Back in the Saddle

Boy did it feel great to be back in the saddle yesterday! I hadn't been out on the trail with my brumby in days. This post will have pictures of yesterday's ride. Bill came with me riding Jodie...who was wearing the new Chris Cox bit that Bill got at the Equine Affaire. Speaking of Chris Cox, while riding, I kept mulling over the things he said during his presentation.

A lot of what he was talking about was disengaging the horse's hindquarters when in a sticky wicket to get control of your horse. I wonder if when I was galloping on Lilly (right before I fell off of her) that if I had used my leg more effectively to get her hind quarters under my control, it would have had a better turn out for me. Since I was using my hands, I should have been using my feet too. I don't remember consciously doing that at the time. It seems like if you are in a situation that is getting crazy, you either do all the right things for one of three reasons:

1. You are a person who has been born with amazing riding abilities. (I don't say this in jest; I bet some people are born that way). 2. You have been riding for so long that all the things that were new at one time, now have their own neuron circuitry in your brain and can kick in in a nanosecond. Or faster. 3. You are still learning and when something goes awry you must create space in your head to consciously work out what you should do at the time it is happening, in a careful, mindful way.

Chris Cox says our horses are overbred, overfed and underused. So for me, the best way to work out any kinks and to build new passageways in my brain is to get on my brumby and ride! Every chance I get I will be on her back.

Here we are coming out of Trollwood the way we usually go into it. We skirted this pasture and the entire time Lilly was spooky and prancy which did not make me feel that great. I saw Bill was so far ahead of me that he had no idea Lilly was either going to bolt or get wild. I was forced to rally. I said to myself, is your spine made of bone or milk toast? This reminds me of one of my all time favorite passages in Frankenstein (one of my all time favorite books):

Are you then so easily turned from your design? Did you not call this a glorious expedition? And wherefore was it glorious? Not because the way was smooth and placid as a southern sea, but because it was full of dangers and terror; because at every new incident your fortitude was to be called forth and your courage exhibited; because danger and death surrounded it and these you were to brave and overcome...

This is Bill's version of the same spot!


When we were going around this pasture ( the Blueberry Pasture), Bill saw two coyotes! Maybe that is what made Lilly so nervous. Because she is not usually a nervous horse.


We stopped here at th Winter Pasture to see what was happening there. Lilly went up to the fence and squealed and carried on, even raising her front feet a little with a marish screech.


It is so funny when she does that! It makes me laugh. And what a funny voice horses have. Lions roar and dogs bark, but horses squeal? That is so funny.


For the rest of the ride, Lilly felt very relaxed. Whatever had been bugging her before was gone from her mind.

Two weeks ago I a sorry to report that Getty killed one of Bill's chickens. Let's just call it The Terrible Chicken Incident. It was very upsetting. In any case, now when we leave and approach the barn, Getty must be kept on a lead line. Here I am "ponying" her as we get closer to the barn. If you look carefully, you will see there is a pink rope going from her collar to my hand. Both Lilly and Getty were much better at this than I thought they would be.

In 4 days, the weekend will be here!!