It’s a Journey
Velvet and I are going for Level 3 in the Parelli program. We are doing very well. We have 25% of the tasks passed and making great progress on the remaining tasks. But you know how I love to tell pathetic dramatic humorous stories as we take the journey….
The task Velvet and I are focused on right now is cantering around an arena bridleless and bareback. Velvet is to have nothing on her body except me!
Then (at a canter), we have to turn into the center and stop. The turn is the hard part! Last winter I fell off of her when she unexpectedly turned sharply at slow WALK!
Lately, we have been riding full time in all group lessons, workshops and even on short trail rides with a bareback pad and nothing on her head. We look very cool.
A couple weeks ago at the end of the lesson, Jenny told me that I wasn’t bouncing around up there as much as I used to. sigh…I guess she had noticed my lack of balance. But, I got a lot better.
But in the last week, I’ve been doing even better. I’m able to ride more than a few steps without the death grip on the mane. I’ve been getting better at all gaits.
I feel like it’s time to start riding without the aid of the bareback pad.
Tonight, Velvet was at the mounting block and I was ready to get on. Well, Velvet has been moving a step or two during my leaping mounts with the bareback pad. I leaned on her and she moved. We had words over that. Next time, she didn’t move when I leaned on her.
I made my flying mount and she moved. I was able to hang on her side before I dropped off…on my feet. Velvet and I had words about this again.
We went back to the mounting block. I leaned on her and she didn’t move.
I made my flying mount and was horrified to find myself VAULTING over her. Usually I made quite an effort to get all my upper body on the top of her and the bareback pad makes me stick to her. NOT TONIGHT!
I vaulted over Velvet and landed on my feet!
Velvet and I were both a little upset over this, so I walked back to the mounting block on my rubber legs, sat down and rubbed her face and ears for a while.
Once again, I prepared to mount. All systems go. I threw myself up on her back and a muscle in my upper/inner thigh went SPANG! I cried out in pain and let myself land back on the mounting block.
I stretched out both legs for a while; went to the fence and mounted her from the fence…no leaping or vaulting involved!
After a while, I was able to ride her at a canter around the arena, turn into the middle and stop. My emotional fitness was just about peaked and my legs were holding on her so tight that my thigh muscle went into a spasm.
WHAT A RIDE! Velvet didn’t break a sweat tonight. I’m about ready for the psych ward.
It’s a Journey