she is a race horse and aims to prove it when she is going cross country; I had a blast with her at the pace in March because of it and I was ready.  What I did not fully understand, however, was that two of H's students have been taking Classy out on the trails and just galloping her at break-neck speeds down hills, and Classy became resentful of going down any hill out on the trails. H had been working on this issue the past couple of weeks, and thought it better to not disclose the full scope of Classy's antics to me before I rode her in the pace. So when we came to our first hill, even though we were only walking down it, Classy slammed on the breaks and threw it into reverse.... then made a sharp right into the trees and brush and there seemed to be nothing I could do to get her to move forward. We'd stop. I'd relax for a minute, sit up and try to send Classy forward with leg, and she would back up again. Scared the crap out of me too. I didnt want to have her back into something, spook and then send me flying into trees. Oh, and this was an improvement in her behavior. H evidently had it much worse when she had been working with Classy on the trails the weeks previous to the pace.

Once I got Classy back out onto the trail, I wasnt even sure I could make it down the hill alive. We took a couple more steps forward when H came up with her big, steady mare, Stella, and acted as a security blanket for us. But Classy stalled out again, and again started to back up, this time straight up the hill and not into the trees (thankfully). I was at my wits end and on the verge of a nervous brake-down-on-horseback. And this, my friends, was only about 15 minutes into a 10 mile ride. Thankfully H has patients beyond an ordinary person, and she--and Stella-- took the time to gradually get me and Classy down that first terrible hill. I really wanted to get off right then and there and walk back on foot, but I knew that wasn't the kind of thing I'd normally do. But when facing a rocky dirt path down a fairly steep hill...in the woods...on a horse that truly believes hills are evil and is willing to back into trees to avoid going down, you fear getting hurt. Especially when you promised your husband at 6 o'clock that morning that you wouldnt get hurt or fall off. I admit it. I thought I was going to give up, and I almost started to cry. But I saw H look at me, calmly, and her face told me that she knew I could make it to the bottom of the hill on Classy. And I did.

Our next hiccup was shortly after the first hill descent. We made our way trotting and walking out of the (flat) wooded area to an open field. Midway across the field there was a small stone wall (no jumping for me today, thankyouverymuch!) and then a slight rise to the top of a nice little round hill before going back into another wooded area. I trotted Classy along past the wall and waited for H and the two others in our group (who had kindly waited at the bottom of that first hill) to jump and catch up to me. As I rejoined them, we walked together up the small grassy hill and out of nowhere Classy half reared, turned and started to jump/run/whatever sideways. I damn near fell off (but didn't!!!) but Classy did manage to somehow smack me in the face with her head or neck as I was trying to hang tight. Once she stopped wigging out I put my gloved hand to my mouth and realized I was bleeding. GREAT! H came over before Classy even stopped moving, as Im sure she heard me swearing, and the whole episode lasted about 10 seconds. H verified that was was bleeding, but it was only my lip and I still had all my teeth (I'd have shot that damn horse if she'd knocked out a tooth!).

My nerves throughly rattled after this second indiscretion, I swore, and swore and swore some more. I did not know what I had done to make Classy have a little tantrum... there was no one passing us or even ahead of us that might have made her want to "race"... no one could spot anything that would have made her spook. But there I sat on this mare, nervous as hell, and even more pissed off. H told the others in our group to go ahead on without us, and she gave me a little pep talk. She could tell I was more angry than nervous now, and she said "Good. Use it. Classy is just being bad and you need to channel that anger into firm, consistent riding and make her behave." So on we went. At a walk. For a very, very long time.

Every time we came to a hill, we had the same issues as with the first hill, although I am proud to report that (1) there was no more backing 15 feet into the woods, and (2) every hill was a little easier to get down than the one before it. H and Stella would circle back to "fetch us" each time Classy stopped. There was a progression, on my part, at each hill from nervous to frustration to anger at Classy's obstinacy to, finally, unbelievable amusement at her silliness and stubbornness. At one point she "forgot" to stop going down a hill and realized she hadn't put up a fight until we got to the bottom. Where she immediately put on the breaks until she knew she wasnt fooling anyone and walked on with only a little leg. H and I just had to laugh at that.

We were free of any other major mishaps for the remainder of the ride, although I could not get myself to totally relax and enjoy the ride, knowing a hill was just around the corner. We got to a nice flat grassy area about half way through our ride and H asked me to stop so she could give Classy a quick schooling. She had seen the other horses cantering and galloping across the field as we approached it and she was getting antsy again, so I, in turn, was getting a little nervous again. I held Stella while H jumped on her little spotted mare and put her through her paces. Even H was having some small issues with Classy, but in the end it helped me to enjoy the rest of our ride. I was too nervous to try cantering at this point, and it was taking a painfully long time to complete the course. I knew it was my fault, but I couldn't get my confidence to where it needed to be. Not yet at least.

