Along for the ride:

Friday, February 5, 2010

Horse Therapy Magic

I apologize in advance to those of you who are not bitten by the horse bug. This post will be egocentric, narcissistic, self-congratulatory and smell of horses from start to finish, (but in a good way).
My week was rough; a client who insisted on bringing me to my knees, just to prove he had that power; the usual beginning of the month worries about making ends meet and a missed opportunity yesterday that cannot be replicated, was all Hubby's fault; and in addition proved he wasn't listening or paying attention to something I thought was important for our future plans.
I could easily of cancelled my riding lesson and pulled the covers over my head, but I know from experience that the best thing to do was to get myself into horse-land.
Suffice to say that this fifty year old peels back the years, forgets anything and everything but what she is trying to achieve and the measured responses she is getting from a four legged saint called Gary Cooper.
Gary is a school horse. He is young and healthy and so good natured that he puts up with many riders who are just learning the basics. He is ridden English and Western style and does trail rides too. The horses are not over-worked and they are well fed, groomed and the tack is fitted and in good condition. However, balance and bend are something the horses are mostly left to find for themselves as they serve their role in entertainment riding.
I'm no great competition rider. I was always interested in increments of progress and communication. I have worked well with young horses and done the basic daily warm ups on some great equines so that better, and more competitive, riders could concentrate on higher level work. A scary number of years have gone by since I have been able to ride on a regular basis.
I have ridden G.C. less than half a dozen times, and then only once a week. Today's canter serpentines with calm and balanced transitions down to a stride of walk, correct leads at canter and a little horse who was carrying himself through each of the five loops like a pro. were really cool for G.C. and I both. (This is a horse who would normally pick up only the right lead and had never been asked to canter other than in a corner of the arena. His circles fell in to the middle and his transitions down to trot were a flurry of sewing machine like leg-pistoning as the back end caught up with the front).
It is always rewarding to achieve quantifiable progress. G.C. is a quick learner and remembers from one week to the next. The work we are doing should make his school life easier. It certainly improves the rest of my world.
There was mention this evening of a private horse owner who might want me to exercise her horse from time to time. I won't give up on my buddy G.C. but I wouldn't say no to a few more hours in the saddle.




28 comments:

  1. Wonderful post, from title to tag! I don't understand all the nuances you described about your time together but it sounds soul-healing to me. My mother's favorite actor ever was Gary Cooper, and what a great horse name!
    My cousin has horses over the mountains in Bend. I haven't ridden for decades, but I want to try it sometime this summer when I visit her.
    Nice break just reading this. I can only imagine what it was like for you and GC.

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  2. ER, I'm very glad to read this, even knowing next-to-nothing about the subtleties of proper horse handling. Mostly I'm happy that your windmills slowed down, but now I know who my go-to person is for dressage info. A character in the novel that's hiding out in my fiction folder once earned his living training horses, which is a bit presumptuous of the writer, who knows nothing about it.
    I was a horse-crazy girl though, and still enjoy a ride now and then, so your pleasure atop Garry Cooper was not lost on me.

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  3. I know nothing of horses, but I recognise when someone is in her element.

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  4. I've been pony treking a few times in the Black Mountains and thoroughly enjoyed it - enough that I often think it would be nice, if I had the money, to take up riding. I'm still waiting for the money.

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  5. Horses make everything better!

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  6. It sounds like you're doing Gary Cooper a great favour, I bet he looks forward to seeing you and I think it's reciprocal. :-)

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  7. You say "egocentric, narcissistic, self-congratulatory and smell of horses from start to finish". Bring it on! I did not see these things in your post. You made it through a tough week and you knew where to go to put your spirit in a good place. I have done some riding but not in many years; however, it was enjoyable to read your description of the communication between you and GC.

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  8. I'm reading each one of your horse postings with interest! My daughter is relentless in begging for lessons so I might as well get acquainted with the lingo via your fine experiences. :)

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  9. I'd be willing to wager Gary Cooper appreciates your riding him at least as much as you appreciate it. Nearly every stiff horse I have ever trained has relaxed and seemed so much happier once he learns how to bend his body and balance himself.

    And what a revelation for Gary to discover the left lead! He must be thrilled. Actually, you must be thrilled. It is amazing experience to make progress in training a horse to go well.

    The heck with nasty clients. The barn is a heaven on earth and the horses are angels...I'm sure of it!

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  10. I'm ignorant of the technicalities too but I'm never bored reading these posts. They're a glimpse into another slice of life and you communicate your own pleasure so well. You'll have to let us in on the lingo one of these days.

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  11. Lydia, there is something about my complete engagement with horses that drives away all the dark storms from my head and heart. If I were New Age, I'd probably call it cleansing.

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  12. Deborah, those windmills were brutal this week. Even Don Quixote had Rosenante, his horse.

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  13. Martin, you hit the horse shoe nail on the head!

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  14. Steve, on horseback is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in nature.

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  15. Kate, You know what I know, what you know!

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  16. Di, it has been interesting teaching him to respond to correct aids and having him click back in synch with me a week later. He's obviously smart and willing.

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  17. TechnoBabe, Thanks for understanding.

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  18. Jean, last week we worked on trot serpentines and the concept of changing bend and direction in the middle of the arena was initially confusing to G.C. He is a very quick study and young enough to change his ways. We stopped working five minutes early this session because he had done so well. I had the feeling he was pleased with himself too. It was one of those "Look Mum, No Hands!" moments.

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  19. Shattered, almost every social skill I have was given to me by horses. Confidence and self respect, amongst others. If you can afford it, there is no down-side to horses for your daughter.

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  20. Argent, I always describe horsemanship as both an Art and a Science. That is what is so intriguing. There is a line in a poem called "Other Nations" by Kate Barnes:- "We wish we could speak their languages; and meanwhile, they learn ours."

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  21. Hello! Just discovered your blog. I'm near Santa Cruz and am looking forward to following you!

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  22. Donna, Welcome. I like the name of your blog "If wishes were horses".

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  23. Sounds fantastic and I'm more than a little envious of your skill.. I'm one of those if in doubt kick on riders, but I was taught at least to have good hands and seat, I would love to have been taught a little more elegance and finesse though, especially now I'm getting older. I would love to have my own pony to ride, for a country full of horses, Ireland has very few truely ridable ones, lol. Gary Cooper sounds like a true gent, I love him just by reading about him :-)

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  24. Watercats, "Kicking On" is a crude description of using your legs and seat to create impulsion. One of the most important foundations of any movement. It's way too common here to see riders just sitting pretty on top of their horse.

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  25. Glad to read that you exited left and went to your special place, Horselandia. I know how much it means to you and am happy that you made time for it!

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  26. Hi Ms Pliers, thanks for the good thoughts. I'm sneaking a ride again this afternoon! Do they have rehab centers for horse-addicts like they do for all those "poor" sex-addicts?

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  27. Do you ride English? My daughter has ridden for years and we once owned a large arsed warmblood who I adored. But I am no rider...she is the one that goes to her happy place on the back of a horse. She loves them all...ornery ponies, beautiful thoroughbreds, quarter horses and the occasional huge draft horse. She speaks a different language I don't get...a flying lead change? Horses have wings?

    She would still have a horse but they are expensive when you no longer have the land to keep them. I understand my daughter a little bit better now.

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  28. Happy Hour, Rhetorical question, was it? I am English and I ride English. If you find a copy of "She Flies Without Wings" you may read yourself into greater understanding or just give it to your daughter. She will love it.

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