![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
So today's lesson was with Tina, not Marge. Now Tina's an interesting person; she was (and still is I think) a very high level rider who had a terrible fall from a horse, and did all her rehab at Windrush. One picks up very quickly that something is "not quite right" with her, but damn, she's sweet and athletic and a *really* good instructor. We did a lot of stretching on horseback, serpentines and circles at the posting trot, lots and lots and lots of sitting trot with no stirrups (which I liked, but the other two women did not -- though part of that is that Bearito has a lovely trot, and he can do a very smooth prancing slow trot, which is a joy to ride.) A little cantering going straight from the walk (which is actually easier than cantering from a trot, if one's horse is responsive -- as Mr. Bearito is.)
During the lesson, there were several other horses brought in and worked separately. I wasn't really sure why (answer below).
BTW,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
goddessfarmer, Tina remembers you and asked me to say hi, and I think it would be fine for you to come watch a lesson if you wanted to.
Bearito is testing me a little; I am starting to think that a lot of horses can be like him, where when the rider is new to them they are careful and protective, but once they figure out that the rider is not a beginner, they will try sly little tricks just to be sure the rider is paying attention. Minnie is like this, too. So every time I ride Bearito, he's actually a little bit more of a brat. Today's tricks were to swing his hindquarters away from the wall and start moving sideways (fixed by a swift kick from the inside) and a little bit of pulling to try to go faster. He *does* listen very well, though.
And he's shedding. OMG, he is shedding.roozle, if we go anywhere together for the next few months, it will have to be in your car, because my car is completely 100% contaminated by horsehair. (Minnie is shedding too. Silly horses; they really need their winter coats for a little longer...)
I gobbled down my lunch and then helped with a hippotherapy session. This one is actually a "transitional" session for kids who have done well in hippotherapy and are getting ready to move to therapeutic riding (which is more like lessons, while hippotherapy is more like PT on horseback.) There were three kids, all probably about 5, very cute. I do not know what their specific disabilities are; they all seem just a little "off," but they are verbal and in most ways just like any other kid their age. There was one boy and two girls, and the boy spent a great deal of time being adorably flirty with the girls. The girl I led was the strongest rider, needing just one other person to spot her; the other two kids each had several people working with them. These kids *loved* every minute of their lesson. (For my friend with the slightly "off" toddler, when he is a little older you really should try to get him into a program like this!) The hardest thing for me was remembering that my job was to pay attention to the horse, not the little girl.
And it turns out that all those other horses being ridden during my lesson were scheduled for the afternoon's hippotherapy lessons. They like to give each horse a good ride in the morning so they are not too "fresh" with the more impaired riders. (Next step: get myself on board as an "exerciser" like this before my lesson, so I can ride even more!)
During the lesson, there were several other horses brought in and worked separately. I wasn't really sure why (answer below).
BTW,
goddessfarmer, Tina remembers you and asked me to say hi, and I think it would be fine for you to come watch a lesson if you wanted to.Bearito is testing me a little; I am starting to think that a lot of horses can be like him, where when the rider is new to them they are careful and protective, but once they figure out that the rider is not a beginner, they will try sly little tricks just to be sure the rider is paying attention. Minnie is like this, too. So every time I ride Bearito, he's actually a little bit more of a brat. Today's tricks were to swing his hindquarters away from the wall and start moving sideways (fixed by a swift kick from the inside) and a little bit of pulling to try to go faster. He *does* listen very well, though.
And he's shedding. OMG, he is shedding.
roozle, if we go anywhere together for the next few months, it will have to be in your car, because my car is completely 100% contaminated by horsehair. (Minnie is shedding too. Silly horses; they really need their winter coats for a little longer...)I gobbled down my lunch and then helped with a hippotherapy session. This one is actually a "transitional" session for kids who have done well in hippotherapy and are getting ready to move to therapeutic riding (which is more like lessons, while hippotherapy is more like PT on horseback.) There were three kids, all probably about 5, very cute. I do not know what their specific disabilities are; they all seem just a little "off," but they are verbal and in most ways just like any other kid their age. There was one boy and two girls, and the boy spent a great deal of time being adorably flirty with the girls. The girl I led was the strongest rider, needing just one other person to spot her; the other two kids each had several people working with them. These kids *loved* every minute of their lesson. (For my friend with the slightly "off" toddler, when he is a little older you really should try to get him into a program like this!) The hardest thing for me was remembering that my job was to pay attention to the horse, not the little girl.
And it turns out that all those other horses being ridden during my lesson were scheduled for the afternoon's hippotherapy lessons. They like to give each horse a good ride in the morning so they are not too "fresh" with the more impaired riders. (Next step: get myself on board as an "exerciser" like this before my lesson, so I can ride even more!)
