Filling in the blanks - How I got this far...

Editorial note: I'm trying to document my lessons from this winter and how I got to where I am now - so I'm going to be going back and forth in time for a bit until I get caught up!

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Last summer/fall my goals were to buy a horse that I could show locally and ride around on the roads. I wasn’t looking for a fancy horse, just an all-rounder that could handle a bunch of different things. I found the horse, rode him around the neighbourhood a bit and was daydreaming about trying some shows.


I haven’t shown since I was a teenager and that was only a couple of years of 4-H and one or two dressage shows. Last fall I had no coach or no real plans on how to make all of this happen. I started saving some money so that I would be able to do a few things this spring.

In December, I went out for wings with the people from the boarding stable down the road. I was there early and was talking to the lady that judges local shows and does a bit of coaching. I told her what I wanted to do and asked her if she would be willing to coach me. I think she likes a challenge, so she said she would take me on as a client. I was a little nervous, but knew this was my best chance of reaching my goals.

It turns out that this has been the best horse-related decision I’ve made in awhile. Coach is a great lady and very experienced. She judges shows all over the region and has shown AQHA and APHA for many years herself. Having her on board has removed a lot of stress for me. Not only is she coaching my riding, but she is helping me with what to wear, what tack is appropriate and even helping get Spencer looking the part. And one of her best attributes is that she is very dedicated – she hasn’t missed a lesson, been late once or rescheduled on me. Sometimes horse people aren’t the best with dates and scheduling things.

I was nervous and excited for my first lesson in mid-March. I told her what I had been doing in my riding up to this point and told her what I was having trouble with. She wanted to get an idea of my skill level, so she started out asking me to do different things, getting more advanced as we went along. Halfway through that first lesson, she stopped me and said “You lied to me!” and then smiled…

I was a bit confused… Me – lying about something? Not likely! I’m known for being pretty honest.

I mumbled and said “What did I lie about? I wouldn’t lie to you!”

She laughed and said “You told me you were a beginner rider! That isn’t true! I’m moving you right to my advanced lesson plans!”

From that point on, we trucked right along improving every week. She worked me hard and I would be in a t-shirt by the end of the lesson, even though it would be cold in the arena/outside.

My last lesson at the boarding barn was 2 weeks ago – and it was a good one! We are finally getting the lope to be slower and more rhythmic. I’m getting glimpses of a proper headset from Spencer as well – I’m sure with a more experienced rider, he would be getting that more, but I’m confident I’ll get that soon too. I brought Spencer home after the lesson and while it is great to have him out back again, I’ll miss the nice sand riding ring at the barn!