This weekend I've been reading quite a bit about trail riding. As a matter of fact, I've started reading Laura Crum's Slickrock (1999). After the first chapter I was thinking to myself-Gail is doing "real" trail riding. I love it! I'm really enjoying Gail McCarthy too! My Happy Trails #1 would be considered, um.....tame, to Gail and seasoned trail riders everywhere. I view it as a gentle introduction.
The horses at the year-round riding facility where I worked were not the nose-to-tail kind, Boss-lady had always made it a practice that her facility was where real riding was learned. So, when these horses went out on a trail, they were used to being ridden, not just following, although you can argue they did that to an extent too.
The trails were not always cleared logging trails like my #1 experience and our rugged, often rocky hills in Southern Ohio aren't called The Foothills to the Smokies for nothing! But, for a beginner, disguising herself as a little more than that, I was hooked on trail riding after that first gentle experience. Being one with nature, traveling the landscape by horseback, is something I hadn't experienced in the past. Not like this. Enjoying the view of the gorgeous valleys and blue-green hilltops while riding a horse, was definitley something I could get used to.
The staff and I got into a routine of teaching our 6-8 classes per day, each lasting 45 minutes. These were very basic riding lessons to girls who were from 8 to 13 years old. As the week progressed we would add some games and by Thursday they could handle a short mini-trail ride around the outside of the usual arena riding areas. The girls were always excited about Thursday. They were able to steer their horses and feel like they were genuine horseback riders, which they were. Friday's were for the 2 hour advanced trail ride around the hillside logging loop which consisted of the campers who were over 12 and had been through the entire program over previous summers.
By mid-summer, it was time to take some of the "issue" horses out for a little extra attention. We had about 6 horses, out of the 20 leased horses brought in for summer camp, who had issues that became a little more than our beginners could handle. Why they ended up at a summer camp is beyond me but they did. The horse I ended up riding is one I'll always remember because to this day, I am still in disbelief that I didn't come off her during the ride that day. I had never dealt with a decidedly green horse. Looking back, and knowing more now than I did then, that is what she probably was.
I ended up with her as the luck of the draw because everyone else had skipped over her. Being the kind of person I can be sometimes (gullible?) I didn't see too many problems with Abby other than she wouldn't stand still to tack, didn't like to be bridled, wasn't very good at stopping but sure liked to GO! Sure! I could handle her! HA!!! That's what happens when people expect more of you, you start expecting more of yourself. I guess that can be a good thing.
Abby was a small framed, wiry, thin, strawberry roan Appy. She was sort of a mess. Very thin, short, reddish mane and tail. She didn't have a very pretty face which of course made me feel sorry for her. Her eyes didn't seem hard to me but kind of like there really wasn't much in there. I had no idea how old she was, but I was guessing not too old, somewhere between 4 and 6. She just wasn't nice to look at, but that doesn't really matter if you're a school horse. She wasn't mean or moody. She didn't try to bite or kick. I really think she just didn't know much so she tended to react in the wrong ways, for our novice riders anyway. When you don't know what's expected of you, you will sometimes act out. At least that's what some horses do.
I tacked and bridled Abby without much of a problem. Mounted up. She danced a little, but then stood quietly. Everyone else was warming their horses up around the arena and having some problems of their own so I walked Abby to the outside of the arena. Boss-lady spoke up and said we were taking the Brush Creek Trail. I heard someone ask if she was sure she wanted to do that with these particular horses. She said it would be good for them. Naturally, I had no idea what the others had gotten excited about when they heard where we were heading. Sometimes, ignorance IS bliss.
It was early afternoon and warming up. The sun was nice and bright, but we'd be riding in wooded areas. We headed out, away from the arena. To get to the trail head we had to cross a rather busy two lane road. My first indication that Abby was going to be a handful was by the time we got about 100 yards from the barn, walking up the gravel, tree lined drive to cross the road. Abby immediately turned to go back toward the barn area when she realized she was heading in the wrong direction, or so she concluded. Caught me a little off guard. I brought her back around. She started hopping sideways. I had her stop. By this time I had fallen behind the group. Abby kept wanting to go back to the barn, but I kept turning her, then stopping her. Boss-lady rode back and told me to circle Abby then get her going forward. Easier said than done, but it worked after about 3 circlings. Boss-lady told me Abby seemed a little barn sour and this trail ride would do her good. Well, OK. In my head I was thinking Boss-lady had more confidence in me at that point than I did in myself. Which, probably didn't help Abby's cause that day either!
