When I got there, I was asked if I would be ok with a 30-minute lesson
as something had cropped up that they had to deal with.
Yes, I was fine with that and donned my posh new western hard hat.
I call it my crash hat which causes some confusion.
I quickly got on the horse and had a warm-up walk round the manège,
then straight into a trot, then a fast trot, slow trot, walk trot -
all designed to reach me to feel the horse and control it.
It was interesting because I could feel what the horse would do
if I moved slightly back or forward in the saddle.
After 20 minutes of this exercise, we slowed down to a walk
to cool down for the end of the lesson.
I have a whole new respect for riders; it is hard work.
I even broke a sweat at that point.
Just then David's wife came in and asked if I wanted to have
the other 30 minutes of my lesson and would I mind if Sara took it.
I was happy with that, so I had another 30 minutes trotting and walking.
Then I sat on the horse chatting about leg and foot positions
because it's a bit hard to know exactly where they should be
when youÍre trotting round and you can't tell left from right.
I went to get off the horse and . . . oops! My legs did not want to move;
I had visions of me being hoisted off and set down in the sand.
I did get off the horse and took two steps. "Oh, no!
I have my John Wayne walk again."
Just as I said that David walked into the manège and heard me.
He laughed out loud as he realised I really did have that walk.
I've been told when on a cattle drive there will be a lot of walking,
so if I can get on and off the horse unaided to get off and walk with the horse.
Guess I'll be in the saddle all day and not walking anywhere in the evenings.
The other riders at the school were taking part in a competition.
You have to have your own horse for that so I will never take part.
18 June:
I have my fourth riding lesson on Tuesday next week.
I bought a suitcase, padlock and a flight suitcase on Saturday.
Now all I have to do is decide what to pack.
Three weeks to go; I'm more excited than scared now.
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