today I did not fall off!

[quietann]

Just back from riding (and errands). Bearito was a bit naughty today, testing me at various points, but we're working well together, and I love riding him. We got some cantering in, and lots and lots of posting trot. If anyone wants to see a photo, he's in the top right photo at http://www.windrushfarm.org/meetthehorses.htm. I also found out that he's older than I thought, about 20 years old. He resembles an Exmoor Pony, but is a little larger; Exmoors are a very rare breed (about 100 in North America and 1100 in the UK), so I doubt that's what he is -- but that's what he looks like!

So Susan put up a little jump, a crossrail perhaps 9 inches off the ground. The other three horses in the lesson, who are all much bigger, just trotted over it, but Bearito actually jumped it, and this time I did not fall off. It helped that he didn't charge it, though it's clear he'd love to take a course at speed.

Unfortunately, Windrush follows the school vacation schedule, so I won't get a lesson next week. I need to talk to lyonesse about riding Stjarni this weekend and next, because that's the only riding chance I'll get until March 1.

Interesting development: the time for the lesson will shift back to 11:30 on March 8, and we won't have Susan as an instructor anymore :( However, it's likely that our new instructor will be Marge Kittredge, the owner of the farm. When I was looking for a place to take lessons,goddessfarmer recommended I check out Windrush because of Marge's excellent reputation. And now goddessfarmer says that if I do end up with Marge as an instructor, she has to come watch a lesson or two :)

Comments

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

it's snowy and i expect stjarni to kick up his heels a little bit, but let me know your schedule and we'll see what we can work out :)

[quietann.livejournal.com]

How would Sunday be? Monday's supposed to be really cold...

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

sunday's good. time?

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Whatever ends up working for you, really. All I will be doing Sunday is screaming through the safety review stuff, whose deadline is in 10 days. If you call me when you're leaving Somerville, I can throw on some clothes and meet you. My phone number will be arriving shortly in an email.

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

For summer vacations, have you looked at Ironstone Farm on 133? There's also a stable on North Street.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

We're actually donors to Ironstone, and they are very close by. However, I've observed their recreational lessons and haven't been very impressed, and a friend who took a lesson there was seriously not impressed. Their therapeutic riding program is very good, though.

I don't know of anything on North Street in Andover. There was a place in tewksbury but I think they are closed.

OTOH Flying High Stables, which is on the Andover/North Reading line, got their lease extended (thanks to the lack of market for McMansions) so I might be able to go there. They seem to deal mostly with children, but we'll see.