Abby was fine as we crossed the road and started up the trail. She seemed calm enough. Ears flicking back and forth. I was in the middle of the group by then. As we rode up the first dirt trail I heard the conversation about this particular trail. One of the girls asked if we were going on the Snowy River side. Boss-lady smiled and said "Sure, if you all want to..." which by my count of checking faces looked to be about half and half. My mind was starting to get a picture. The Man From Snowy River is one of my favorite movies. I could only guess what it meant.
We get to a point where the trail can go one of two ways. We end up climbing down into a ravine and then climbing back up on the other side. Lots of large rocks to avoid, logs to walk or hop over, and small tree limbs to navigate through. Abby was fine, for a while, then I think it all just became too much for her. She basically started freaking out. From that moment on I had a jiggy, whirly-gig on my hands! All I could do was hang on. I didn't feel I was riding. I didn't even have that much knowledge of riding under my belt so I really didn't know what I was doing, I simply let my instinct take over. At one point, when we'd stopped to rest the horses in a clearing, though Abby didn't realize this and decided not to stand still, I asked the others if anyone would like to trade horses. I was ready to confess my true inexperience. But for the most part, even with the problems they were having with their horses, they didn't want Abby!
Most of the rest of the trail ride is a blur. I remember scraping trees with my legs and arms. Smacking my head on tree limbs (yes, I was wearing a helmet!). Losing my stirrups at times. But not once completely losing my seat! Still wonder how I managed that! I do remember going down the so-called "Snowy River" side of a steep hill. Maybe it wasn't quite as steep as the one seen in the movie, but by golly, it was STEEP! And, with Abby unsure and not really knowing what to do, all I did was the best I could do, hang on and try to keep her going forward.
I remember we climbed up another steep incline, practically sideways. The horse in front of me suddenly lost his saddle and rider. The girth had broken. Bob and his rider were sliding backwards toward me and Abby, all I could do was let her do what she thought best and in that moment I feel she saved both of us by stepping sideways out of the way. Bob was a big horse! He would have surely plowed us over. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Bob's rider had hit ground feet first, he was ok. He settled Bob down on the steep side of the hill, they managed to fix the girth on Bob's saddle temporarily. A side note, the token fella on our staff was riding Bob at the time and seems to me his pride was hurt more than anything! At that point, my thoughts were, when will this be over? We ended up turning around and heading back down the hill toward the main trail head. We found the main trail and were back to the barn within thirty minutes. No more extreme hill climbing for Bob and his rider. I was relieved to be going back.
On the way back to the barn, still on the trail head, three of the young women (I hate to call them girls!) decide to race their horses down the trail. I was thinking............not a good idea to race when we're so close to the barn the horses can smell it. At least I was right about that one. Boss-lady reprimanded them and told them to walk back. By this time Abby was worn out. I was worn out. My shoulders and arms hurt. My legs shakey.
This whole event could have soured me on horses and trail riding, but it didn't. I didn't even realize that the others had taken note of how hard Abby had been for me that day. Later, a couple of them told me I did a good job with her. They still thought I was an experienced rider! I thought the whole episode would have shown otherwise, but evidently it didn't. Boss-lady was the only one who knew my secret, and she also told me I'd done a good job with Abby, considering.
Sometimes we're too hard on ourselves! Even though I didn't know what to do with Abby then, I have learned a great deal in the past four years. If I were to handle Abby again, I would do some things differently, because now I know what should be done.
Sadly, I found out the next spring, when the leased horses were to return for summer camp, Abby had broken a leg and been put down. She wouldn't be returning to summer camp.
We used Abby off and on, in the arena lessons, through that summer but she was never used for our novice riders on the trail rides. She really needed more work than we had time to give her at camp. I made extra efforts to give her some extra loving attention on the days we did use her.
