Pages

Thursday, February 18, 2016

All About Riding

Had a killer lesson today. Everything hurts. That is a good thing.

It's funny, every time I think I'm getting a grasp with riding, and maybe I'm getting pretty darn skilled, I realise it's the tip of the iceberg. Like seriously, I'm not even close.

Christina was filling in for Rachelle today, so she was my instructor. She is a killer instructor. First off, I was riding Bright for the first time. He's a big mover, like Lacey and Elie, and very trained like Elie. It was also windy, so he was skittish sometimes.

Anyway, we worked on my equitation big time. I thought I was doing pretty good. Wrong. Perhaps when I first started riding I sat up straight. Maybe never. All I know is, even though I feel straight, I've been learning forward which makes me off balance. First off, that explains why I still haven't gotten the hang of cantering. Second, when I'm using proper equitation I feel like I'm learning backwards. It's very strange. I had to concentrate very hard to keep in proper position, keeping my seat, posting, keeping my shoulders back, sitting tall, etc. So by the time I got off, my legs ached and so did my shoulders, and even my abs. That's really good though. I've never felt it in my abs, because I haven't been engaging them enough. And another thing, when I cantered it was sooooo much easier! When I was using the proper seat I was able to stay in the saddle (still holding on). It was wayyy easier, and if I can work on getting my eq perfect, then cantering will be way easier. After all, when cantering Rachelle is always saying "lean back" like a million times. But then I feel off balance. When in reality I'm off balance when I'm "balanced." Get me? Ahhh, horseback riding is hard.

At one point, Christina took a long crop, and slid it behind my back, and I used my elbows to hold it in place. That really firmed up in my mind how far back my shoulders needed to be. And of course I rode that way for a while (only walking. Maybe I could have handled trotting like that on another horse, but not Bright).

Overall it was such a great lesson, and I officially need to work daily on my posture. Also, I think I seriously want to buy an exercise ball. They're both fun, and can help me work on leg strength and balance. I'm really dedicated to learning to ride, and since I'm only riding once a week now I especially need all the help I can get. And now that I've realise a large factor in what's holding me back, I want to put everything into fixing it.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

A Grand Adventure

As you may have noticed, I don't post very regularly anymore. And I've come to this conclusion.

There was a time in my life that I think this blog really helped me. I was able to create different blog designs, which heaven knows I adore creating things over and over. With each template I got better. I also had a chance to explore my voice. Obviously I don't mean my literarl voice, but my voice of writing when just talking about everyday life. I dunno what other's think, but I like it. I can see a change in how I talk from my old posts. I think this blog has helped me a lot.

Now don't get worried here, I'm not closing this blog down. I just wanted to let my few followers know that I won't be posting very often. This way it's more official. My time of using this journal blog may be coming to a close, maybe not. What I do know, is that I'm not going to be posting regularly, though I'm sure I'll pop on here from time to time. I still love this blog.

Now I'm moving onto a new project. The kind of blog I've tried and failed to have before. But this time I'm doing it a little differently. I'm still designing the blog (and having wayyy too much fun doing it). It's going to have a more particular theme, and yet I'm retaining the freedom to write like this blog. Like a journal. Because writing factual posts that are perfect and pretty turns me off. Granted, I've done that with history posts, and I do enjoy it. But if I had to do it regularly it would become a chore, more than a fun blog.

This new blog will detail a few prominent things that are coming out in me. My interest in homesteading, and eating healthy (possibly with some equestrian stuff on the side). It doesn't have an exact theme, but I want to write specifically about all my adventures in getting chickens again, gardening, and all the building projects I'm hoping to do. I want to find recipes and compile them, as well as possibly try and make my own recipes (never really done that before, so that'll be interesting). Since the new year I've gone off processed sugars, and dairy. I don't plan on ever going back on, and these past two days I went through the baking craze of my life. Even though it was healthy, I still felt sick because I ate only that. Not good.

So that's the plan with my new blog. I want to try and post regularly on it, which is also a reason as to why this blog is halfway shutting down. I know all too well that keeping up with two blogs is tough (tried it. Didn't work). It's a lot of writing, and brainwork. Even if I'm just writing like I am now, about life events. Not to mention the fact that I want to write all twelve or whatever number of novels sometime in my lifetime, and that's more time writing. Besides, this new blog can factor in a little bit of my normal life. It just won't focus on it.

And so I end this post saying, it has been a grand adventure with this and my old blog. I will cherish all the memories I have recorded, and from time to time I will add on. But I think a new chapter of my life is starting. 2016 feels like something fresh. And I can't wait to explore it.