Riding and Showing
Carole had me riding "Missy" on a regular basis. We were doing well and making progress.
I would get to ride her in the schooling shows at the barn.
Riding and participating in shows was a great and fun experience. I learned a lot.
I worked on not just riding skills, but how to get her ready for a show: grooming, bathing, braiding, and cleaning tack .
As with any experience, there were great moments and learning moments.
Shows
I was able to reassure her and help keep her calm in classes.
There was one trail class where I had to take a rain jacket off a pole. At first she was nervous. It took a few times to get her close enough. I did get it and held it in my hand. She moved slowly but surely to the other poll where I placed it. Good
There were times I would of course error.
One trail class I watched a rider before me go. I had looked over the trail chart before.
I went in and did as the one before me did. I got to the end of the course and felt like something wasn't right. I halted to the judge and left the ring. Carole came up to me and asked "Do you know what you did?" I replied confused, "no". She told me I had done the course backwards. The girl before did. "Ugh".
Carole told the judge.
When they called the ribbon winners the girl and I were actually called for 4th and 5th place.
We were both surprised we got a ribbon after doing it wrong/backwards.
But thankful.
Another time, I had worked on quarter turns in a couple if my lessons. Quarter turns are when one turns your horse around on one spot.
The next show the trail class had a square to circle in. Two of the poles were placed so there was a smaller space.
I fudge up that obstacle, by just trying to circle around. Missy ended up stepping out because I asked too much.
Ugh. I was a little mad at myself for that.
I had just did quarter turns the last couple of weeks. I had it. Dah.
I made sure it didn't happen again.
In fact, the next trail class was one of our best.
We were ready and in sync.
Trotted through cones. Transition to canter. Hop over low jump, and slowed down at cone. We approached the square. I was set to do full 360 turn. I had her stop at the center of the square. Then we smoothly, slowly turn around on spot.
We stepped out of the square and trotted to the last cone.
It felt really good.
I went up to Carole, and asked if she happened to have seen it. I knew she was busy with students.
She said, "No. How was it?"
I told her, "It felt really good".
She said, "Good".
We make good efforts through the season. We won ribbons.
As the show season got near to the end, people there felt I was good for Reserve Champion of the show year in the Walk-Trot division over 18. .
There was one more show.
We did so good that I made Champion in the Walk-Trot division over 18 for the year end awards.
The barn celebrated awards at their yearly end of season banquet.
Meeting
In the 1990's, I took riding lessons at Haskins farm in Berkley, MA. Carol LeBalnc was my riding instructor.
"Missy" (aka "Miss545") was a broodmare at Haskins farm. The first time I saw her was when she had a foal.
I got to the barn early to get ready for my lesson. One of the girls came over to me and asked me if I saw the new foal. I told her I hadn't. "Let's go. ", she said. We went to the barn where they were. In front of the stall was a stool so you could look in. We both peered in. The foal lay asleep. "Missy" stood over her foal. It was a big foal.
The girl said "Isn't he (the foal) beautiful?"
I replied, "Yes. And his mom is too." I couldn't stop looking at Missy. She was beautiful.
Missy was a dark, almost black quarter horse. She was elegant. She had a little more refine body type more like a racing horse. She had a small star on her forehead.
We left to go to lessons.
I knew she was a broodmare. One of the owners owned her.
What I didn't expect would happen.
Carol at times would have me ride different horses.
I would get to the barn and find Carol in the indoor ring or office . She'd let me know who to go get ready for my lesson. I'd go get the horse I was to ride. I'd groom and tack up the horse . When ready, we'd go into the ring for our lesson.
One day she was at the fence of the ring. When I approached she told me to go get "Missy". She knew I knew who Missy was.
I was suddenly quite excited. "Missy. I get to ride Missy. Wow. "
I went and got her. I got her ready. I was excited about it.
She was a little nervous. I was a new person to her. I felt a little nervous too.
Yet with each lesson and time together we got to know each other.
She was a mare with a strong motherly instinct. She seemed to be a worry wart.
We learned and grew together, under Carol's teaching.
Pastel Portrait of Missy
It was a quiet evening at the barn. There was no bustling of activity in the barn that night.
I was riding Freckles, a small flea bitten appaloosa in my riding lesson.
Freckles could be a little nervous. She was a little head shy. A sign that someone had been over bearing and possibly abusive in the way they had treated her. She needed a calm and confident person with her.
I was learning to use my sensitivity in the situation. Guiding with calmness. It's sometimes a not- so -easy thing to do.
Thoughts can run through the mind, like a wild train. Sometimes a thought can seem to jump out and stir emotions.
I had my own experiences and dark moments in life. Negative words said in a bad relationship.
Then a medical professional that decided they couldn't be bothered to listen or help me with my issue. She tried to act like it was just in my head. It turned out to be something physical that needed attention.
I felt violated.
Yet thankfully I didn't just cave in. I eventually found the support and compassion from people that I needed then in my life.
There I was riding Freckles. I was focusing hard. A negative thought flashed by in my mind. I stiffened up. The opposite of what I was trying to do.
In the quiet arena, riding,
Carol, my instructor, said, "Let it go".
I knew that's what I had to do. I had told myself it before.
Yet having someone else say it in this certain situation gave me the space to really take it in and make the adjustment.
I no longer had my thoughts fighting each other.
I relaxed. Freckles relax. We were OK.
I was very grateful.
We finished the lesson on a good note. I untacked her and put her in her stall.
I thanked Carol.
As I left and drove home, I looked toward the night sky with stars here and there.
I softly said, "Thank you".