To me, Abby seemed like a little lost soul. I wish she'd had a better, longer life. Abby is one who may have been unknown, probably most of her life unloved, but she has a special place in my heart!
Showing posts with label summer camp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer camp. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Now or Never...how things fell into place when I least expected it
Part of my motivation for writing this particular blog today is to encourage women, especially older women, to go ahead and follow that dream you've been dreaming. Maybe it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. If the opportunity knocks, go for it. Took me 43 years to get to my own horses but it was a dream that stayed with me until I finally said, "Now or never." Well, that's what I told my husband, back in January '04, who just happens to be a great supporter of whatever I've wanted to do in my life.
I've been extremely fortunate that way. He's my partner in every way and is always there to lend a helping hand. Besides, that, he's a great stable hand, property manager, fence fixer, tree cutter, barn fixer,.........you name it he can do it and does it all willingly with that beautiful bright smile of his.
But, I'm still of a mind if a person really wants something bad enough, works hard enough, it can happen, you can make it happen, even if you're over 40!
I started working as an assistant horseback riding instructor at a summer camp when I was 43 yo, with only 6 basic riding lessons under my belt, and very little actual horse interaction. I was hired for the summer camp because the barn manager, my riding instructor, needed another staff person, quick, and I jumped at the chance when asked. I was fine with being the assistant because I figured everyone else would be much more experienced. My co-workers were all under the age of 21, and all but one had worked at the camp previously.
I had always been a student of horse behavior though had not been privileged to observe it in the real horse world, except on RFD-tv. After my "now or never" decision, I had spent previous months honing up on various clinician techniques. Ordered a variety of books on horse training, riding, horse behavior etc.
However, I felt that the internship at the camp would be the greatest school I could attend. Many mornings as I arrived at the barn and we readied the horses for the riders, I would have to remind myself that indeed, I was finally where I wanted to be, this was really happening. You have to understand, I never would have pictured myself working at a barn simply because I never thought it possible. There aren't many riding facilities available in this part of Southern Ohio. I was lucky this facility existed and that I happened to be in the right place at the right time. The right events fell into place. I felt as if God had given me the oppotunity on a silver platter. "Here you go, now do with it what you will, or don't..."
You see, if my son had never met the manager, I would not have taken riding lessons from her. I never would have spent the summer emersed in horses. I never would have worked at the riding facility after camp was over. And, I certainly never would have learned everything I learned about horses, which in turn helped me be a better horseperson with my own horses. Because of this experience, I felt confident in finding and purchasing my horses that October. Whew! See how things seem to have fallen into place?
I fully believe if you leave your heart open, listen to the whispers, many things will come to you, at the right time in your life. Not always when you want them or expect them to come, but at the time that is best for you, often when you least expect it.
I've been extremely fortunate that way. He's my partner in every way and is always there to lend a helping hand. Besides, that, he's a great stable hand, property manager, fence fixer, tree cutter, barn fixer,.........you name it he can do it and does it all willingly with that beautiful bright smile of his.
But, I'm still of a mind if a person really wants something bad enough, works hard enough, it can happen, you can make it happen, even if you're over 40!
I started working as an assistant horseback riding instructor at a summer camp when I was 43 yo, with only 6 basic riding lessons under my belt, and very little actual horse interaction. I was hired for the summer camp because the barn manager, my riding instructor, needed another staff person, quick, and I jumped at the chance when asked. I was fine with being the assistant because I figured everyone else would be much more experienced. My co-workers were all under the age of 21, and all but one had worked at the camp previously.
I had always been a student of horse behavior though had not been privileged to observe it in the real horse world, except on RFD-tv. After my "now or never" decision, I had spent previous months honing up on various clinician techniques. Ordered a variety of books on horse training, riding, horse behavior etc.
However, I felt that the internship at the camp would be the greatest school I could attend. Many mornings as I arrived at the barn and we readied the horses for the riders, I would have to remind myself that indeed, I was finally where I wanted to be, this was really happening. You have to understand, I never would have pictured myself working at a barn simply because I never thought it possible. There aren't many riding facilities available in this part of Southern Ohio. I was lucky this facility existed and that I happened to be in the right place at the right time. The right events fell into place. I felt as if God had given me the oppotunity on a silver platter. "Here you go, now do with it what you will, or don't..."
