My daughters have been riding horses for almost 4 years. Every week, we are either sweating or freezing at the barn, moving between indoor and outdoor rings while the girls trot, canter and jump over fences. They've both fallen several times, including Sweet Pea's falling twice in the last two weeks. Princess began showing last summer, and suffered a setback last year when she was thrown several times from the same horse. Show season started two months ago, and Princess will be in her first away show at the end of May. Sweet Pea also wants to show, so she'll start competing in open shows in the fall.
I'd become friends with other riders my age, who take lessons on Saturdays right before Princess, and they started to tease me: "C'mon, CT Mom - when are you going to join us??" I'd laugh and say, "Yeah, that's all you need, the oldest rider ever on lead line, being led around the ring by an instructor - forget it!"
Then the barn posted a notice about a Mother's Day special, promoting a discount group lesson for the younger riders and their parents, and I started thinking, "why not?" One afternoon, I pointed to the sign and said to the girls, "You see that? That I will do." The girls were thrilled! But I told them I would do the group lesson on one condition - that I took a private lesson first before we all rode together. Far be it from me to look like an idiot in front of my girls (yes, I know, who am I kidding?).
So I took my first private lesson on Tuesday ...
(I'll wait while you finish laughing at the vision of a 40-something mom in a riding helmet and jeans getting on a horse for the first time. No, really, I can wait.)
... and I loved it. Yes, my legs hurt for two days after. But I was surprised at how much I actually knew based on watching my girls all these years, and now I understand what the instructor means when she gives certain directions to the riders. Tonight I watched Princess' lesson, and totally got what she was doing. Princess is not sure whether this is a good thing or not.
I can't wait to get back on again.
And before you ask the question, no, we are not buying or leasing a horse. Yet.
6 comments:
My Love took my riding once. She failed to warn me to stand in the saddle when letting the horse out. The boys were not happy.
That sounds like a lot of fun! So glad you are joining the girls...and you know, 40 something is YOUNG!!! :)
Yeah, your ass is going to be hot after those lessons lol!!!
Riding sounds like a great deal of fun (minus the being thrown part, of course!), and us 40-something women are young hearted hotties, woman! Get on your horse and ride, to paraphrase Queen!
I've not been on a horse since I was a kid. It was all great fun until the horse took on on a full run and I was clinging for dear life. Let me live vicariously through you!
I rode from age 8-12 and looooooved it! Glad you tried!!!
My oldest daughter has ridden a horse a few times and loved it every time. I rode a little as a kid but never really got into it.
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