Friday, April 30, 2010
I have come to realize in my early 40's that I have a passion for horses. I was given a suggestion from a friend to consider horse riding lesson to learn proper balance and safely before I take on one of her horses, a 6year old Lusitano name Xencanto. I will say this new adventure in my life is due to him, a horse after my own heart and a good friend, Patty who has given me this awesome opportunity to learn to ride the correct way.
First Lesson
On the way there to my class I had the typical thoughts, will I be the oldest there, what if I fall off, blah, blah little nervous but my friend Patty went with for me for moral support and to see if they needed any volunteers, they need spotters for kids and riders with special needs and plus new riders like me! They introduce me to a, chestnut brown, black mane, Morgan mare name Cantata. It was clear in the beginning that as trained as these horses were, she was full of spirit and she would test me to see who would be more dominant. Cantata in the beginning as I walked her around the arena always wanted to be ahead of me, had to constantly stop and get her to stay by my side. This was a lesson I’ll tell you! She is so smart to know I was a new inexperienced rider and Cantata was absolutely going to make sure I would learn to control her. Something seemed to happen after 30 min maybe we got the feel of each other, maybe she trusted me more or maybe simply I started breathing through this process, Cantata started to walk beside me. I was at more ease now that I felt better when the instructor said its time to get on her and ride. Again about 20 min of getting the feeling and being in sync together, after that it just got better, not ready to trot yet or anything riding her at a slow walk today was good for me. I got done and thanked Cantata for putting up with my inexperience and hope next lesson I’ll be better. It was a great day for me; God knew what he was doing when he created the horse. Tamara Cordin (tanzi)
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Lesson 2
Well, I will say lesson two of horseback riding was one of three emotions, I had today. On the way to the lesson, I thought to myself how lucky I was to be doing this. I thought about it for years “horseback riding lessons “and did not do it. I learned from this experience as I watched people on the road rushing to work; don’t give up something you have always thought about doing because you THINK there is never enough time in the day. That is the excuse I used as well. Anything in life you can achieve if you choose to make the time and how important it is to you. Horseback riding lessons is one of many I am choosing to make time for because it is important to me. I as well work full time and have a full week, I can say my life is busier but it’s under my terms, and it fills my time instead of sitting on the couch, depressed that my life is unhappy. I got into the go to work, come home… go to work, come home syndrome, very routine and boring, making this decision in my life has truly changed my attitude, keeping the negative out! Welcome the positive in! and doors open with many amazing possibilities.
Entering the indoor arena Cantata was waiting for me. I thought to myself as I began to brush her down am I more confident today? I was Cantata’s first rider today and I believe she was ready to go. It is a beautiful day on Whidbey Island today, sun shining, birds and horses calling each other from afar, Cantata wanted to be a part of it, I am no expert by far on horse behavior but if you saw the look on her face, it seemed like pure joy! I was riding Cantata the first 15 min of arrival, I still have a spotter on my side holding a lead rope, but I am the one controlling her. I feel good with the spotter, they build my confidence and in case Cantata’s not listening…Correction… I am not communicating correctly to Cantata to stop etc; the spotter is there to explain what I'm doing wrong. Cantata is so very smart; I am the one learning to communicate to her. I did get nervous a couple of times, when we got close to the opening of the arena and her seeing the beautiful day and other horses outside frolicking, she called to them and wanted to go outside, at the time thought, is she mad?, is she going to buck! I was reassured by the instructor, she’s being a horse and wants to go outside, let’s go! WHAT!! I thought to myself; when we get outside she’s going to bolt! With me on it! Lesson 2 for me is, stop projecting bad things, while on a 1000 horse!
Outside there was a difference in her step, she was bouncy and happy. I was told by the instructor Morgan’s mares don’t like to stand still for long, they like to move and when they walk they lift there hooves off the ground so their gate can at times seems like a small trot. This was awesome being outside even though, my wonderful spotter got a work out because Cantata was happy and moved quicker and occasionally tried to bend down a grab grass, which I was told not allow her to do, for she is working right now. Is there anything more exhilarating than being on a beautiful horse on a sunny day, cool breeze, seeing other beautiful horses around me, at this time, I couldn’t think of anything! This experience I believe is a life changer for me; it reassures my respect and love for these magnificent creatures.