You see, if my son had never met the manager, I would not have taken riding lessons from her. I never would have spent the summer emersed in horses. I never would have worked at the riding facility after camp was over. And, I certainly never would have learned everything I learned about horses, which in turn helped me be a better horseperson with my own horses. Because of this experience, I felt confident in finding and purchasing my horses that October. Whew! See how things seem to have fallen into place?
I fully believe if you leave your heart open, listen to the whispers, many things will come to you, at the right time in your life. Not always when you want them or expect them to come, but at the time that is best for you, often when you least expect it.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Riding Lessons and Horse Teachers
Reminiscing about my summer camp days has brought more thoughts of that summer. Those camp horses will always be in my memories, or at least I hope they will because they were my first "teachers".
Before summer camp, I took 6 weeks of riding lessons at the camp riding facility. There were 14 year-around horses stabled at the barn used for group riding and private lessons. My first evening lesson was in late April. We'd had a storm. Our power was out and there was a tree down across the road. My lesson was at 6:30pm. I was determined I was NOT going to miss my first riding lesson. I put on my Roper boots (which I soon learned were not good for riding, they had slick soles), got in my truck, set it into 4 wheel drive, drove out through the field, found the road and headed to my lesson. Surprisingly, I was on time for my lesson. Determination was my partner that evening.
I arrived at the barn and was at first in awe of the smells. I do love the smell of a horse barn! When you tell people that, they tend to give you the once over, but never quite ask if you are feeling ok.
My riding instructor walked into the barn as I was meeting up with the first horse in the first stall. He was pushing his muzzle through the bars as I touched his soft nose. He was sorrel, with a white star-like marking on his forehead. Looked to be Arabian, according to my book learned reference. My instructor informed me that Sheik was not my ride. Koko would be my first lesson horse.
Koko was a 30 year old, off-track standardbred mare. Black ,curly ,shaggy, coat. Definitely not the most attractive horse I'd ever seen. She was a babysitter. I had no idea at the time (I later worked for this barn for 2 1/2 years). I was just excited to be learning to ride. Koko was ridden with a hackamore because of her age. She greeted me as I opened her stall door, but didn't seem overly excited. As a matter of fact, she laid her ears flat against her head. I stepped back. My instructor informed me Koko often did that when someone walked into her stall, but that's as far as her threat went. I carefully walked over to Koko, as my instructor showed me how to properly put a halter on a horse's head. That's right, I had never even haltered a horse before that evening!
That evening I was shown how to lead, groom and tack. Koko stood quietly, and I do mean stood quietly. She barely flicked an ear when a fly buzzed by. I was completely happy when that job was finished. Of course, by the time I learned all this and repeated the process a few times, I had about 30 minutes to ride.
I remember my instructor telling me to mount up. I told her I had no clue how to properly do that, so she'd have to get me started. I was not permitted a mounting block. My instructor wanted me to mount from the ground. She told me it's better to get started that way. Well, Ok, but this may take a while. Actually, it worked out better than I expected. I was a little more limber than I thought I was and proud of myself for mounting up without a mounting block. For my own horses, here at home, I do use a mounting block. I feel mounting blocks do have their place and even if you are out on a trail somewhere, you can usually find something to help you mount up. Plus, it saves the horse's back, if you're not as young, bouncy and strong as you once were. For a long time I felt I shouldn't use a mounting block, but I don't feel that way anymore.
Koko helped me have confidence during those first lessons. She was the perfect beginner horse! I learned to ride on Koko for 2 weeks before my instructor changed me over to Sheik, a completely different type of ride. His teaching would be that I had to use what I had learned on Koko, and then some more. He would cover for my mistakes at times. He also would make sure I knew what I was doing, or he'd let me know in one way or another, usually by stopping or walking to the arena fence as if to say "Come on lady, you are really not getting it..." I got all the way to cantering, almost, with Sheik. I have never had the best balance in the world and his Arabian trot to canter was a little more motion than my inexperience allowed for. But, we did manage to get half the arena in a canter.
