Back in the saddle...

Today I am finally kicking the cold that has had me down-and-out for two weeks. It was really bad - I lost my voice completely - and I don't usually get sick. It must have been a really nasty bug going around the office.

This afternoon I am off to a horseback riding lesson. I had always promised myself that someday, probably after having babies, I would take up lessons. When all of our trouble started and we realized that would probably never happen, it just made sense to go ahead and do it. Why wait? So I put on my old jeans and cowboy boots and drive through the country for an hour to meet K, my trainer. She's great and sometimes it's hard not to just stand there talking instead of riding. For a "girly-girl" like me it's so much fun to get out into nature and get dirty! When I come home my boots, jeans and hands are all dirty and dusty. I'm exhausted, but happy to have gotten some fresh air and exercise. Some day I'll get the full English-riding get-up with the black knee-high boots and tight pants and everything. But for now I just love wearing cowboy boots!

The first time I began cantering (faster than a trot and slower than a gallop) K said I was grinning from ear to ear! It was a bit like being on a runaway train, but so, so, so much fun. I've been taking lessons since August and look forward to it every week. But today I'm a little nervous and my husband doesn't want me to go. On tv this morning we saw a story about a woman who was gravely injured on a horse. The horse got spooked while she was taking a blanket off of him and kicked her in the face. Broke her forehead, eye socket and even her jaw! Could have killed her, but she got to the hospital fast and had reconstructive surgery and pulled through ok. The story this morning profiled her second surgery to make her look even better. She looks almost normal now, so I'm glad she pulled through. It's a big reality check. The horses are huge animals and I must admit to being a bit afraid of them. I don't really like being in the stalls around them and am much more comfortable being in the saddle and in charge. But stories like the one this morning just make you think reeaally hard before getting back in the saddle. I suppose life is all about taking calculated risks. I am told that my barn's most serious accidents have been from the horses stepping on people's feet! Hopefully that's all I'll ever experience...

So - back from my riding lesson and it went so well! So glad I went! We practiced with trot poles today. K put jumping posts on the floor and I had to pratice walking, then trotting over them. You should have seen it! I was guiding the horse and riding just like I've always dreamed of doing! Cinnamon took direction just perfectly and I got to ride around the outer ring, then inside across the poles and back outside again just like I was supposed to. I felt like a real horsewoman. It was bliss!