Lessons and Lessons

My lessons started with a phone call to a local riding stable. At the time it was Aspinwall in Lenox MA, but it was owned by someone different than who owns it now.  I was working on a girl scout badge.  After asking the lady a bunch of questions, she asked if I was interested in taking lessons.  I handed the phone to my mom, begging silently for lessons.  I was 7 or 8 at the time.

My first lesson horse was Dr.Cox.  He was the best lesson horse for a younger rider.  I am sure he had been doing his job for years.  He was a thoroughbred, brown, with a small white star.  Looking back, I wish I had started keeping journals back then.  He was my favorite for a long time.

There were other horses at that barn that I liked.  My riding instructor, Denise, ( I wish I could remember her last name, she was the absolute best ever riding instructor) had a few horses that she used for lessons. Esprit, was a white mare. There was Oberon, another thoroughbred.  One of the horses at the barn, his name was Blue, was for more experienced riders.  He was beautiful. I think he was a Morgan, but at the time, I didn't really know.  I did get to ride him eventually, before Denise left the barn to go to another, thankfully I was able to and did follow her to her next barn.

My riding instructor was awesome.  I wish I had kept in touch with her as I got older, and got my own horse and moved.  She taught us everything.  She taught the basics, grooming, picking hooves, tacking up. She also taught us, during lessons, the parts of the tack, parts of the horse. The best was that at a walk or a stand still while on the horse, we had to point or reach to each part that she was naming.  Looking back now, it was all to work on our balance, but at the same time it was fun.

I used to keep track of all those horses on little index cards, what I liked or didn't like about each one. What they looked like, if they were favorited by other riders. 

For the longest time after Dr.Cox retired, Oberon was my favorite.  Some of the other girls didn't like him, they called him lazy, but when I rode him, he was perfect.  Maybe I rode better than they did. Maybe it was because I treated him with the respect due to a wonderful lesson horse.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish I had more time when my Mr. Bass was younger.  All the hours I would've put in the saddle.  I am just glad I did find him, and he can spend his last years not worrying about where his meals are coming from, and knowing that he is loved.  I did get a couple rides in on him before he started having problems keeping weight on, and I am thankful for that.  He is definitely my heart horse.

till the next time.. happy trails!