The Chronicles of a Part X

My Head is Not in the Clouds

Sunday, 12 November 2000


Once again I arrived at mid-afternoon, but this time my lesson started right away. The five of us in the covered arena were a little crowded but the rain wouldn't allow for any other options. This time I was given Paloma to ride (someone else was already with Jubileu <damn!>). After a short rainy jog/trot (according to the number of legs - 2 or 4) from the stalls to the arena, we joined the other students. First thing I did was take off the jacket I had on, leaving myself with just a T-shirt, which earn me a comment from the instructor (the same of the previous day) "Undressing already? " (not my fault I warm up easily! ).

I took the care of joining the "train" from behind so I'd have it easier. Unfortunately the one in front of me was even more inexperienced than I am and he strayed back. When the others had caught up with us from behind he had to stop to adjust the stirrups, so guess who got in front? <damn!>

The lesson was pretty much the sequel to my previous one. The real fun started when we went into the rising trot. Seeing that I couldn't get Paloma to extend the trot to justify posting the instructor asked the two more experienced students to get in front <thank you!> and speed up, while we played catch.

Having the other horses in front had the expected effect of motivating our own mounts. But I think that it also had a large effect on the riders. I could tell I was both more motivated and concentrated. I was probably more keen on getting results and less confusing in asking for them. We had quite a bit of fun (at least I had) chasing each other, each getting in front at the instructors command. We also did some extended trot, short trot, walk downward and upward transitions.

Finally we ended the lesson with canter. Building up on the success of the second to last lesson, the stirrups weren't much trouble. I still tense too much and I loose sync once in a while. For as much as I would bend my lower back, the canter was still a bit bumpy. According to Francisco in a previous lesson, Paloma has a difficult canter to sit to so, for once, I'm willing to blame the horse .

A constant factor over the entire lesson were the instructors warnings to rise my chin. The trend had started in the previous day, but this time it was more obvious. Francisco had already pointed that out to me several times. I have the tendency to look at the ground right in front of us instead of looking forward, and it as been a pain to try to correct it. I was concentrating about something and I would remember: Chin! And zuup, my head would whip into place. Five minutes later: Chin! Zuup. Thirty second and "Pedro, get your chin up!", zuup there it was for a few more minutes. Soon I'll have to attach an elastic band between the back of my helmet and the back of my jods !

After we dismounted I had a special lesson on the importance of the back as a shock absorber and the negative effect of lowering your head, and with it your shoulders, and with them your back - rendering it ineffective.

Having these lessons with a different instructor was interesting. Specially because even if they have different ways of conducting classes, different ways of saying or showing things. I can tell that they all have the same goals for us. And those goals are right up my alley: Riding is to be done with sensitivity and lightness (and I still have a long way to get there ). The rider should strive not only towards his own comfort but also the horse's (and it is not unlikely for both to be connected).

As a principle, if anything goes wrong it's always the rider's fault (or the instructor's - not the horse's). The horse and rider are called a "conjunto" - a word that means a set, a musical band or a whole - you're the brain, he is the legs, you should accept him as part of you and strive to be part of him!

Hearing some "horror stories" about what some others elsewhere have to take from "trainers" I'm specially happy with my lot!


Pedro Fortunato
Lisbon, Portugal