My last and final emotion for the day was when the instructor said time to dismount. I had not realized until that exact moment how sore I was when I took my feet out of the stirrups. How the heck was I going to lift my leg over Cantata? I dismounted, but let me be the first to say, first week I did great, this week not so graceful! The best I can say about this dismount is that I landed on my feet! That’s all that matters for now. I think I would have laughed quite hysterically if it was videotaped. I knew as I walked Cantata around to cool her off, I would be sore the next day, now I understand when my experienced horse rider friends say this will strengthen your core. Everything below my breast bone was sore, under ribs, stomach, sides and back! WOW not including legs and butt! This was a good sore though and achieving sore and empowering sore! I did it and I actually am bummed I have to Wait 1 week to do it again! Crazy right….Until next time lessons three! Tamara Cordin (tanzi)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Lesson 3
Well, today had to be one of my best! I always start my Fridays going to my friend Patty's house to help work all 3 of her horses, mostly to work with Xencanto, remember this is the horse I'm working so hard for to one day be able to ride! To my surprise, usually only one of the trainers are there, but today Patty told me that both trainers will be there and one of them Jack has a surprise for me. I was their early before the trainers and Patty had me get Xencanto and get him brushed down and ready for Jack. When Jack arrived and I noticed Patty and Jack getting the Portuguese saddle and putting in on Xencanto, I was so excited this is a big day! I was so mad I didn't have my camera! Jack was going to ride with the Portuguese saddle! I had a feeling like Xencanto was graduating and I was going to witness this today. Patty got her other lusitano, Socrates, solid black, with exception to a tiny white star on his head, saddled and I walked him into her arena and Jack followed with Xencanto. You all must understand, watching Jack work with Xencanto its truly watching a man with a magic feel for horses, ex Jockey, 79 years old and telling me he’s still learning about horses. Trust me, he looks nowhere near his age, and states "that's what I wake up for everyday", was to continuously work with horses and Jack has many clients. Carol arrived as both horses were in the arena, and watched how well Jack was doing. Carol is trained in classical dressage and is training all of Patty's horses in this beautiful dressage. It’s awesome, these two trainers have such a respect for each other in their techniques and both with the same goal, the horses love them in their gentle technique of training, truly amazing to watch and what a site to see!!
Jack and Patty and Carol came over to me and said well, think it’s time to jump on! I was in shock, excited and nervous; I knew I would make a complete idiot out of myself getting into the Portuguese saddle. If you don't know what it is, Google it, it is too hard to explain! You’ll understand when you see it. Patty, Jack and Carol were all so kind and said you can do it and I did! Xencanto was so good to me; the saddle was very comfortable, once in it. Xencanto walked so smoothly, he is such a big horse, I felt so high up and I truly knew at his point, I was with a friend. I don't think my day could have started any better!
Time for my horseback riding lesson to begin, I went in with more confidence that ever. I expected Cantata, the Morgan to be ready to go and she was. I was ready for her excited walk, as we went outside in the beautiful day, she felt like she was trotting as she called to her friends. I wasn't afraid, not even when she tripped! I learned an amazing thing from the instructor today as she told us to drop the reigns and take your feet out of the stirrups, and with simple movements and shifts in your body, communicate with your horse to stop and go. WOW so cool, Cantata did exactly what I asked, without words, reigns or stirrups, just shifts in my body, incredible and amazing! I have so much to learn. Cantata I believed enjoyed my new confidence today, we had a great time together, did I say already? This was an amazing day!!!!Until next week, lesson four.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Lesson 4
Well I must say, I have talked about the horses and my friend’s horses, but haven't told you what my Friday routine is. I think I have confused a couple of people and apologize; my brain tends to move faster than my fingers can type. I am usually at my friends house Patty at 9:30 am and hopefully we have time to work all three of her horses starting with brush down, clean hooves. If jack is coming one of the trainers we start with Xencanto for he is the one being trained at this time. If it’s Patty and I only we'll take the horses to her arena and do ground work. This helped me bond so much with Xencanto doing this. Walk fast, slow and stop and he follows, run STOP etc, without words, just movements. Learning to lunge as well, I love working with no lead rope and having Xencanto follow me because he WANTS to otherwise, he'd go off in another direction, freely running alongside him with no rope is quite amazing. I most especially love to give him hugs and treats when he does something good. We have also have trained him to fetch the jolly ball!! For real everybody he fetches!!! I love this handsome boy!!
When the clock hits about 1:15 pm Patty makes us a great lunch! And off to horse riding lessons at 2pm, I take lessons, she volunteers. It’s called Equestrian Crossing
http://www.equestriancrossings.com/donate.html please check out their website its awesome, they work so hard and it has all the pictures of staff, horses and volunteers. This place does amazing things for children and adults. They our blessed with in oak harbor, WA a nice big indoor arena, donate for the day by a family that has their own horses and allow them to use their facility. They also work on the south end of the island as well. Indoors arenas are important because there is no excuse not to ride.
