Horseback Riding Lessons

[Maddy]

After begging for over 2 years, my parents finally signed me up for English horseback riding lessons. Along with my little sister, and two best friends, Quinn and Zoe. Our first lesson was today, and it was amazing.

When we first got to the stable, we weren't sure if we were going to be able do our lesson because of how hard it was raining. But they said we could still try. They brought out four beautiful horses. Two (I think) quarter horses, a small white-ish pony, and a larger blackish-brown horse (I'm not sure of his breed). When I saw the horses, I knew that my sister would be riding the pony because she is so small. I thought that Quinn and I would ride the quarter horses, and that Zoe would ride the larger horse because she is taller. Although I loved that horse and wanted so very badly to ride him! When we were assigned our horses, I was very surprised and so very happy to find out that I would be riding the him! His name was Lover Boy (Lover for short), and all I could think of was Peeta Mellark. XD

We groomed our horses. Brushed them, cleaned their hooves, and got the knots out of their manes and tails. Lover's tail was very hard to brush out! After they were groomed, they had their tack put on, and we got to lead them out into the arena. Thankfully, the rain had died down at that point, and it was only drizzling. On our way to the arena, Lover stepped on my foot! It hurt quite a bit for a minute, but it didn't really do any harm.

After we mounted our horses, they taught us how to steer and stop, and we walked our horses around the arena. The we walked around and over poles. After we did that, we played 'Red Light, Green Light'. All four of us lined up next to each other, and had to stop and go when they said so. That was really fun! After that, we did 'around the world', where we had to turn around and sit in our saddle in every direction. Front, side, back, other side, and front again. We did this twice, and the first time I was a bit nervous, but the second time I had more confidence! I really enjoyed doing that, but Quinn, Zoe, and Ellie disliked it. Then we went around some poles again, and by the time we were done with that, it had almost been a half hour. So they had us take our feet out of the stirrups and walk around the arena for a cool down. After that, we dismounted. Dismounting was probably the hardest part for me, because Lover was so tall.

We then took our horses back to the barn, took off all their tack, put their halters back on, and then the lesson was over.

I enjoyed our lesson so very much! It was so much fun! I have only taken lessons one other time (they were Western), and the instructor was so mean. He was harsh while explaining things, and snapped when I did something wrong. My instructor today was so nice and I really liked her!

This was the first time I have ridden English, and I like it so much better then Western! I don't know why people say that a Western saddle is way more comfortable then a English saddle, because I found the English saddle so much more comfortable!

I can't wait for next Friday! I hope I get to ride Lover again! (:

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[2birds]

How fun Maddy. You and Lover look great together and I hope next Friday turns out to be better weather for you guys.

[Debra]

That's great Maddy! You look like a natural on that big boy.

[Honesty]

Fantastic Maddy. I have a feeling you could be a natural :)

[Mare]

How exciting, Maddy! You do look like a natural :). When I was your age, horses were my world and what a wonderful world it was! Lover looks like a good boy, he'll take good care with you, glad your having fun!

[koa]

i have been rideing for a few years but your looking good:)

[Maddy]

Thanks guys! I was just in heaven! I'm pretty sure I enjoyed myself the most. :th_hehe:

My instructor said that this Friday we will probably start learning how to trot and post. I'm so excited!!

[Honesty]

Look forward to hearing how this goes Maddy :)

[Maddy]

So, my dad didn't want to take us back the the barn we took lessons at last time because he thought that they weren't very good instructors, so he found us another instructor that has won many ribbons showing her horses. She also has many ribbon winning students. Tonight, my sister and I went for our first lesson from her (my friend couldn't make it). We got to her house, and went out to her beautiful backyard where she teaches her lessons. I rode two different horses. A Connemara Pony named Toby, and a TB named Fancy. I started out on Toby, the Connemara, and did the basic stuff. Walking, steering, stopping. I started to learn how to trot a little bit. Then I circled around the arena while she went to get Fancy and my sister. When she came back, I switched from Toby to Fancy, the TB, and my sister got on Toby. While she was teaching my sister, she let me walk around the arena and behind the trees to get used to steering Fancy. After she had taught my sister basics, she let my sister walk around and practice steering, and taught me how to properly trot. She had Fancy trot on a lunge. Then she started teaching me how to post. I am not very good at posting. :/ (which was maybe because my pants were too tight) She that for now, it was okay if I trotted without posting. (But of course we will work on it more at the next lesson) Then I got to canter on the lunge, which was AWESOME! Then she let me trot around the arena while she taught my sister how to trot and post. I had so much fun trotting by myself!!! It is so much better then a walk! I got to trot around for like 15 minutes until my sister and I got together to play a game. The instructor told us the parts of the horse and tack, and we had to remember them and play Simon Says by point to the places she asked us. I am very bad at that game! Even though I knew all the parts, I still did the stuff when she didn't say Simon Says. :P After that, we lead the horses back out to the barn area. My sister dis-mounted Toby, and I got to stay on top of Fancy while they un-tacked Toby. Fancy didn't stay at her little barn/stalls because there wasn't enough room, so she had to go a bit up the road to another barn area. Normally, the instructor would do this. However, she asked me if I would like to take Fancy up to where she stays. As you can imagine, of course I said yes. So I got to ride her an extra 15 minutes up the road to where she stays. After she was put away, we walked back to the instructors house, and talked for a bit. My dad scheduled another lesson for Friday. Then we left.

This lesson was so much better then the last one! I loved it!

Although my body REALLY hurts right now, and I can only imagine that it will be much sore-er tomorrow.

Sorry, there aren't really any good pictures!

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[Mare]

It sounds like a good day, Maddy! :). When my daughter was young, she and two of her friends had lessons from a very nice guy instructor, I think I remember them having two lessons a week. He would come to my daughter's friends' home and use her arena. I would trailer my daughter's horse there for the lessons. A couple of years and a few horses later, she was competing in horse shows, reining competitions. She did very well. The best part of having her into horses through those years was, she stayed out of trouble and had fun while doing it! You can tell your folks I said that! :th_biggrin:

Here is a pic of Katie getting a lesson. The instructor would have the horse on a lunge line with Katie sitting backwards, eyes closed, arms straight out and move the horse in a circle. It was a balance exercise!

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[Honesty]

You look like you are really happy Maddy! Do you think you will carry on with this?

[Maddy]

Mare, I love the picture of your daughter!!

Thanks Wendy! Yes! I totally want to continue with the lessons, and after I get really good at it, I'd like to compete in Hunter/Jumper. :)

[Honesty]

Wow! This will be fantastic Maddy :)

[2birds]

[

Thanks Wendy! Yes! I totally want to continue with the lessons, and after I get really good at it, I'd like to compete in Hunter/Jumper. :)[/QUOTE]

This is awesome Maddy. When I was your age I was horse crazy, oh wait, I still am. You will never forget these times, enjoy them.