GRATITUDE ROCKS

A sunny,cold day riding
in powdery foot deep
 snow is pretty fabulous!

Trailering Sugar is stressful and trailering to a jumping lesson at another barn adds a new level of stress.  Seems that despite my efforts at taking it easy and going slow with the returning confidence, I still up the ante.  It was 10 degrees and I began to think that this was the stupidest idea I've ever had (and I have had many).

We were alone getting ready for our jumping lesson and my anxiety was climbing when a woman strolled in with a big smile on her face.  "Hi, I'm Grateful Rider, GR for short!  Are you riding with me?  Oh great and she's a pinto!  This is going to be so much fun this morning!"

GR is a working mother with two young children with just enough time to lease a horse for a couple of rides a week.  And today, despite all the weekend obligations of a mother with active children, she managed to schedule a jumping lesson with the guest trainer (mine) who was also the woman that taught her to ride as a young teen.



Joy begets more joy!

As we horse girls do, we chatted about our rides and expectations for the lesson.  She mentioned to me that she hadn't jumped in a long time... wasn't sure what to expect...  knew he was a good boy... and was a little nervous to ride with Eventing Trainer.   And, as you might guess I told her that I was getting back... feeling better about my jumping...  was anxious... and looking forward to lessoning there...

 And we jumped!  Eventing Trainer put together a fantastic gymnastic (bounce, bounce, one stride/oxer, one stride, bounce bounce), with an outside line (four forward, five easy strides) and another angled vertical on the other side. 

Her horse was an easy going, hunterly fellow with an occasional spook.  Their energy was magnificent... happy, forward and peaceful.  I was so excited to ride and said how much I loved being in the same arena with them.


Curiosity and exploration replaces anxiety and dread

GR, as if sitting in the lotus position on top of a mountain overlooking a lush valley, replied, "This is a gift for me... every second I'm in the saddle I just thank god that I have the opportunity to ride.  And to be able to ride this horse, in a lesson with Eventing Trainer is the biggest gift at all.  I try not to make mistakes and I want to do well, yet I always remember that every stride, every jump and every moment is to be cherished."

Hmmmmm....  Hmmmmm...  and, then I thought, "EXACTLY!"

I woke up this morning with a smile on my face and that same energy in my heart...  We're jumping Beginner Novice/Novice jumps, the technical aspects of the lessons are getting more complicated and when things aren't perfect, I move on! 

Thank you GR 'cause gratitude really does rock!!!!