Is in the first horse you manage to climb up on, whether you're 11, like I was, or mid-50's, like I am now. The first horse that I ever rode was a belgian cross almost blonde-chestnut-roan gelding named Mike. Four white socks, a big white blaze, a picture of big and solid and square. A bit short-necked, a bit big-headed, and just HUGE when he is your first horse you ever ever ride.
I rented a horse, named Mike. I was so excited, I paid for an hours time, all of my savings from 11 year old allowances. I had found my first barn, filled with horses.
I was vaulted up onto his broad back outside, in an attached paddock, and turned loose with the rest of the rental string. I was over the moon. I was eleven. Mike ran back to the barn.
What?? I was mortified, embarrassed, my crimson face a subject of laughter from the people in the barn. One of the stable hands led me back out to the paddock, and asked again, "Do you know how to ride?"
"Yes" I lied, again.
Off went the guy, and Mike again, ran back to the barn. And again, back out to the paddock, and whoosh, back again.
I finally answered, in a whisper, "No". That was my very first lesson.
Always be honest, or your horse just might point out when you're lying.
And obviously, take riding lessons, if you don't know how to ride.
I went on to successfully "master" Mike, and we won my first ribbon together. Over jumps, even. Mike was a super cool horse. He would do whatever you said. If you said "I can ride", he'd feel your body truthfully trembling "I've never ridden before in my life!" and back to the barn he'd go.
Mike was for people who answered "Yes" truthfully.
Off to a grand start Gl, I would take lessons from you any day.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun we could have! I just read about a great new endeavour in King, called "Perfectly Stable".
ReplyDeletePlace for the less wealthy kids in King (yes, they do exist in King!! REALLY!!) to learn about horses.
HA! Reminds me of my first horse ...
ReplyDeleteHer name was Rusty. She was somewhere in her late 20's; maybe even as old as 30. Blind in one eye. Swayed like you wouldn't imagine. Chestnut colour with a big ol' blaze.
We couldn't put a saddle on her because of her sway so I learned to ride my first horse bare back. We always rode bare back. I was 3 and had to go out with my older sister (who was 9).
We never went far; only down to the pond and I LOVED each and every minute of it. She would plod along super quiet and super patient just like you'd expect an old horse who is entertaining the children ... I'm sure she probably would shift her weight around to keep us on
Then it was time to go back to the barn.
As soon as we would turn that old mare around to go towards the barn she would break out into the fastest trot ever (to my mind!).
It was super scary (probably didn't help that we were riding bare back so had nothing to hang on to and that my sister was screaming and trying her best to get Rusty to slow down).
It was always the same ride ... walk (plod) down to the pond ... trot back to the barn. We used to go out every chance we got. For a while it was every day, then it was every few days.