Riding Progress for Mom

>> May 30, 2008

Progress...at last! This ole mom is beginning to feel like I made it over a small hurdle. I've been taking riding lessons the past two years on and off (which is part of the problem...not being consistent). The other problems: the horse I was on and my neurotic fear (of broken bones, death, etc...is there an "etc" after death, lol). Now we have the perfect horse for lessons; he is steady, consistent, and has a huge heart and things are achangin' for us riding-wise! His name is Rex.

A few weeks ago during a lesson, I was trotting on Rex (if you know me, this is a big deal for me). There was some bouncing but I was getting more comfortable at it and getting less air between my saddle and my backside. I have to remember to keep my heels down and not tense my legs up too (this is my own personal reminder so don't mind me)! Anyhoo, I felt better about myself after this lesson.

Then, we go on vacation last week and hubby and I go on a trail ride (our first time alone together without kids in well over a year). It was an hour long and it was just the guide, hubby, and me. My horse was used to being the guide's horse but he was mine on that day because they are training a new horse for guiding. Well, Clever (that's the name of my horse), wasn't happy about that and kept trying to trot to the front of the line. Guess he thought he was clever (ok, bad joke). I kept him from getting around the other horse on my own each time...not one bit of help from the guide. (Bit of a confidence boost there.) He also kept kicking at flies with his back legs. The first time bumped me up a bit but after that, I was prepared. By the end of this trail ride, I was sore but I felt good about the ride itself.

Fast forward to yesterday - my next lesson. Yesterday's lesson was me riding Rex where I wanted, at a walk or a trot, on my own. Our trainer was there off to the side as a guide if I needed her but this was the first time she wasn't in the middle of the arena pushing me along. I did more trotting yesterday than I think I ever have. I also trotted on turns by the end without any problem (nobody wants to see mom plop out of her saddle on a turn anyway and kiss the sand, lol). She is "training" me so that by this summer, I can ride Rex whenever I want to instead of just during lessons so we get a lot more riding time in.

I am trying to make it easier on Rex by dropping 15-20 pounds. I am not hugely overweight (just a little bit), but I am packing a few extra lbs. that I would like to lose (for myself mostly but he'll get the benefit as well, lol). He is a big guy (16H or more) so it's not like he can't carry me easily bit it's incentive for me to lose a little weight anyway.

That's another thing - I am usually afraid of larger horses. I see visions of being trampled by huge horses (probably because that is what my clyde cross tried to do to me once last spring, lol). Rex is a big guy and I can ride him and not feel any fear at all over his size. I don't even think about it when I am on his back. He is such a good boy!

So, yeah, for this green ole mom!!

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JeeNee's Training - Part I

>> May 28, 2008



I posted these on one of my other blogs but now that I have this one, it belongs here. This is Part I from her training last Fall. There are three more parts to it that I will post that shows her awesome progress! (If you like the music, it is my hubby:)


Part II, Part III, Part IV of JeeNee's Training

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Jack The Wonder Horse



This video is of Jack, taken last summer. He is up for sale this year:( We have somebody coming this weekend to look at him. Here is a still shot of him:

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I Found It!!

Found the header pic, lol. All this template stuff just confuses me.

I need to find a really nice COWGIRL template but this will do until then.

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Lost my header pic

Well, I switched my blog from a blogspot domain to its own domain and I lost my header pic in the process. I'm not sure where it went:( *sigh*

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Introducing...JeeNee

>> May 19, 2008

JeeNee
4 Year Old Paint/Clyde Cross ("Spotted Draft")
This is my baby girl.

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Biggest Fear

This question gets asked a lot on surveys that get passed around via email and on social networks like myspace: What is your biggest fear? Since this blog is called "Cowgirl Up", I thought I'd tackle that question here myself and then ask it of new readers who may happen upon my new blog.

My #1 biggest fear: I'm a mom so that would be losing a child. This has been my biggest fear since my first child was born. I feel for any parent who outlives their child and I hope that I will never be in that situation myself.

My #2 biggest fear: Not seeing my kids grow up because I pass away young (yes, I'm 36 and I'm calling that young so if there are any 20 year olds reading this, 36 is still young even if you don't think so...you will understand in 16 years, lol). I have four children who I want to see grow up.

These two fears, I can't really "cowgirl up" to them. Other than ensuring all the usual safety precautions are taken (seatbelts, knowing where my kids are and who they are with, helmets, etc.), I don't have any control over this. Maybe my biggest fear should be "no control" then.

Now, if I were to answer that not from a more general standpoint and not a totally life altering standpoint, my current fear I am trying to overcome has to do with horses (hence, the 'cowgirl up' idea, lol). My husband surprised me with a filly almost two years ago. My fear of being permanently physically harmed or fatally harmed is fresh in my mind with four kids to take care of at home. Hmmm...guess that would have to do with my #2 fear. They're all related...tied in to me being a mom.

I love horses and have always wanted a horse. However, they are unpredictable animals no matter how well-trained they are imo. Given their size, that can put you into a dangerous situation real quick (or you can put yourself into a dangerous situation real quick). So, I take lessons and hope one day I can learn enough to where I can enjoy horses without a sometimes overwhelming fear. Some fear is healthy...it keeps me from doing something stupid. Lack of knowledge about horses, however, can have me doing something "stupid" without realizing it. Ridding myself of irrational fear is my goal (good luck to me because I am neurotic).

What is your biggest fear?

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Today It Starts...

Well, today I decided I had better start doing something with this blog. I created it a month ago but left it private until I had decided what to do with it. It's not private anymore obviously. So come back and see how it grows!

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