All things in moderation they say - and there has been a lot of ST on the blog so here is a short post on the side (pun intended).
Today Sofie and I had a go at being ladies, via a side saddle lesson. The side saddle association came to the yard to give lessons. Luckily for me they had a saddle suitable for barrel ponies which fitted Sofie pretty well. I was strangely worried about the lesson. I had visions of Sofie dancing and the saddle slipping off with me powerless to stop it. It probably didn't help that I nearly came out the side door last time I schooled because our saddle slipped, and that was when I had too legs to counter balance myself. Also Sofie has gotten more spooky and nappy in the school, plus I have been tunning her up to be more responsive to my aids - I wasn't sure how she would cope with just one leg on.
As soon as I got on the saddle I felt really vulnerable. We started with walking around, and I was soo worried about the saddle slipping I asked the lady to lead me! pathetic! Sitting side saddle feels pretty alien. For one, you are sitting right at the back of the saddle and two you are meant to turn your hips to the right. I habitually turn my hips to the left so this was a real struggle for me. And then there is the inescapable element - it is actually rather hard to untangle yourself from the leg holder thingies - I was told their technical name but in my blind panic I have forgotten the details. Now for most people not being able to fall off is a good thing, but I have found it makes me feel rather trapped - I guess I have had too many instances of horses falling with me/being dragged behind to find not parting company a comfort. So, feeling rather unsettled I sauntered off on Sofie, making sure our instructor was close next to me.
The problem was, me getting nervous made Sofie nervous and so she started to head shake and dance, napping to Tonto when she got nearer the pig end of the school. I found it very hard to keep my cool because I was certain the saddle would head south. But it didn't, in fact it slipped less than my normal saddle. I guess I was more balanced so there were no twisted hips to set it on the wrong course.
But with every circuit Sofie was getting more wound up. There were two others in the lesson, a visitor on a lovely mare who was high strung but the rider was super confident, and a girl riding the fantastic unflappable Findley, who I was more than slightly jealous of when I was prancing alarmingly sideways past on Sof. The nice instructors did comment that she was being a right pickle.
Then my foldy over leg went numb. That's it time for a breather. It was a with a big sigh of relief I swung my leg over to be astride and chilled in the centre. I watched the other two graduate to a dignified trot and canter. Oh lord we are being massively outdone!
Not one for failure I got back into position as soon as I re-gained feeling in my right leg and hit the outside track. Noting my nerves, the instructors got me to sing 'pop goes the weasel' and then got me to sing in lower and slower. The lower and slower I sung the calmer Sofie got. She wasn't being naughty, she was just reacting to my nerves. I was the problem really. I eventually got enough courage to try a trot at the safe end of the school. surprisingly I felt safer trotting, perhaps because there was more to do so harder to get nervous. It was also more comfortable than I expected, I probably can thank Sof's smooth gaits for this - although the ladies did comment what lovely hind action she had.
So from total fear to success. We managed trotting like ladies. I didn't feel bold enough to canter just yet- I'll leave that to next time.
Today Sofie and I had a go at being ladies, via a side saddle lesson. The side saddle association came to the yard to give lessons. Luckily for me they had a saddle suitable for barrel ponies which fitted Sofie pretty well. I was strangely worried about the lesson. I had visions of Sofie dancing and the saddle slipping off with me powerless to stop it. It probably didn't help that I nearly came out the side door last time I schooled because our saddle slipped, and that was when I had too legs to counter balance myself. Also Sofie has gotten more spooky and nappy in the school, plus I have been tunning her up to be more responsive to my aids - I wasn't sure how she would cope with just one leg on.
As soon as I got on the saddle I felt really vulnerable. We started with walking around, and I was soo worried about the saddle slipping I asked the lady to lead me! pathetic! Sitting side saddle feels pretty alien. For one, you are sitting right at the back of the saddle and two you are meant to turn your hips to the right. I habitually turn my hips to the left so this was a real struggle for me. And then there is the inescapable element - it is actually rather hard to untangle yourself from the leg holder thingies - I was told their technical name but in my blind panic I have forgotten the details. Now for most people not being able to fall off is a good thing, but I have found it makes me feel rather trapped - I guess I have had too many instances of horses falling with me/being dragged behind to find not parting company a comfort. So, feeling rather unsettled I sauntered off on Sofie, making sure our instructor was close next to me.
The problem was, me getting nervous made Sofie nervous and so she started to head shake and dance, napping to Tonto when she got nearer the pig end of the school. I found it very hard to keep my cool because I was certain the saddle would head south. But it didn't, in fact it slipped less than my normal saddle. I guess I was more balanced so there were no twisted hips to set it on the wrong course.
But with every circuit Sofie was getting more wound up. There were two others in the lesson, a visitor on a lovely mare who was high strung but the rider was super confident, and a girl riding the fantastic unflappable Findley, who I was more than slightly jealous of when I was prancing alarmingly sideways past on Sof. The nice instructors did comment that she was being a right pickle.
Then my foldy over leg went numb. That's it time for a breather. It was a with a big sigh of relief I swung my leg over to be astride and chilled in the centre. I watched the other two graduate to a dignified trot and canter. Oh lord we are being massively outdone!
Not one for failure I got back into position as soon as I re-gained feeling in my right leg and hit the outside track. Noting my nerves, the instructors got me to sing 'pop goes the weasel' and then got me to sing in lower and slower. The lower and slower I sung the calmer Sofie got. She wasn't being naughty, she was just reacting to my nerves. I was the problem really. I eventually got enough courage to try a trot at the safe end of the school. surprisingly I felt safer trotting, perhaps because there was more to do so harder to get nervous. It was also more comfortable than I expected, I probably can thank Sof's smooth gaits for this - although the ladies did comment what lovely hind action she had.
So from total fear to success. We managed trotting like ladies. I didn't feel bold enough to canter just yet- I'll leave that to next time.