Eventually we made our way to a stretch of nice flat dirt roads through peanut and bean fields. You could see all around for quite a distance and H knew it was time to encourage me on to a canter. There was no one coming from behind to pass, and there was no one ahead of us that Classy would try to race. "Just pick up a nice trot and when you come down in your post, kind of sit and make Classy feel that you are up there and you are riding her. So she acknowledges you are up there and she has to listen. When you feel ready, sit for a few strides and ask softly for a canter." Putting all my eggs in H's basket of wisdom, I did as I was instructed. We trotted on, with H and Stella behind us, for about a minute, then I sat and gave a little right leg and off we went into a nice, soft, unhurried canter. I was still a bit apprehensive, so I didn't let Classy go all out as I am sure she would have enjoyed. But it was nice, and I could hear H encouraging me from behind "Y'all look great!!! Lets make it to that red water pump at the bend" So, again, we were setting goals, this time on teeny, tiny scale just so I could make it through this hunter pace, and feel that I had enjoyed my ride.

We did a bit more cantering to finish out the pace to make up for time, and I was even forced to jump a little fallen tree (all of 10 inches high) out of a trot. Most of my confidence was back, and I am pretty sure I smiled when we actually jumped the tree and didnt just step over it. The very last stretch of the course before we could see the finish line was up a nice, long, grassy hill that had a very flat approach with one little dip at a slight bend just before the base of the hill. Everyone gallops up this hill as the last hurrah for the course. I knew that we should, but I wasnt sure if I wanted to or if I could. Ahead of us, there were many horses going up the hill already, and I was a little frightened Classy might take off after them. But I knew H wouldn't let me get away with not at least giving cantering up the hill a shot "Go on!" she said from behind me "Get to it! Just go! Just get up there and let her go!" I knew this was my last chance to prove to H, and more importantly to myself, that I'm not scared to gallop my horse in the open, up a hill, going as fast as her little legs will carry us.

I shortened my reins a bit, and barely had to ask for a canter. Off we went along the flat path leading up to the hill. It was a fast canter, but it felt good. Then I rose up into two-point and felt Classy get a little faster, but I was still feeling confident about it. Then, just as we approached the dip before the foot of the hill, Classy started to gallop.

You know that feeling you get when you are on a roller coaster? Where for a split-second your heart drops into your stomach as you begin flying down that first hill and you are terrified? You want to do nothing but close your eyes, scream and wish for the ride to be over. I felt that way as Classy took over and we rose and fell quickly info and out of that dip and for a second thought about pulling her up, but then I remembered my first hunter pace on Classy back in March, where H said "She won't do anything dangerous, she just wants to go. So just trust her and let her do her thing." So I gritted my teeth, and that fleeting feeling of terror left as my spirit lifted. And I just let that little mare do her thing.

I told you earlier that Classy believes she is a thoroughbred trapped in an appy's body. You'd believe me if you'd seen her kick it into high-gear as we began to climb the final hill. We flew past a couple horses that had started cantering up it before we'd even began our own canter approach. I sat up there in my two-point and pumped my arms a little to let Classy know she could go as fast as she wanted, and when I did, she picked up even a little more speed. And it was so much fun! We didnt stop until we'd gotten up and over the crest of the hill, where I started to laugh and smile and pat Classy and praise her with all the sincerity that I could, and I think I might have even started to get teary-eyed. As we came down to a trot and finally a walk, I could hear Stella's gigantic hoof-beats approaching from behind, accompanied with H's laughter. When I turned to look at her, I could tell she was immensely proud of me for sticking through the ride during some situations that were really tough for me. "Y'all looked so cute! I know you had fun, too. Don't lie... you were having a blast."

Yeah. It was a blast. It was totally worth the frustration, the nervousness, and even the bloody lip (which now looks slightly Angelina Jolie-ish) to get to that final hill and gallop up it feeling 100% confident--at that moment-- in myself and my horse. I went from near tears of fear to near tears of joy in a couple of hours, and all because of the same horse. She is naughty at times, but Classy is a great teacher, as yesterday's ride proved to me. If she had acted up that way back in March, I'd have given up (and Im sure I would have cried a lot and fallen off) but I didn't come off, and I didn't come completely unglued. And I think it is safe to say that by this time next year Classy and I will be able to complete a full event at Beginner Novice or maybe even Novice. I know there will be bumps in the road, but when I hit one I will remember yesterday as one of the best riding lessons I've ever had.
 

