"Go East", they said...: Horsey Tales and Lessons Learned

Dear Friend;

Come along, make haste and join us in our adventures while living "In The East".

We are living in the east, geographically speaking, after a sudden work transfer beckoned us almost across the entire country, splitting our family in half with grown children/grandchildren remaining behind on the west coast.

We moved into our new home April/06 but never knew it would be God's providence to endure another move for work and positioning for a future medical situation. We moved again amidst 4 feet of snow in mid Dec/08.

We hope to continue sharing our pioneering moments with our family and friends back home, creating an environment for tenderly passing along the new memories we'll be making over here in the east, those that will stand the test of time in both thought and deed.

Sprinkling some ambiance into the mix will be a fully loaded and most positive outlook while we're on this adventure and new challenge together.

Please join us while we journey onward. Feel free to email me with your comments, questions or ideas. We welcome you here.

Sursum Corda!
Renee

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Horsey Tales and Lessons Learned

Today was horse riding lesson day for one of our daughters. The beauty of her new horse riding farm arena is twofold.

- First - it's only a short walk away from our home. The pleasure of (once again) living in the country comes with perks in our new area, because there are several stables nearby to choose from. The one this daughter has chosen to ride at is just a short walk away from our home. I already know in advance what she will be doing this summer, and where she will be heading when out walking with her dog. :-)

Secondly - With quite a nice horse resident population on the premises, choices vary week to week and that alone offers the rider the chance to improve and advance in varying levels of riding techniques.

Today's assigned horse was a white hairy beast, one who gave our daughter quite a time and wouldn't cooperate too well at the end for the cantering expectations.

I always thought you just hoisted yourself up and perch atop a horse, grabbed the reins and simply begin to show him who's boss! LOL

Not so I am told and after watching many lesson sessions. In fact now in my more mature age, I realize I really virtually know nothing at all. I suppose all those teenage whole-day-trail-riding pleasurable experiences don't count for much.

Maybe the horses I rode just knew their way around from memory, or was it because I was a "Western rider" and not an "English rider"? The differences are supposed to be huge. Configuring a horse in real life riding sessions keeps one mentally alert just from having to concentrate on all the directives shouted verbally; Knee in tight, shoulder front, head back, heels down, back straight, thigh in, reins tight, inside rein pull, blah, blah, blah.... (grin)

Today this white beast required plenty of coaching and will continue to be a work in progress for our daughter in order to hold her ground and ride well, becoming the master atop her four legged friend.

Giddyup!