Today was different, having an off day; my day starts later than usual. My friend Patty had to go to Chicago with her mom to visit family so I missed seeing Xencanto this morning. I didn't realize until that moment how much I missed him. I guess I get spoiled seeing him every Friday he does so much for my soul and what a way to start my day. I got to Equestrian Crossings about 1:45pm and noticed Cantata running back and forth outside the arena looking in the opening. I thought Wow what’s wrong, could she possibly have missed me? I was quickly told Kasche an appaloosa was inside the arena and Cantata cannot seemed to be separated or she gets anxious. Kasche could care less, but Cantata can’t seem to handle any walls between them. This makes me a tweed bit nervous as usual; I am the first rider on her that day... Once Cantata is in the arena she seems agitated that she was left out there so long. I still tend to have a little trouble walking her she’s ready to go and I apparently walk to slow. I take a little bit for both of us to get in sync but funny I should say this I am more confident when I'm riding her and more in control. I am ready to ask if I can say bye to my spotter, but not sure If I should ask, bless her heart though my spotter got lost a few times which confused Cantata, and me because I'm suppose to lead the horse. It was just one of those off days, ya know when you have those and I'm sure my spotter was as well, it happens to us all. I still had a blast and received good praises that always makes you feel good. We didn't to go outside today we worked more on making a complete circle. Okay NOT as easy as it looks, I still must learn to look in the direction you wish to go for the horse to understand, it’s not all about using the reigns! As I walked Cantata to cool her down we were in the best frame of mind, I wished a new class was not starting I would have enjoyed walking her a bit more. I thanked her for another day of being a good girl. Until next time week 5
Tamara Cordin (tanzi)
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Lesson 5
Hi everybody, my day started kinda bummed because I woke up and it was pouring rain and I knew any chances working with Patty's horses were not going to happen in the rain, her arena was soggy mess and we both were pretty bummed. Patty just got back from Chicago and knew the horses would be ready to get worked out and also knew that I was really ready to work with Xencanto. We decided to meet at her house at 1:30 PM and head off to Equestrian Crossing for my lesson, lesson 5 that is!
I asked Miriam one of the instructors if they would let me show Patty, what Cantata does with me when I walk her around to warm up for the ride. I struggle in the beginning with her because she wants to go, go, go and I'm use to Xencanto...one of Patty's horses, relaxed and calm. Patty nailed exactly what I was doing wrong. Cantata, Patty said, her temperament is like Socrates her solid black Lusitano, he wants to go, go, go too, Patty said, walk faster and keep their focus at ALL times, by changing the direction while moving around with them, don't stand still for long, they loses focus quickly! ALWAYS keep her thinking and listening to you, and for once I got it! Cantata and I finally walked together side by side, she stopped when I stopped, walked when I walked, turned with me, backed up when I asked her! WHEW, it was great; she was no longer a head of me, wanting to walk me!
If you noticed in my last blog I was hoping to ask the instructors Emily or Miriam to let me try riding without a spotter. "The spotter is there with a rope attached to the horse in case they need to get the horse under control if I cannot, I am controlling the horse but a rope it attached with a person walking with me on the ground." I didn't need to ask, I got Cantata saddled and Miriam held Cantata as I got on her and she unhooked the lead rope and said go ahead and start walking her!!! Wow! This positive thinking and projecting good thoughts really works! I went to the left side of the indoor covered arena and found a new since of freedom with riding Cantata! This was so exhilarating and fun and, and, and... I can’t explain it in words! I guess I understand somewhat when someone says "I took my Harley motorcycle out on the open road" FREEDOM and being in control of it! Although there was much going on under that arena, extra horses more people, all getting ready for the Memorial Day parade that Equestrian Crossing was going to be in the next day, I kept Cantata's focus. If it still wasn't raining we could have went outside, bummer but I didn't care it turned out to be a great day in my book! More was coming and I didn't even know it at the time!
