Round 1:
Trotting along, L spooks at something, ducks her shoulder/spins/bolts, I go off the side, land hard on my lower back and then slam my head very hard against the ground.
I was mad and very sore (and more mad because I had to buy a new helmet! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!) but I got up, dusted myself off, and got back on.
Round 2:
Had successfully w/t/c around the whole ring, Lucy was looking at things that had been there all summer like they were green, slimy, and arriving by space ship. She was being kind of lala in general. I thought I was being so clever, and I tried to get her mind off of the invisible aliens by saying, dear horse, meet my inside leg! BAM. Then coming around the halfway point of the ring, something caught her attention and we went from going nicely forward to going backward! and sideways! and up, down, and around! It was like an amusement park ride, except I wasn't amused! Her spooking caused the horses in the turnouts to spook, which got her more upset, and though I thought I had managed to sit all of it, she threw those last two maneuvers in there (got me unbalanced enough where I lost my stirrup, and then jumped to the side and deposited me neatly to her left). I landed on my feet this time and was unhurt but I was so mad that she dumped me twice, and I of course had a bleeping audience who saw the whole thing (both episodes) and their faces were like :0!!!!!!! that I had a minor breakdown.
Yup, I sat in the dirt and cried about it. Kenny ran over (for the second time) and said, where are you hurt?! and I replied through my tears, "I'm not even hurt, I'm just really really mad!".
Lucy was hanging out by the gate like, "um, is it dinner time yet?".
I got up, got as much of the sand/dirt out of my pants as I could*, collected my beast, and took her into the indoor. I lunged her for about 10-15 minutes and then got back on (for the THIRD time) and rode for another 15 minutes. She wasn't bad in the indoor but she wasn't great.
Overall, a crappy day.
Kenny is a total superstar and caught the entire second round on camera!
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| running sideways. |
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| jumping invisible 3' fences |
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| the getaway. |
*Can I just say, if it's not bad enough to get tossed twice in one day, did I really need to have to literally sweep the sand out of my riding pants and underwear? If that's not adding insult to injury, I don't know what is.
1. Glad you are not hurt. 2. Kudos to Kenny for catching some REALLY impressive antics on camera! 3. BAD PONY!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're not hurt. If it makes you feel any better, Lucy looks super atheletic during her antics!
ReplyDeleteOMG! That photo where her hind legs are going sideways is scary. I don't know why she didn't go down (yes, she's very athletic!) and I don't know how you stayed on so long. She was so good all summer - maybe you and Kenny and Lucy and dog should move to Florida!
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that has always impressed me when reading your blog is your incredible persistance and positive attitude. I am sure you will turn this challenge into plenty of good training experiences (and lots ofhard work for Lucy).
ReplyDeleteThat's one heck of an athletic horse you have there. When she is going well, her photos look like poetry over the jumps. I guess this is the downside to having a fit (willful) horse. The thing I noticed in the pictures - and which I find very impressive - is how centered and secure your seat looks. A lesser rider would have been tossed a lot earlier.
ReplyDeleteWow. Well done! Looks like it was a bumpy ride!
ReplyDeleteSomedays just scream "let's just wash the horse". I've had those with Smokey, and have to elect to end on a minor good note rather than keep to a schedule.
ReplyDeleteYou sat some amazing moves, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. Glad sand is the only thing you had to dig out and hope you are feeling ok today.
You have an amazing seat regardless of whether or not it ended up in the dust. Not many people can sit those antics.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your ups and downs with Lucy helps me realize that even when I have a bad day with my greenie it isn't end of the world; some rides just don't go well and that's all it is.
Naughty pony!!! I second what others have said, you should be very proud of yourself for sticking with her through all of that! Those are some seriously crazy moves....
ReplyDeleteBad girl Lucy!! Just saying, as others have said, it's very impressive that you stayed on so long. And, might I add, Kenny has some amazing camera skills. And Lucy can jump HIGH. O.o
ReplyDeleteWell wasn't she being the lucifer that she use to be! We should rename her heifer and draw some spots on her! :)
ReplyDeletebut I am so glad you didn't get hurt! Boo for having to buy a new helmet...
ReplyDeleteGreat riding! Great photography! Silly pony!
ReplyDeleteUgh, digging sand out of your pants is horrible, the only thing that might be worse is getting it down your ear.
ReplyDeleteSorry Lucy was having a major moment, I'm glad neither of you got hurt.
I don't think you can say you 'fell' when your horse was literally defying gravity and you held your center on her for that long, while she channeled a crazed giraffe banana body loon! I'm pretty sure most rodeo riders would have been sent into orbit way faster than you. The frustration of her tuning you out; I get that part. The sand in your breeches, well that just plain sucks. Hopefully this will be the last of her Michael Jackson Thriller moves for the season!
ReplyDeleteI am very very sore today, I've definitely bruised my SI joint area something fierce, and my entire upper body hurts, too. :( I am feeling very down about the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteBut you look absolutely STUNNING in the process. Grab some ibuprofen and chocolate, you'll be on your feet in no time. That you got back on and still kept going after two rough falls speaks volumes! =)
ReplyDeleteFirst off, high five to you for hanging in that long. Those pictures are crazy!
ReplyDeleteSecond- BAD Lucy!
Glad you are ok and not hurt!
Im sorry but I was cracking up, not at the situation, but the pictures! She is super athletic!
ReplyDeleteYou really hung on, MAN!
Glad you werent hurt at all.
Ugh, I hate when they do those no jump leaps...hate that!!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think when they are like that, they are trying to tell us something, maybe it was "her time of the month" lol.
Glad you're ok hun.
Wow! What a stinker! Like everyone else said, you should be proud of your self for riding through some serious moves. I love the action shots! Great camera work. I hope your aches go away soon. Bad Lucy!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you didn't get hurt and I totally knows what it feels like to be soooo mad at their silliness. The best and worst thing about horses is how sensitive they are.
ReplyDeleteLove L's move and I'm impressed Kenny continued to take shots while Lucy was putting on a show!
The sideways one is crazy! Her back end is going left and her front end is going right.