Having acquired a confidence to “Forward to Trot” I officially graduated to a faster gait, the “Canter” at today’s horseback riding lesson. Horseback riding is not just sitting on a horse. In a nutshell, horseback riding is extreme multitasking of coordinated, parallel activities amongst hands and calves steering, feet triggering turns and gait transitions, while maintaining a centered, upper, body position. The “Canter” is a 10-17 mph controlled, three-beat gait, and it’s being taught to me in a two-point position. The two-point position is maintained by hovering above the saddle with shoulders back, and pushing the body weight into the heels stretched so deeply backwards in order to counteract the horse rocking forces. The body weight balanced on the back heels of the stirrups might be similar to balancing on the heels while walking. Since people don’t normally go around walking on their heels, cantering is a stretching experience for back-leg tendons. I didn’t know my heels could go that far back until today. It’s exactly opposite of toe-pointing ballet exercises.
Romeo was in a special good mood today. He and I jumped over 3 consecutive sets of Cavaletti’s raised about 5 inches from the ground, while turning a corner at a canter pace proved to be more challenging just steering and balancing. I must have looked like I was holding on to his mane because I felt very sloppy about how I was holding myself. It takes time and practice and glimpses of how it feels when riding properly grows only by riding time.
Afterward, Ozark licked me for a few minutes and I have to say the feeling of the horses tongue on my hands felt really good. Romeo nuzzled me a little by putting his mouth up against my cheek and neck. I love nuzzling the horses I ride and they nuzzle me back is a relationship building experience between me and the horse I will be riding.
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