Rayon and Benson

Today 

I went for another horse riding lesson 

In the centre near my house

I was just getting suited and booted 

When a tall blonde girl came over and introduced herself 

She said her name was Lisa

And did I mind if she came and joined my lesson 

Of course I didn't 

The more the merrier

Lisa told me that she had been riding her whole life 

But hadn't been at all in the last three years 

And get this

She was a show jumper no less!

All of a sudden 

I was afraid I would be out of my depth in the lesson

But Lisa assured me that she was unfit and out of practise 

After chatting for a few minutes 

We went around to meet Roisin the instructor 

She brought a horse called Benson for Lisa

And Rayon for me 

Usually I ride Princess

Who is what they call a confidence giver

But today Roisin assured me that I was ready for a bigger and faster horse 

We walked across the road 

And over to the outdoor arena

I mounted Rayon

And straight away 

I could tell she was going to be a lot faster 

We walked around the arena at first 

To get a feel for the horses 

And then on to a trot 

And holy shit!

With not much coercion from me 

Rayon took off like a rocket!

She was was so fast 

And she was paying precious little attention to me trying to stop her

It's funny 

For the past few weeks 

I've had trouble trying to get Princess to go

Now I had the opposite problem

When Rayon was in front 

She was tearing around the arena

And when Benson was in front 

Rayon literally had her nose to his behind

Lisa took to it like a duck to water 

And Benson was definitely slower than Rayon

A while in to the session

Roisin asked if we wanted to try to canter 

Lisa went first on Benson

And she was looking good 

Then came my turn 

And again

Rayon shot off

She galloped around that arena at top speed 

And only stopped when she came behind Benson

On my second canter 

I felt like I was bouncing a lot 

And I don't think Rayon liked that 

As at one point she dropped her head 

And I thought she was going to buck me off

I started to slip off one side of her 

And had to reach for wards and grab her neck to hang on

Poor Roisin

She nearly lost her life watching 

She said she was sure Rayon was going to buck 

Roisin then suggested we swap horses 

So Lisa could experience a faster horse 

And I could get my bearings again on a slower horse 

Benson was lovely 

He was in no panic to get around the area 

And cantering on him felt lovely 

But again 

At one point 

I thought he was going to buck 

I had a chat with Roisin afterwards 

And she thinks they might be trying to buck because I'm bouncing so much 

That it might be agitating the horse 

In a canter 

They say to 'Sit in' to the saddle 

And wipe the seat with your bum

I gues for me 

There are so many things that I am trying to remember 

That sometimes it goes a bit pear shaped 

Lisa also found Rayon like a bolt of lightening 

So I was glad it wasn't just me 

I was more than ready for the lesson to be over 

I felt like I had no control over Rayon

And he was just sprinting as fast as she could 

She wasn't taking heed of my commands 

And heck if I could get her to stop!

We walked back to the centre 

Laughing about what had happened 

But I seriously think that Roisin was worried I was going to be bucked off

And now that I am home and thinking about it

It was freakin'scary

Even watching Lisa canter on Rayon

She struggled to control her too

I swear that horse was like a bat out of hell!

But apart from the fear of being thrown off

I loved it 

It felt amazing to be on a bigger and faster horse 

And to be making progress

As I always do 

I asked Roisin at the end of the session if I am making progress 

She assures me that I am 

I really hope I am 

But as she said 

If I enjoy it 

To keep doing it

I mean I know I'll never be a champion horse rider 

Or anything like it 

But I would like to reach my potential 

What ever that may be 

I haven't told Eilish and my friends at horse therapy that I am doing extra lessons 

But I do have a plan 

I'm going to continue to ride at both centres until September 

Then I am going to ask Eilish if I can do two lessons with her on a Wednesday 

As it's such a trek from my house 

It would be more worthwhile for me to do two lessons instead of one

So until then 

I will continue to ride with Roisin at the stables near my house 

It's a very different experience riding at both stables 

In the ones near my house 

We concentrate on all the little details 

But with Eilish it's a lot more gentle 

I want to say more caring and nurturing 

She brings us along gently 

So between the two

I think I am getting a good foundation in in horse riding 

So that was my Saturdsy morning 

Exciting no?

I'm back to work tomorrow 

Just for two days 

I'll be working with the other new girl 

And she is lovely 

So I am looking forward to that 

I got paid for the first time last Thursday 

And even though the emergency taxed me

And I only got about half of what I'm owed 

It was still very special to have my first legitimate pay check in years

I can already feel the benefit of working 

My confidence is improving 

I feel more sure of myself 

And more capable and able 

Which is exactly what I hoped would happen 

So happy days all around!!

I'm off to make a cuppa and s ham roll

See you on the next post...