Sheik was a 20 year old Arabian gelding. His Arabian tail had been docked, as I call it, causing it to fall to the left side when he tried to raise it up in that very Arabian way. Quite distracting when following behind him on a trail ride, if you get my picture. He was a very solid horse, solid personality. All those stories you hear about Arabians do not fit Sheik. Maybe he was flighty and sensitive when he was young, but as a mature horse, he was one of the barn's leading school horses for intermediate riders.
My six week riding lessons evolved into an 8 week horse internship that I had never planned on taking. After my 6 weeks were done, it was June, summer camp started, and it's there that my real horse eduaction began. Twenty horses of various levels, personalities, issues and problems. The best school you could ever attend!
As for Koko and Sheik, I later had the opportunity to work with them more closely when I started working at the facility after summer camp that year. They both can be listed among my favorite horses at the barn, for different reasons. My first horse teachers will always have a place in my heart!
Before summer camp, I took 6 weeks of riding lessons at the camp riding facility. There were 14 year-around horses stabled at the barn used for group riding and private lessons. My first evening lesson was in late April. We'd had a storm. Our power was out and there was a tree down across the road. My lesson was at 6:30pm. I was determined I was NOT going to miss my first riding lesson. I put on my Roper boots (which I soon learned were not good for riding, they had slick soles), got in my truck, set it into 4 wheel drive, drove out through the field, found the road and headed to my lesson. Surprisingly, I was on time for my lesson. Determination was my partner that evening.
I arrived at the barn and was at first in awe of the smells. I do love the smell of a horse barn! When you tell people that, they tend to give you the once over, but never quite ask if you are feeling ok.
My riding instructor walked into the barn as I was meeting up with the first horse in the first stall. He was pushing his muzzle through the bars as I touched his soft nose. He was sorrel, with a white star-like marking on his forehead. Looked to be Arabian, according to my book learned reference. My instructor informed me that Sheik was not my ride. Koko would be my first lesson horse.
Koko was a 30 year old, off-track standardbred mare. Black ,curly ,shaggy, coat. Definitely not the most attractive horse I'd ever seen. She was a babysitter. I had no idea at the time (I later worked for this barn for 2 1/2 years). I was just excited to be learning to ride. Koko was ridden with a hackamore because of her age. She greeted me as I opened her stall door, but didn't seem overly excited. As a matter of fact, she laid her ears flat against her head. I stepped back. My instructor informed me Koko often did that when someone walked into her stall, but that's as far as her threat went. I carefully walked over to Koko, as my instructor showed me how to properly put a halter on a horse's head. That's right, I had never even haltered a horse before that evening!
That evening I was shown how to lead, groom and tack. Koko stood quietly, and I do mean stood quietly. She barely flicked an ear when a fly buzzed by. I was completely happy when that job was finished. Of course, by the time I learned all this and repeated the process a few times, I had about 30 minutes to ride.
I remember my instructor telling me to mount up. I told her I had no clue how to properly do that, so she'd have to get me started. I was not permitted a mounting block. My instructor wanted me to mount from the ground. She told me it's better to get started that way. Well, Ok, but this may take a while. Actually, it worked out better than I expected. I was a little more limber than I thought I was and proud of myself for mounting up without a mounting block. For my own horses, here at home, I do use a mounting block. I feel mounting blocks do have their place and even if you are out on a trail somewhere, you can usually find something to help you mount up. Plus, it saves the horse's back, if you're not as young, bouncy and strong as you once were. For a long time I felt I shouldn't use a mounting block, but I don't feel that way anymore.
Koko helped me have confidence during those first lessons. She was the perfect beginner horse! I learned to ride on Koko for 2 weeks before my instructor changed me over to Sheik, a completely different type of ride. His teaching would be that I had to use what I had learned on Koko, and then some more. He would cover for my mistakes at times. He also would make sure I knew what I was doing, or he'd let me know in one way or another, usually by stopping or walking to the arena fence as if to say "Come on lady, you are really not getting it..." I got all the way to cantering, almost, with Sheik. I have never had the best balance in the world and his Arabian trot to canter was a little more motion than my inexperience allowed for. But, we did manage to get half the arena in a canter.
