If you dislike horses I suggest you skip the following paragraph and simply read the Updates.
Equine News:Hooray! I spent the other day (like many others) doing barn work at Walnut Hill Equestrian (with the Saddlebreds, remember) in exchange for my riding there. Well, the instructor, Heidi, asked my if I would like to jump up on Will before the next rider came. Will is a big, tall, handsome chestnut Saddlebred boy who is an intermediate-mostly-advanced lesson horse. I did, and Heidi put me on a lunge line to walk and trot around and get used to him. Soon she let us off the lunge and I was on my own. Trotting was the best; Heidi told me "Look in the mirror" (the tack room window is slightly mirrored as it goes into the indoor ring, where I was riding) "when you trot past. Don't you guys look so cute together?" I thought that ANYONE would look good on Will, he's so pretty! Then she asked if I wanted to canter. (Keep in mind that at that point I hadn't cantered at ALL this year.) I said sure. She warned me that "Will's canter is unlike any canter you have ever felt before." Then she said to press his outside side and make a kissing noise and say "Canter." I did. Twang! We were off like an arrow from a bow. Unfortunately, a corner was within the first few strides and- well, let's just say Will went one way, I went the other way, and PLOP! down I went. Luckily I jumped and twisted in midair so I landed on my feet (that's a lesson from my cat). I was fine, and Will stopped as soon as I fell off (no, I am not afraid to admit it- I FELL OFF A HORSE!)- such a good boy. Heidi came over laughing and told me that pretty much EVERYONE falls off the first time they canter Will. Then she told me that she had never seen a first-time rider of Will handle him so well- she was amazed at how well he listened to me. I guess I'm riding Will now, and I am very happy!
I also am riding (and have been for quite a while) at Hearts n Horses in Buxton. I started out on a ploddy pony, Cracker Jack, but then the stable got a new mare, Bubbles. I was the first student to ride her. And she liked to go FAST! She's the only horse I've actually ever had to hold back. In short, she's perfect. I have a lesson on her tonight; I'll get a picture and post it tomorrow. I cantered on her last week (on a lunge) and she's great. I'll probably canter, off the lunge, today, too. Then... on to jumping!
I'd really like to do dressage. It seems like you have to have such a connection and good relationship with the horse, it's more than just riding- it's friendship and trust.
Update:I am now nearly finished with my first week of junior counseling at Turkey Hill Farm Camp. The other junior counselor in our group, Caitlin, shares lots of my interests- cats, Warriors, and, most of all, HORSES (sorry, I promised no more horses, I know...). We were fats friends. Today was our Native American Festival- my group picked raspberries and made raspberry ice cream for everyone, and then I was put in charge of face painting. It was fun!
I'm going into seventh grade soon. Mom says that If I have lousy teachers I don't have to go to their classes and she'll just homeschool those subjects. I'll still get to do Drama Club and Swim Team and everything. Sounds good to me!
Last night I was fiddling around with the bass and came up with a cool riff. Dad helped me make it into a song and I came up with lyrics about midnight. It's nice.
Cheers!
Olivia Elisabeth Atlanta Athena Artemis Aphrodite Collins (came up with all those unofficial middle names myself!)