I was watching the next class coming in as I brushed Cantata down and gave her treat, I was asked A few times by a few people if I was going to the parade and I knew Patty couldn't go and I had so much work to get done at home, I said, I wouldn't make the parade or the barbecue that followed after for Equestrian Crossing. Emily came over the instructor and owner of Cantata and told me I did awesome on Cantata today which made me feel good; I really did have a good day with Cantata. I asked Emily if she would be riding Cantata in the parade and she said “I have a dilemma, I have 2 horses now, and I want both in the parade, you could ride Cantata"? I was amazed being my 5Th lesson and honored she trusted me! Plus nervous as %$#%!!! The parade is tomorrow, I thought to myself"! How could I turn that down!!! My inner voice said "step out the box" I said yes, before I could even think about it! I jumped out the box so far I couldn't even see the box anymore!!LOL
Parade Day!! I'm not a morning person, the paper I was handed to yesterday say to be there at 9:15am. I was excited and the first person there from Equestrian Crossings!!!Yahoo Finally Emily was there with Cantata but she didn't bring her other horse to ride herself, but she still wanted me to ride Cantata!!! Wow no matter how trained these horses are, the noise and sirens and popping of balloons had Cantata, not so happy Emily decided to walk next to Cantata with a rope attached in case she spooked and I was happy with that jester. Emily and I found the rest of the group lining up in the parade getting ready to start, it was still raining lightly and Emily realized that Cantata had never been exposed to umbrellas and they kept getting closer and closer to Cantata and we tried to get to our group that was waiting for us. Cantata did show her objection to the umbrellas, funny; that the people walking next to a 1000 pound are oblivious to Cantatas discomfort still amazes me! They could have been kicked!!!We got to our group which was a good thing! Kashe, Appaloosa and Cantatas friend calmed her down. Our group consisted to Cantata, Kashe, Angel another Appaloosa, Kirby, a draft horse and miniature horses pulling small carts with riders, one was a unicorn! It was great. The Parade was long, slow moving I think I was on Cantata for a couple of hours she did great even though my patience with the crowd was growing irritating, Cantata showed by turning herself sideways and kicking toward the crowd, letting people know, that she was getting fed up as well!! SMART horse! not in an aggressive way, she wanted her space and so did I. Toward the end of the parade we went through this small park, not good, narrow, got split up from our group, went from big space to little narrow walk way and all of a sudden Cantata swung around and two BIG draft horses were coming up on her heels, that we didn't know, that was it, Cantata was upset and kicked a big stone slab behind her and voiced her discomfort and I asked the riders of the draft horses to stop and let me go ahead, so we can catch up to our group, the spotter for me at this specific time was not Emily, and bless her heart she knew Cantata was at her last straw! But we got her onto a driveway and I jumped off a little shaken but hugged Cantata for not bucking me off and yes I hug her tight!! I truly learned to be a better rider that day, anything can happen even to the best of the best of horses. I learned that day at the barbecue from Emily that was only Cantata's second parade she had been in, I thought "thanks for keeping me safe as well Cantata!" until next time, lesson 6 and conclusion Tamara Cordin(tanzi)
Lesson 6
The summery of this adventure come to this conclusion. No matter how many classes you have the last couple can be the most learned. Although I thought I was in the clear of any injuries being so close to the end I was sorely mistaken. I was stretching Cantatas front legs and to do this you stand in front of the horse and lift up her front leg and pull her leg forward. As I was doing this Cantata decided to put her foot down right on top of my foot and proceeds to walk forward. I was happy the arena floor soft my foot just sank into the floor as she walked over it. The top of my foot was purple but didn’t hurt as bad as it looked. I learned to ALWAYS pay attention and don’t get a lazy mind while working with a horse, bad things can happen when you don’t pay attention.
My next biggest fear was falling off a horse, I can say I did and I lived through it! I was riding Cantata bareback and I t was really comfortable but I did not have much to hold on to when Cantata saw an obstacle she didn’t want to walk through, so she jumped to the right and I slide off the left. I am glad I fell though, I really had a fear of falling off a horse, not saying I recommend it, but it could have been worse she could have been running! I also learned to trust your horse and riding partner, the instructor Mirium wanted us to close our eyes and have another rider guide you through the arena with your eyes closed. This exercise is harder than it sounds, you have to regain your balance, it feels like you equilibrium is completely off. As time go on you start to trust your horse and it gets better. If any riders reading this blog I recommended this exercise. It’s very different, even for the experienced rider.
I have to conclude by saying no matter how old you are; please don’t let any dream stop you from trying. I always wanted to do this and am so happy that I’ll continue. I have realized with this adventure that possibilities are endless. I’ll stand by that, best advice from a friend, I never met. That statement alone has raised the bar for me and I hope it will for others. Thanks for reading my adventure. ©Tamara Cordin, (Tanzi) 2010