First, I want to thank the folks who took the time to read my silly little blog and left comments. I'm so happy that someone out there found it encouraging! And to you I say, get out there and ride!

I have had three pretty good rides since I last posted, but sadly one of them was not my trail ride. Seems H and I got our days mixed up. No worries... we're going out THIS Thursday. Regardless of where I was riding, I felt a great sense of accomplishment after I rode all three times this week. And it got me thinking about setting goals.

Until a couple of weeks ago, I have never had a set of riding goals. In my mind I've known for years, of course, that I want to event (and MAYBE someday do a half-star three day.... MAYBE). But that was just something floating around amorphously in my head. Sort of a "wouldn't it be cool if..." kind of thing. But when I told H of my steadfast desire to event, she jumped right on board my ship and helped me formulate some short (very... veryvery short) term goals. The first of my dottie equestrian "career", with the goal of reaching them by the first weekend in October when I will ride in my second hunter pace....

Practice the Free Walk

   Two-point without stirrups for 10 (whole!) seconds

      Work up to cantering for 10 minutes with no breaks

         Get out of the ring at least once a week; either hit the trails or do some trot sets in the paddock that has a nice hill.

Thats not a lot, really, but for someone who has never set any riding goals, this short list poses some serious questions. Can I actually 2-point without stirrups for even one second? What if Classy acts up while I'm out on the trails alone? (she's done it before, the naughty PITA) How will I know if I'm getting a good Free Walk when I practice without H there? 10 minutes of cantering? Seriously?  So I approached my ride this past Thursday with a little hesitation, but a greater determination to at least try working toward each of my goals (minus the trail ride).

I started with the babiest of baby steps because I did not want to be discouraged with my first attempt. And I found that not only is starting small okay, but I think its actually a little better. I was surprised to find that I could actually make it almost all the way across the short side of the ring in a respectable 2-point without stirrups. I was very pleased that I was able to put the "march on, tug-tug" Free Walk method to good use and I did so for 15 minutes without really thinking about doing anything else during my ride. I worked hard on establishing my communication of "march on" to Classy and I got some good stretching from her. I also found that, while cantering is actually really hard work, I was able to make three laps around the ring (well, its three-quarters of the ring; one-quarter has a fair slope that I am not yet balanced enough to canter down) in each direction with only a simple lead change of a few strides in between.

Forty minutes later, Classy and I were both pooped, and I was proud of myself for riding for as long as I did. My typical rides outside of lessons were 30 minutes at most, and while this was only 10 minutes longer, I felt as if I had accomplished much. My rides on Saturday and Sunday were much the same (although Classy was a bit of a bugger on Saturday morning; seems she forgot that I fed her before our ride, and she was not convinced that the other horses were not going to eat her grain, even though it was already in her belly). I worked on a little bit of everything that I could do inside the ring, and I was pleased. I had the rest of Sunday to mull over my work.

When I first had a list of goals to work off of, I imagined that 2-point sans stirrups would be my greatest challenge. But as she road another horse on Sunday, H commented on how impressed she was that I could make it across the short side and that I looked pretty good. I also felt good because, for probably the first time in my life I critiqued myself and I thought "Gotta put more grip in the calf, too, to hold me up" . How can that be? I don't know what I'm talking about. But as it turns out, I do. So with this revelation, my priorities shifted.

I will concentrate more on building my endurance through cantering, and, by going to the gym to do cardio at least twice a week. Hell, I joined the gym almost a year ago and haven't hardly used it. No better reason to take care of all the guilt than saying "its so I can ride better", right? (ladies also note my shoes with more than a 2 inch heel are gone-bye-bye for the same reason). I will still work on my two-point, but I am farther along with it than I ever guessed I would be. And of course, the Free Walk is an excellent thing to practice between 2-point breaks and warming up and cooling down.

I have also added to my list doing some strength training at the gym, too. And I have vowed to wear and break-in my field boots so I can wear them the first weekend in October. Ok, the field boots are kind of a silly goal, but what it means to me personally is that I am a serious rider with goals--and expectations of myself.  I will work my butt of the next two weeks, and I will do my best and try my hardest to reach the goals I have set in front of me. Will I reach them all? I don't know. But if I don't, thats ok. Its more than ok, its acceptable. I am an out of shape adult with a full time job (and the commute to prove it!) a husband, a house, a yard and two large coonhounds (so make that two full time jobs). I'm a normal 30 year old in that respect, and as such I have other commitments in my life that take a priority.