Sheik was a 20 year old Arabian gelding. His Arabian tail had been docked, as I call it, causing it to fall to the left side when he tried to raise it up in that very Arabian way. Quite distracting when following behind him on a trail ride, if you get my picture. He was a very solid horse, solid personality. All those stories you hear about Arabians do not fit Sheik. Maybe he was flighty and sensitive when he was young, but as a mature horse, he was one of the barn's leading school horses for intermediate riders.
My six week riding lessons evolved into an 8 week horse internship that I had never planned on taking. After my 6 weeks were done, it was June, summer camp started, and it's there that my real horse eduaction began. Twenty horses of various levels, personalities, issues and problems. The best school you could ever attend!
As for Koko and Sheik, I later had the opportunity to work with them more closely when I started working at the facility after summer camp that year. They both can be listed among my favorite horses at the barn, for different reasons. My first horse teachers will always have a place in my heart!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
In the beginning....
My so-called "Horse Life" didn't begin until 4 summers ago when I was forty-three. Like so many middle aged stories I've read, I put off my Horse Life until all the ducks were in a row, so to speak. My sons were grown. We had our property properly fenced and gated. We had built a suitable stable/run-in shed area. And, I was ready. I'd never had any formal training with horses. I'd just loved them all my life, read about them, and felt I wouldn't be complete until I shared life with one, or as it turned out in the end, two.
I readied myself for my Horse Life in the summer of '04 by working as a riding instructor and staff member at a local riding facility which catered to children. It was one of those right time-right place kind of things.
I had been taking riding lessons at the facility for a short time. I still did not own a horse. But, I had decided I was going to learn to ride. I had been introduced to the manager of the facility through #1 son, who just happened to be taking classes with her at college. Toward the end of my six weeks the manager was talking to me, in regular conversation, about her predicament of being in need of one more staff member for the summer camp season. I told her I'd be interested. I could tell she wasn't sure at first, but she knew I'd been a substitue teacher in one of my other "past lives" so being able to work comfortably with children would be a plus. She needed a staff member desperately, camp season was only 2 weeks away, so she decided to give me the job.
I knew I could teach the girls (it was a girl's summer camp) beginning riding but I was more comfortable working around the horses which was the highlight of my day. Hard work, grooming, tacking, then untacking-grooming,tacking again a couple of hours later. Catching the horses sometimes proved to be even harder work. These horses were leased from a place miles away from Ohio. Trucked in for the 8 week summer camp season. For the most part, all of them were decent school horses, but there were a few I had no idea why they were there. Not my idea of school horses. Hard to catch. Wouldn't listen. Spooky. Some of them only got riders we knew were somewhat experienced. Being my mature self, I was often concerned about worse case scenarios, but through the summer, we managed only to see a few stepped on toes, nothing more serious.
We taught begining riding to groups of girls ages 6-10. Simple things like leading, mounting, walking, stopping, turning and by the end of the week the girls could usually manuever a small obstacle course or take a short trail ride. They were always thrilled when that day came. I was thrilled to see their progress.
There were always two of us teaching but I usually let the other staff member teach while I worked with indivdual girls who seemed to be struggling. All the other staff members were young women in their late teens and early twenties. I was forty three. I could be their mom! But, they all treated me with respect, and I did likewise.
At times the summer seemed long. And I must admit, there were a few times, when tensions were high among my co-workers by mid camp, that I did not want to be there, and I told myself I really didn't have to be there. Naturally, my co-workers, being around the same ages, would have their disagreements and arguments. Bickering would ensue. I just stood back and observed. I was really only here as an afterthought, so didn't believe it was my place to interfere with the interpersonal problems of my 5 young co-workers. Eventually, they worked their problems out. When they were getting disagreeable with each other, I simply emersed myself in dealing with the horses.
Overall though, I think we had a good summer. I know I learned more than I ever could have learned about horses had I not spent my summer in this manner. Every Friday we would take a group trail riding up into the hills. Though I was inexperienced, I learned quickly. I am more than thankful to have had the summer at camp, as I like to call it, even though I was a middle aged woman. It's one of the things in my life most people would probably look at and shake their heads. I know a few people who thought I was a bit off my rocker, especially since I'd recently left a decent paying job as a branch manager/librarian. For once, I was doing something I really wanted to do.
