My first trainer charged higher-than-typical fees, and for two months, she hand-led me around the arena, without much instruction on riding technique, posture, balance, etc. While at the time I did not know the distinction, she did not have any lesson horses. I started on Astro, a 19 year-old thoroughbred, about 16.2 hands high–blocky ride, hard to mount and dismount, and frequent stumbles, which are nerve-wracking. My trainer then relocated Astro and gave me a lesson on a boarder’s horse. She was a bit smaller, but the saddle was not cinched enough and as I began to mount, the saddle drew down the horse’s side, the horse spooked and I got dumped to the ground. I remounted once the horse calmed down and finished the lesson. But, I grew frustrated and decided to search for a new trainer.

My next trainer had a much better set-up with many more available horses to choose from. I took several lessons on Tommy, a beautiful Friesian who taught me basic leg and rein aids. He is a sweet horse and riding him was the first time I felt a thrill about horseback riding since I was in my 30’s. But Tommy is a draft horse and his trot is very bulky, so not the best horse to learn on. So, I also rode a boarder’s horse named Maverick–he is fantastic–just the right size, very friendly and affectionate, and very well trained. I real joy to learn on. One day, we decided to start working on a trot. I had indicated that I was unsure if I had enough balance to start a trot and my trainer responded “I guess we’ll find out.” I began the trot, I bounced, and as Maverick sped up, off I went. This took me out of circulation for a couple of weeks due to minor soft tissue injuries. I went back a few more times, but based on my trainer’s restricted availability (she largely trains horses and is active in the show circuit), and the limitations of Tommy as a lesson horse, we jointly decided I should continue lessons elsewhere.

I learned through this process that it is important for me to train with someone who enjoys training adult amateurs who just want to learn to ride (as opposed to kids and horse show competitions), who approaches training by giving the right amount of challenge while understanding the need to build confidence, and who has clear lesson plans and goals. I also learned the importance of learning on a good lesson horse–not just safe enough to ride, but also responsive, patient, forgiving of rider errors and not overly sensitive to outside stimuli (i.e. doesn’t spook). Enter the “bombproof” horse, the “good ol’ soul.”

I found this combination with my current trainer and the fabulous lesson horse, Hugo. Hugo is a Dutch Saddlebred, about 15.2 hands high, grey in color. He has “more whoa than go” as they say in the vernacular, but he responds to aids and I am good with slow transitions. So far I have eased into a sitting trot and have been able to balance in the trot without holding onto anything but the reins for a full circle around the round pen. This may not seem like much, but take my word for it; for a beginning non-rider, it is quite an accomplishment. My hope is that in six months, I will be trotting without a second thought, and enjoying a nice canter.

Pictured above is Bershie, a Belgium draft horse, probably 19-20 hands (hand = 4 inches) high at her withers. She is huge. Save the Horses rescued her from a Pennsylvania Amish group, that was ready to send her to the “kill pen.” She is too thin, with wounds on her skin, and her musculature is weak and underdeveloped. I have the pleasure of talking her for walks as part of her exercise program. When I say “taking her for walks,” I mean, she walks, I half jog to keep up with her, while pretending I am in control of where we walk to. At least she knows the “whoa” command, so using the command often keeps me from falling.

Bershie is a rescue favorite–everyone is rooting for her.

I put in at least one shift per week at the main barn, and the work is very physical and exhausting, depending on the weather (i.e. dry and warm vs. cold, wet and muddy). Its very simple work: checking the troughs for water, putting grain feed together and passing it out, giving out bales of hay, turning horses out to pasture or bringing them in, mucking stalls and taking care of misc. issues (donkey kicking in part of a fence, horse rushing the gate and getting loose).

This all happens on a farm with a large barnyard, in Georgia sunlight and smooth breezes, birds signing and roosters crowing. It is muddy when it rains, chilled in winter and boiling hot in the summer.

It is heaven. I am spent (as in, can hardly walk to my car to go home) after 5 hours, but its a good type of spent. And in between the tasks at hand, we get to hang with the animals and get a horse fix.

“Sparrow” is pictured here. She stuck her nose between the fence and was all nuzzly, wanting pets. Of course I accommodated. But I turned my back on her to deal with a task, and she reached out and bit me good!

Sparrow, the culprit.

I said a bad word, and we weren’t speaking for awhile, but we have made up since.

The 4th of July fundraiser was fun. Pony rides for the kids.

A UNICORN!