Along for the ride:

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Achievable Goals


Still in a bit of a self-pitying funk, even after riding yesterday. I'm reserving judgement until I ride again with a small group tomorrow but I do think this will work out. I could not elevate my mood to a point where the usual euphoria of an equitation-buzz kicked in but that's more my own fault than the new barn.
The half hour before my ride I sat and watched a prior lesson. It was nice to see two young girls who were using their legs, a sight too seldom encountered here. The horses were both in bitless bridles, a great idea to preserve the horses mouths from all and sundry yanking them around. All the signs were of a place that educates its riders and cares for its horses.
My horse was prepared for me, a very nice looking chap. His story included a major neck injury, over jumps with his previous owner, which left him with scar tissue that prevents him from lifting his head to the usual position. A little non-plussed at riding a horse with his head basically at knee level and depressed by his disability, I tried to be thankful that he had found this niche in life, as opposed to being processed for dog food. There must have been some good schooling in his life, because the actual ride was balanced and forward moving, not on the forehand, as might have been expected.
My new trainer is ridiculously young and perky. I suppose there was a time when that was said about me. (That darn train left the station an long while ago!). She started by shortening my stirrups a couple of holes. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt on that. She hadn't yet seen me ride. I do ride long. I look as though I have short legs but I sit deep and make good use of them, and my seat.  Keeping an open mind on this is imperative, although my dreams last night included crossing my stirrups over my saddle and riding without any. Subconscious rebellion already. I am obviously a bad person.
I did a couple of other things for myself yesterday. I went to have my chin and lip waxed. Thank goodness my hair is light colored as I always put off the grooming necessities of a civilized life until my mustache is beginning to draw unwanted attention. Ringling Brothers Circus is in town and I had reached the stage where I could have applied for a job as a bearded lady. Strangely enough I usually enjoy having almost-too-hot-to-bear wax smeared on my lip and chin and the rip and burn as it is torn off, taking my hair out by the roots. My fair complexion responds instantly with flaming redness so I have to make sure that I get waxed at a time when I can go home afterwards and hide.
I made an exception after yesterday's  "beauty treatment" as I had seen a watch repair store in the same zone. My watch had died weeks ago and needed a new battery and strap. It has been in the cup-holder compartment of my car, making my bottled water rock dangerously at every turn. I don't like do-it-yourself shopping so I avoid buying such things in shops where they expect me to do the replacing. I was the only customer in Fred's Watch Repair shop. The owner came out of the back when the bell rang. I doubt his name was Fred, after chatting while we looked for the perfect strap, I found out he is of Persian origin and no longer stays open seven days a week as his wife was unhappy about it.
"Fred" had some difficulty at first, My previous strap was black and tapered. The watch is by Fossil, it was given to me after I volunteered at a Charity Golf Tournament in support of a childrens' organization. Coincidentally, I had a black Fossil shoulder bag that has seen me through a couple of winter seasons, although I don't use it for travel. There is no zip-closure and everything falls out if it tips over under the airplane seat in front of me. Been there, done that, lesson learned.
The available black straps had some fake croc texture which I didn't like. We started branching out to the possibilities of khaki, tan or dark brown. I noticed that the face of my timepiece is a dark grey-blue and "Fred", my new hero, produced a Kingfisher blue strap. Inordinately pleased, I snapped it up and have been admiring it ever since.

18 comments:

  1. Oh recently de-bearded lady you have my utmost admiration...ouch bloody ouch!!!

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  2. Heh! Maybe I could be in the circus with you, although my 'beard' consists of exactly three bristles - and they are actual bristles too. Very odd. It's amazing how small things can perk up your day. I recently found a new way to use a magnifying glass that I though was wasted money. Happy? Yep!

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  3. Your new stables sound promising ! And I like the sound of Fred . Lovely to find someone who wants to find just the right item for a customer .
    But I've now been totally distracted by wondering to what other use a magnifying glass could be put.... ?

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  4. Love the new watch band. Then again I am particularly partial to a beautiful blue.

    You should have seen my eyebrows after they'd been string trimmed--talk about red!! I know the reaction.

    Hold on the decision on the new stable for the time being. Hunt seat trainers do like those stirrups shorter than I'd ever ride, so you might sneak them down a hole. Can you talk to the trainer at all, or is she set in her ways--or limited? That's the conundrum.

    Small accomplishments in a day are often even more satisfying than huge tasks completed. Getting things done for YOU is the key here. Three cheers...*S*

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  5. Sorry to hear you are still feeling a bit low. You know it'll get better, it always does; that is until that time when it won't. But that is a long time in the future.
    A cranky bearded lady and a cranky hanghorse horse make a lovely team, I'm sure.

    I go every three weeks to be debearded, but then my hair is dark and my moustachios are a sight to behold. I'll know that I'm past it when I don't care about the face fuzz anymore.

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  6. Dear Friko, You are obviously the pinnacle of personal grooming. And you're right, it will get better. I'm just Sisyphus pushing that rock up the hill, one more time.

    Jean, "Threading" they call it here. It pulls the hairs out one by one, (that's what it felt like when I tried it), prolonging the torture. Regarding the trainer, I did think of Hunt Seat, although she said she came from a Dressage background. Time will tell. She did impart more of the science and engineering essence of riding (reasons for the aids) than I've heard elsewhere. I liked that.

    S&S, Here's hoping Argent will get back to enlighten us. I too wish to know.

    Argent, Considering how cute a kitten looks with whiskers, we shouldn't be too concerned, right? Please elaborate on the multiple uses of magnifying glasses. The World wants to know.

    Trudi, I refrained from using the word "Hirsute" although opportunities do not often arise. I am almost proud of the single white hair that grows straight out of the middle of my forehead. I don't usually notice it until it is an inch or longer. Mythical Creature, that's me. I should be admired and worshipped rather than hiding my light under one of them thar bushel-things.

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  7. The new watch strap is a great color of blue. I have never had anything waxed. Ouch. My hair is so light it is not noticeable, at least that is what I tell myself.

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  10. That is a very handsome watch strap. If I were you I'd keep Fred for future reference.

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  11. Steve, It is funny to think that Fred will never know he is being lauded far and wide. I am a faithful shopper. Once someone serves me well, I return without fail.

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  12. Ms. Pliers, Wow! I just read that in time, before it disappeared. You can write as much as you like in comments, anytime. Thought for this morning: I am running a dog and pony show with neither dog nor pony!

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  13. TechnoBabe, I also believed my blond fuzz was "Natural" and "Unnoticeable". A designer I work with a lot seemed fanatical to me that every time we met she told me about her favorite waxing/threading place and asked me where I went. It finally sunk in that she was hinting I needed improvements.

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  14. I didn't want to burden you. Which one did you read? The long one? Or the short one?

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  15. Thinking of you.. It's bloody hard to have an empty animal house.. but sometimes harder to have one full!

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  16. Ms Pliers, Both, of course.

    Watercats, I cleaned my car windows Saturday.The sunlit nose marks on the rear windows kept catching me by surprise. Last vestiges...

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  17. It takes time to get used to a new trainer, just keep an open mind. Funny, one of my lesson horses recently also had a neck injury that kept his head basically even with his withers, it really makes you sit back and deep!

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  18. Donna, I think we're at the same place, (Webb) so it may well be the same horse. I wanted to ask you the name of the trainer you described in your earlier post.

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