An attack of the 'ho hums'

Last week I had a small crisis of confidence. Not really sure what set it off, probably just the fact that I feel like such a flump in the saddle. Anyway, I am over the worst of thehump and have had three lovely rides on my boy since receiving a cyber kick up the backside from friends (and strangers). Just taking it slowly and trying not to push myself - what's the rush anyway?

Reilly has been so good, trundling around the farm, mooching around the paddocks, checking out the fencing gear and the tractor, talking to the donkey and pony and generally being the chilled out, cruisy dude he is. Bless his heart, I am damned lucky to have him! Now I REALLY have to pull finger and get some regular lessons. I might have to talk to Lisa about that and my friend Karen. The only real answer to sorting this out properly is mileage and eyes on the ground. The mileage I can manage myself - just need to push myself a little but the eyes on the ground need sorting. I may not be able to afford regular lessons but there are ways around this, I am sure! I am also going to try and get more involved with the local ARC - hopefully they won't mind me riding a stallion at their group days but I guess, as long as he is a good boy, it shouldn't be a problem. All this and I need to grow some balls.

Speaking of 'balls'. I was talking to Karen Teague, the owner of Reilly's sire, Mighty Heights, over the weekend. She's in California at the moment, at a very big horse show in Palm Springs. Karen broke her neck only a matter of weeks ago - c7 verterbrae, falling from a young horse. She's an amazing woman but clearly also completely mad! She confessed to me that she had ridden three horses earlier that day - If I had an ounce of her talent, guts and determination, I'd be made! She has arranged for a friend of hers, a top Irish SJ rider, to come to NZ to ride Deebs at Horse of the Year in the big international class. I am so pleased he is going to give it a crack - if she can't ride him, I am sure she has selected the very best alternative. I just wish I was able to be there to see him give it a crack!

I went down to the Solway PC ODE on Sunday to take photos for a friend. It's a terrible thing to do when you are not riding really as I ended up wishing I had Lagan back and was taking him around the PT track. Who knows, maybe next year I will manage to have a go at it on Reilly - or perhaps just intro for starters! I just need to have more confidence in my own capabilities.

No photos today, sorry. But, hope you like my new header - it's Rory.

TGIF - and another ride

Today we mooched about the jumps paddock and after a bit of a mooch I popped him on the lunge and over a couple of jumps. He was incredibly lazy, again! Today he was much less interested in the gelding and filly over the fence and listened to me a little more although canter was, again, uglyyyy but I am beginning to think more and more that this is down to my unbalanced and heavy handed riding *sigh*. He was a little fussy with his mouth for me today so I will arrange a visit with the dentist and am going to try a few different bits to see if that might make a difference. No spectacular photos again but as I have Nick supervise when I am riding (in case I come off - always the potential for that!), he brings the camera.

Today's ride - canter needs work!!

After tweaking my back and wrist somehow on Tuesday (if someone can tell me how I did it, I would be grateful - I'd like to prevent it from happening again!), Reilly had yesterday off but I dragged my butt and his butt out today for a quick session. Once he got over the fact that there was a gelding and a filly in the paddock next to him and two mares and a gelding across from him, he did some not unreasonable work however I struggled with canter - well, we both did. Lisa had a few issues with canter too, especially on the left rein, so this is clearly something we need to work on.

We had a 'moment' when the gelding and filly next door wandered off behind the shed and Reilly decided that he could not possibly cope with them out of his sight but we dealt with that and moved swiftly on. In short, I am happy enough with him but really need to pull finger and ride him more regularly and more consistently!

Coming in

Pose

Waiting

Trot

Walk

Spotted a girl!

Chilled out

More chilled out

Nearly done

Marchin'

Still going

You will have spotted the lack of canter photos - Well, they all ended up on the cutting room floor! Faaaaaaaar too ugly to share!