Cold ridings

[glenatron]

We rode out today on the common. It was bright and sunny but December-cold and sleepsy_mouse had to do an emergency glove run before we could go anywhere cos I didn't have any riding-friendly gloves.

Both ponies were exceptionally well behaved and I felt like I was riding pretty well - it was my first chance to ride Zorro since we started having lessons with Julian and I certainly felt different, hopefully I looked a bit taller too. For some reason I felt much more secure going downhill, which has been something I have previously found quite nervewracking. I guess my seat is probably a lot more solid as a result of this instruction and I'm a bit more connected to my horse, which in turn makes me more confident, which in turn makes him more confident. The realms of subtlety in the way we interact with our horses are amazing - the more I see of it the more I think that the simplest way to represent it is to think of your horse as telepathic and handle them accordingly. It's probably not what is happening, but they have senses tuned in a way ours are not and it's close enough to be practical.

When we got back to the yard I had to sit for a while and waggle my feet around before dismounting in the hope that my toes wouldn't shatter like icicles when I hit the ground. My knees had almost frozen solid as well, so it was perhaps the most graceless dismount in history. Zorro just looked at me, with a hint of despair as I hobbled back over to him and tried to persuade my creaky limbs to straighten.

Comments

[penella22.livejournal.com]

When I was a kid, my mother and I took lessons at the same barn. I rode all sorts of horses that scared the crap out of her and i remember trying to explain it to her...as long as you believe they are trustworthy...then they are. She never really got that...but its still true. The greatest trainers are not so much physically gifted as they are good at focusing their minds and creating their reality with the horse.

[evil-c.livejournal.com]

Did you have below 0C all day too? Froze my bits off today out with the ponies for about 3 hours! Even my chocolate bar froze, was very depressing.

I think you're going to have to get some leg warmers. The last winter I rode was the one before last and I used to wrap my legs up to above my knees in polo wraps on really cold days :-)

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Leg warmers would certainly be one way of achieving Fame.

It was blimmin freezing all day. Then colder overnight. Ponies had so much hay they pretty much made nests from it but they seemed warm enough this morning. Zorro seems good at breaking holes in the ice on their water. I think he likes having something he is allowed to smash.

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

I hate it when my feet and knees feel that way after a ride. I do find though, that if I simply slide down veeeery slowly, that it doesn't hurt. This requires that your does not mind you hand on his neck and back.