August 2010 - A dressage lesson in August

Well, it's been forever since we updated the blog, so I thought it was about time I gave an update.


A DRESSAGE LESSON IN AUGUST

What a summer this has been. Hot, hot, and more hot. Too hot to ride. Horsey may melt. I WILL melt. Had to cancel four dressage lessons. Just can't ride in that hot ring for our eleven o'clock lesson. Finally the heat seemed to let up this past Monday. Our eleven o'clock lesson was on and I was looking forward to it.

The first 20 minutes is usually a lesson for Doc. Our trainer has an accomplished dressage rider (Iris) mount up and put Doc through his paces. Since we have not been able to practice due to the heat, I wondered how well he would perform.

Unfortunately this particular Monday Iris was not available.
Ergo substitute rider No.1, Ashley. Ashley is the up and coming 15-year-old granddaughter of my trainer, Vickie. Her quiet hands maneuvered Doc around the ring in poetic motion. Trot, trot, trot.....hot, hot, hot. Better Ashley than me (I was thinking). Young horsey and young rider being in good shape could tolerate the heat far better than I.

Ashley off....Gloria on. Gloria accomplished rider #2 and trainer's daughter. Trot, trot, trot...hot, hot, hotter. Time ticking later. Horsey fine. Looking great! Trainer comments on "this horse can be a schoolmaster." Proud Mommy (me) beaming. Vickie adds that the sign of a good horse is when said horsey accepts different riders and performs readily. With that Vickie mounts up! Rider No 3. First time she has EVER sat Doc. Wow! Could that horse move. Vickie barely had contact and Doc was like butter.

Now enter rider No. 4. Yours truly. The butter turned to lard. Now almost noon and hotter than hell. Horsey fine; happy, agreeable, and trying to understand my aids. God bless his soul. In defense of my inferior riding.... I must say I am making progress and finally "feeling" with my hands. Big accomplishment for an old lady. We were having a wonderful lesson and I was not feeling the heat at all. Till we stopped. Omg....horsey hot and wet. Me ready to fall over. First concern was to remove tack and hose Doc down. Rider #1, Ashley helped. (Oh...... to be fifteen again.) Once Doc was cooled and watered, I realized how exhausted I still was. Barely could walk, let alone pack up and load horse. Thank God I have Hubby with. Must have drank a gallon of water and still feeling queasy.

OK....... all's packed and ready to go. Horsey on lead ready to load. Hubby, Joe waiting patiently in trailer for me to walk Doc in. All systems go. Except my "go" went. There I stood trying to gather all my strength to walk my horse in that trailer. Doc waited patiently for my instruction with a look of "what's up with you, Mom?" (Yes, horse. Mom is old and pooped. Can' take the heat. Are you happy now?) Waiting..waiting....waiting...horsey and hubby waiting. Finally here goes. One step forward a point and a cluck, I threw the lead over Doc's back. He walked right on by himself! "Whats all the fuss about?" Right up to Joe he went and stood patiently as Joe connected the trailer ties to his halter.

Good. From now on your on your own. Why didn't you TELL me you could load yourself......??????

Love that horse. He teaches me something new every day.