Exciting Lesson..

Today's lesson was a little familiar yet not so familiar.

Was so glad to see Keith, my previous trainer. He was tasked to guide a combined group lesson today as Sandra, last week's trainer wasn't around. It was quite a mixed group, with me being the least experienced.

I like his style. Definitely more friendly, but he doesn't scream around like Sandra. And he will gather us after a trot to give us good guidance.

However, despite the familiarity, i was assigned a different horse today. If u have read the previous posts, u'd know that I'm already so accustomed to We Are On that a new horse actually is so rare an experience for me. JD was assigned to me and its really a relatively cooler name. Fortunately, Keith guided me to JD as I expressed my unfamilarity with JD.

And I'm so glad I expressed my unfamilarity to Keith as JD wasn't such a simple horse as We Are On. JD's blind on the left eye and Keith says he's sensitive to being pulled. Keith followed to comfort me that JD's a really good ride despite all that as JD has such a soft canter. (I haven't even gotten used to trotting lorz... -.-)

So I was really cautious. Kept my reins in control yet making sure I didn't tug without realising or for no good reason. JD was a really lovely ride as it is so easy to walk and trot him. Comparatively, We Are On puts on so much resistance despite my kicks.

P.S. I was given the whip today but didn't really need it...

So no tiring kicks today. But side story, the weather was so hot one of the students felt faint and dropped out of class halfway.

That aside, I come to the climax of the lesson today. I already wasn't quite used to JD's trot as his rhythm is obviously quite a far stretch from We Are On, and our trotting today was much much much longer. I had problem keeping up with BOTH the speed and the duration. We didn't have much rests. Just kept trotting on and it was so tiring and hence i was sometimes bumping all over, unable to keep up and almost falling le.

But that falling wasn't an issue as JD's so sensitive he will slow down when he feels i cannot keep up. We learnt the serpent ride today and was trotting around and over some obstacles. Quite smooth for a first time. Unfortunately, the Serpent ride required us to go in an S shape and I was happily trotting when suddenly JD went out of line and a little berserk. I tot he was being naughty and tried to pull him back on track den he freaked out and almost threw me off the horse!

What happened was so fast I couldn't really remember what I did. I remember screaming and screaming (which was so wrong cos I have to coo in a low voice to calm JD down). But I was a little caught off guard and I dun remember if i was scared or what. I think I was, haha, for that moment, but I was more focused I guess. Trying to figure out what made JD freak out and absolutely standing on two legs running about berserk!

Very fortunately, I heard Keith went 'sit', but hello, the saddle is like veritcal, how to sit sia? Nevertheless, I obeyed and tried to sit la, quite impossibly weighed myself down and somehow I managed to rein him in and prevented a fall.

I think Keith was really relieved. He said he's keeping his 2 month no falls in lesson record and counted. and so we trotted on.

After lesson, saw a lady with one side of her sleeves and trousers covered in brown yellowish sand. and her friend went to tell someone at e clubhouse she just fell. OMG. Looks like falling from horse is really common!

I guess I'd just have to learn how to maintain balance. Oh, I forgot to tell you what made JD berserk. Keith later explained to me that it was all the sand that the trotting gathered that's disturbing his eyes and made him nervous. And I went *raise eyebrows* and *nod in realisation*. Now, not just dogs, I have to protect my horse from flying sand. Horses are like how sensitive lorz. -.-

P.S. Just bathed and found some bruises, believe to be from this episode... oppz.. not really escaped unscratched it seems...