TRAINING PAM

As you know, I have been training up my little boy – Tiki, and everyone is quite interested in how our progress is, so, I get a lot of “and how is Tiki’s training going?” to which I answer proudly, “very well thank you.”  I am so very glad that no one has asked how my training is going, because it is a little rough around the edges – well, OK... quite rough.

Although, there really isn’t any reason to speak of ... I am merely a 54 year old woman who has a 4 year old ARAB!  I mean – heck – I have been riding for practically 10 years now, and he is my second horse, not my first... I mean – this should be a walk in the park – right!?!?     (Major sarcasm here folks!)

WHAT WAS I THINKING!

The ground looks a lot harder now, and I know these old bones don’t bounce the way young one’s do ... so fear has managed to creep in.

I really don’t understand it. I was fearless as a child. I was a certified SCUBA diver by the time I was 16, tried skydiving when I was in college, owned 3 motorcycles before I ever owned a car, have tried wind surfing, kite boarding and I just learned to surf this year. This feeling of fear is new to me and I don’t like it one little bit! And, I am NOT dealing with it very well either! - which of course gets me frustrated and angry – two other emotions that really help when you are on the back of a young Arab!! - NOT!

But, it is there sometimes, and it crept in yesterday when I was riding Tiki in the indoor arena, with a few friends watching our progress. He wasn’t being stupid or bad – he just kept popping into a trot from the walk without being asked.  I wasn’t even close to being unseated, and I wasn’t afraid of falling off – so where did this fear come from? I don’t know, but it crawled up my back like a cold shiver – and the more I tried to relax and sit deep in the saddle – the more I tensed up. So I got off to walk it out and calm my jangled nerves. I so hate this!

That is when Max got on Tiki. Just to try him out – not to reprimand him or correct him, just to see where he was at. Tiki has known a rider before – but what I found out, was that Tiki is at grade 5 or 6, not 2. Max and Tiki walked, trotted and cantered around that indoor like there was no tomorrow. Max rode with ease and kindness – and Tiki rode calmly and willingly. What an absolutely beautiful sight. It was truly inspiring – and I could see myself up there, riding Tiki – seeing the wide open trail on the back of my horse. I SO want to do a 50 – many 50s even. I love to ride. I love to ride more than I fear – what ever it is I fear ... so when Max got off, I got on, and I walked and I trotted around that indoor - and the fear left as quickly as it had come.

Thank you Max, for showing me how to ride my horse, and thank you Lynn, Troy and Tammy – who pushed and supported me through this hurtle. Without you, I would not have made it through. Will I have more hurdles to overcome – you bet I will – but with the encouragement and support you give me – how can I possible fail. THANK YOU – from the bottom of my heart - for keeping me on the road to my dream.   Pam