Cojones

So last Wednesday, Addy and I had our first lesson together since I got back from Florida! It was a very interesting mix of “GRRR SO STRONG AND BETTER RIDER DO ALL THE THINGS” and “CRIPPLING BACK PAIN CANNOT POST OR SIT MUST STAND IN STIRRUPS.”

Because as we all know, what do you do when you have crippling back pain? That’s right, folks, you hop on a horse and try to aggravate that back pain. Right? No? That’s not recommended? I must’ve missed that memo.

Anywhosicle, flat work was uneventful. I powered through the pain using a combination of weird perching two-point and grimacing while posting. I managed to sit a few strides of canter once I had warmed up a bit- progress! Whether she was being kind because she sensed my pain, or she was fat and lazy from me being gone, Addy gave me the sweetest hunter-y canter around. Considering I was perched like a T-Rex 90% of the time (heels up, legs back, shoulders hunched, arms scrunched, reins longer than the Amazon) and had absolutely zero leverage to package her up, I was super grateful that she took pity and gave me her beginner-safe canter.

Like this, but with worse eq.

On to the fun stuff! We worked on more gymnastic-y type exercises, none of the jumps was bigger than 2’6″ (I think…..I’m notoriously bad at judging jump height. I’ll think 2’3″ is 3″ and I’ll think 3’3″ is 2’9″….I honestly have no idea anymore).

After warming up, our main exercise was as follows: bending line, up the single diagonal, halt. Then trot-in-canter-out the center line in four. And when I say four, I mean a teeny tiny little four. A four that a pony got comfortably. And we were instructed to also put four. On Addy.

You can see where we’re going with this.

PSYCH! We got the four every time! Once the adrenaline from jumping was flowing, I totally forgot that my back hurt, and sat down and asked hard for the striding. Addy was a super good girl- she likes it so much better when I’m present and communicating every step of the way. We got a nice conservative bouncy step in the bending, rode up out of the corner to the single diagonal, had a (moderately) civilized halt, and then pitter pattered through the center line. Success!

Cherry on top of a good ride? My trainer saying, “Wow, you must’ve grown some cojones down in Ocala!” Woot woot! I definitely felt like I learned a ton down in Ocala, so I was absolutely tickled pink to hear that the progress is visible.

And I believe I promised you exciting news. I told you that Ocala was pretty life-changing, right? Well, after catching the show-bug, a conversation with my trainer, and a close inspection of my bank account….

We are hunting for a unicorn to call my very own.

Actually not gray though please

I don’t plan to share too many details about the hunt out of respect for other people’s privacy, but I’d love any good vibes you could send my way! And at some point in the *hopefully* not-too-distant future, I should have a new fuzzy face to introduce you to.

Not to worry, my love for the DragonMare is still strong. She has taught me so much and given me so much and I don’t plan to ever stop loving on her and stuffing her face with treats (and hopping on for the occasional ride if Owner Lady is ok with it) ❤