Hard and dirty work, but I loved every single minute of it. Brought me to the realities of what horses are all about. I discovered, I did have a knack for understanding horses. I no longer looked at them as mystical creatures, but beautiful animals with their own set of herd rules. They had behaviors that could be translated, if one only learns the language. My summer at camp helped me come to an understanding that I have been able to use with my own horses.
Sometimes, if an opportunity is laid before us, it's wise to embrace it. I was able to do that, at the right time in my life. I never imagined myself working at a riding facility, teaching girls to ride and handling horses when I was forty three years old, yet there I was.
Sometimes, the stars do align, and the heavens smile down on us saying, this IS your time.
I readied myself for my Horse Life in the summer of '04 by working as a riding instructor and staff member at a local riding facility which catered to children. It was one of those right time-right place kind of things.
I had been taking riding lessons at the facility for a short time. I still did not own a horse. But, I had decided I was going to learn to ride. I had been introduced to the manager of the facility through #1 son, who just happened to be taking classes with her at college. Toward the end of my six weeks the manager was talking to me, in regular conversation, about her predicament of being in need of one more staff member for the summer camp season. I told her I'd be interested. I could tell she wasn't sure at first, but she knew I'd been a substitue teacher in one of my other "past lives" so being able to work comfortably with children would be a plus. She needed a staff member desperately, camp season was only 2 weeks away, so she decided to give me the job.
I knew I could teach the girls (it was a girl's summer camp) beginning riding but I was more comfortable working around the horses which was the highlight of my day. Hard work, grooming, tacking, then untacking-grooming,tacking again a couple of hours later. Catching the horses sometimes proved to be even harder work. These horses were leased from a place miles away from Ohio. Trucked in for the 8 week summer camp season. For the most part, all of them were decent school horses, but there were a few I had no idea why they were there. Not my idea of school horses. Hard to catch. Wouldn't listen. Spooky. Some of them only got riders we knew were somewhat experienced. Being my mature self, I was often concerned about worse case scenarios, but through the summer, we managed only to see a few stepped on toes, nothing more serious.
We taught begining riding to groups of girls ages 6-10. Simple things like leading, mounting, walking, stopping, turning and by the end of the week the girls could usually manuever a small obstacle course or take a short trail ride. They were always thrilled when that day came. I was thrilled to see their progress.
There were always two of us teaching but I usually let the other staff member teach while I worked with indivdual girls who seemed to be struggling. All the other staff members were young women in their late teens and early twenties. I was forty three. I could be their mom! But, they all treated me with respect, and I did likewise.
At times the summer seemed long. And I must admit, there were a few times, when tensions were high among my co-workers by mid camp, that I did not want to be there, and I told myself I really didn't have to be there. Naturally, my co-workers, being around the same ages, would have their disagreements and arguments. Bickering would ensue. I just stood back and observed. I was really only here as an afterthought, so didn't believe it was my place to interfere with the interpersonal problems of my 5 young co-workers. Eventually, they worked their problems out. When they were getting disagreeable with each other, I simply emersed myself in dealing with the horses.
Overall though, I think we had a good summer. I know I learned more than I ever could have learned about horses had I not spent my summer in this manner. Every Friday we would take a group trail riding up into the hills. Though I was inexperienced, I learned quickly. I am more than thankful to have had the summer at camp, as I like to call it, even though I was a middle aged woman. It's one of the things in my life most people would probably look at and shake their heads. I know a few people who thought I was a bit off my rocker, especially since I'd recently left a decent paying job as a branch manager/librarian. For once, I was doing something I really wanted to do.
Hard and dirty work, but I loved every single minute of it. Brought me to the realities of what horses are all about. I discovered, I did have a knack for understanding horses. I no longer looked at them as mystical creatures, but beautiful animals with their own set of herd rules. They had behaviors that could be translated, if one only learns the language. My summer at camp helped me come to an understanding that I have been able to use with my own horses.
Sometimes, if an opportunity is laid before us, it's wise to embrace it. I was able to do that, at the right time in my life. I never imagined myself working at a riding facility, teaching girls to ride and handling horses when I was forty three years old, yet there I was.
Sometimes, the stars do align, and the heavens smile down on us saying, this IS your time.
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