 |
| This is Fancy Charlie with one of Liz's advanced students. Certainly not me. |
I arrived a little bit late for my riding lesson on Thursday afternoon. Just bad management of my own time, which I pay for. My instructor, Liz, said someone would be waiting for a lesson on Terra at the top of the hour, so I should tack up Fancy Charlie, who is a retired racehorse.
Charlie is 16.2 hands high, a big guy, and as gentle as a kitten. I'd ridden him twice before, and I like him a lot. He's not quite as fine-tuned as Terra, but he is more responsive and has a faster pace. There is a bit of thrill in that, even at my beginner level.
My friend, Debby, came along with me to watch the lesson, so I knew with her help we could get Charlie ready to go quickly and I wouldn't lose very much of my instruction time. Debby is a friend of twenty years. She has been riding English for at least that long, the best expert I know. She prefers thoroughbred horses, like Charlie, so she admired him instantly.
I put on my helmet and we walked the big horse into the indoor arena. It's very nice. A full-sized venue, it is well-lit and has several inches of washed sand as flooring. It's as safe a place as you're going to find for learning all styles of riding, including gaits and jumping.
Liz announced that we'd be working on balance in the saddle this day. We did a quick recap of the skills I've learned up to this point: transitions from walk to trot, sitting trot to posting trot, changing diagonals, leg yields, etc. Then she said, "Take your feet out of the stirrips and we'll do transitions without them."
I did fine with in a walk, then she sent me to trot and I began sliding around in that shiny English saddle. "I'm going to fall!" I said to her, pulling Charlie to a stop. Liz said I would not fall if I allowed my legs to hang straight down, my feet would become anchors.
Liz is the boss, and I sent Charlie into a slow trot, determined to keep my legs straight and long. And I began to slip sideways in the saddle... and the world tilted, spun and came to an abrupt halt. Charlie did a little hop to the left so he wouldn't step on me, then he stood still.
I landed butt first followed by my shoulders and head. The helmet is a good thing. Oh, the pain! Oh man did I hurt! The two women, Liz and Debby came walking over to where I lay in the sand.
"Wriggle your fingers," said Liz, "Now wriggle your toes." I did as instructed. "Can you sit up?"
No, I told her, I want to be still for awhile. I'm dizzy. I'm seeing stars, and I know what that is.
"Adrenalin," said Liz. "But you have to stand up as soon as you feel that you can." She and Debby each took an arm and got me to my feet. There was so much pain in my lower back, it made me feel angry and frustrated. A woman of my advanced age has no business falling from such a height. That's for kids.
"This dirt smells like poo poo," I said to Liz.
She replied with a bit of sarcasm, "Would you like me to get you an air freshener?"
On my feet now, they helped me to take steps. "You're alright. I could see you landed just the way you should," said Debby. And she stayed with me while Liz went to get Charlie. She brought the horse to the mounting block.
"Now get back on," she said. And Debby agreed. I had to get back on Charlie immediately. "It's about your muscles," said Liz, "You'll heal better if you stretch them a bit right away."
Before I went up the steps, I put my arms around Charlie's neck and rubbed his face. "I'm not mad at you, Charlie. You didn't do anything wrong." He nuzzled me and put his head on my shoulder. He was concerned about me, and I found that to be amazing and touching.
And I didn't let myself think, but I put my foot in the stirrip and mounted up. Liz had me walk, then trot and walk again for maybe ten minutes. It's a psychological thing, she told me then. You have to get back on while you're still in shock so as it lifts you remember being safe on the horse. If you don't do it immediately, chances are you won't ride again after your first fall. And it's good for Charlie, too, he needs to know he didn't hurt you.
"Ok. Now you can get down and walk Charlie to the cross ties for untacking." After dismounting, I fondled Charlie again, telling him he's a good guy and we're still friends. His big soft eyes looked me over. His coat was soft and fuzzy as the cold weather has thickened it, and he smelled good. Like a horse.
It's dumb to wear jeans with an English saddle. I've ordered proper riding breeches with a full seat so I won't slide like that again.
I couldn't wait to get home and tell my cowgirl friend, Heidi. I said yeah, I'm ok. I'm in bed after taking four ibuprofen. John brought me tea. It really hurts and I'm surprised I'm not in a hospital.
"The weather's great tomorrow," said Heidi, "Want to ride Ginger through the woods? I can take Skip."
"Give me a week to heal up," I replied, "Give an old lady a break."
"China Doll," said Heidi, laughing at me.
There are worse nicknames, I suppose.