I feel that as long as H and I set realistic goals that push me a little bit, and I try my best given my limited time, its ok if I fall short. So it takes me an extra week's worth of riding to be able to work up to 10 minutes of cantering... so? Is it the end of the world? Am I a failure? No. The point is the goals are set and they will be reached in due time. No one said we can't readjust the time table, or the goals. I'm sure we will do lots of adjusting in the next 6 months. Even if someone doesn't have the ultimate goal of competing, I think that having short-term goals is a great thing, and they help one move on to a closer relationship with their horse. You learn together what you can do together. And you learn that you can already do some things better than you thought.

I'm ready for a healthy challenge, and excited about it... whatever the goals are, I'll take them. And I will (hopefully) write about them here.
 

I started taking lessons from H, who owns the horse I lease, in June because the trainer H and I both had been taking lessons from is taking a break due to health issues. So far H has been great, and when I get cranky I swear and curse at her and she takes it in stride and dishes it right back out with no sympathy. My kind of gal!

 So, in my last lesson this past Sunday something came up as we chatted while warming Classy up. I said the word "compete" and H's ear's perked. "You say 'compete'... what exactly would you like to do?" she asked. And without hesitation or uncertainty, I proclaimed "Eventing."

 "Really? You're sure?"

"Absolutely."

 Somewhere along the way, H had forgotten that eventing was the reason I wanted to lease Classy... but honestly, H and I hardly see one another, and I had been on that page with my other instructor before she got ill. Not a big deal. But this new revelation gave H all *kinds* of ammunition for my hour-long lesson. Enter, the Free Walk.

Its walking... so to anyone unexperienced with it, or unexperienced with horses in general, it doesn't sound so hard. Not so. I'm actually shocked that in all the off-and-on years of riding I've done, no one had ever taught me even a little bit about the Free Walk. I know what it is, but its advanced! And I'm really just starting over! I can't possibly be ready to attempt such feats of equestrianism! Yeeeeeah, right.

Before we began, H explained that stretching, and thus the Free Walk, is the key to all dressage, at any level. A stretched, limber horse is a happy horse and a better ride. First, to attain happy horse and happy ride, one must have an energetic, forward march... not a sluggish walk, which is Classy's forte. So I squeeze... and I squeeze... and i sqeeeeeeeeze some more. Classy kinda picks up the pace, and H demands "More... More forward!" I I give a bit of a kick, and Lo! And Behold! There's a march.

And as soon as it came, it went.

But now, you see, I am armed with the knowedge that Classy does have that gear. So I recompose myself... I squeeze again... and first try we go right into a nice little march. And after a few steps, I squeeze again to keep her from fading. H is pleased! (and, really, isnt that the goal of a lesson? happy instructor?). "Now" H says, "kinda swing your legs back and forth as you feel her go from side to side beneath you to encourage her to march on...good... no, rock with your seat... there you go! good!" I'm so pleased... I got a "GOOD!" from H.

But my work is far from over.

Second step, I must encourage Classy to drop her head and stretch into contact. Uhm... don't even know how to ask her to do this... "Just let the reins slip through your fingers, and tug a little to the left... then a little to the right..." And by doing so, in combination with my naturally stronger left (which was at the time my outside) leg, I manage to meander into the middle of the ring. Lovely!

After getting back to the rail and re-establiching my march, I repeat "tug-tug" without my left leg touching Classy's side.

And waddayaknow...She dropped her damn head! "Good!!! Keep swinging your legs! March her on! Swing, dont rock!  Tug left, tug right... more... there! Look! Look how far down her nose dropped."

Now, this all happened for only a few strides, but it was a sense of accomplishment I was quite proud of. For the next hour I walked and walked and walked some more. And with each lap around the ring, Classy stretched farther down than the previous attempt, and took more steps while doing so. Of course, in between walk "breaks" I was forced against my will to two-pointboth with and without stirrups. Some break from sqeezing the 1000lb tube of toothpaste underneath me. But by the end of the lesson, I was feeling very hopeful about my Eventing future. H opened a new door for me, and with a handfull of goals to reach by the Hunter pace we are riding in on October 6th, I look forward to my next ride on Classy and my next lesson with H.

I am to practice practice practice the free walk. Every ride. Every time. At least 15 minutes (this would be the dressage phase)

I am to work on my endurance (the X-country phase) by working my way up to 2-point without stirrups for at least 10 seconds and I should be able to canter for 10 minutes straight. I'm not so sure about either of these goals, but I will try.

I am to get out of the ring and ride on all of the really, actually, very nice trails that surround the farm. While I am out there, trot sets are required, cantering is requested.

So, tonight I head to the barn after work for my first ride since my lesson on Sunday... H and I are planning on taking a trail ride together (I am bringing spray paint so I can find my way back when I go out alone. Im a freak about getting lost. In the woods. On a horse. Alone. Where cell service is sketchy). No doubt H will have me practicing my Free Walk even on the trails.