So, here is a horse story. This is based on reality, with the names of people changed for privacy. Enjoy!
That Moment
It was hot, end-of-August weather, which is when it gets really nice where I live. It was my weekly riding lesson, and I was riding my current-favourite horse, Fancy. Fancy was a pure-bred Morgan with show experience, but who had decided that retirement was lots of fun as she moseyed around arenas, carrying children who excitedly thought that they were in control. Of course, Fancy was the pro.
I had been riding this beautiful, black-bay mare for the summer, and was hoping to canter her before the summer was out. Today, I would once again ask my instructor, Marie, about cantering.
Cantering-what a magic word! Cantering is when you are really riding. Cantering is the pace at which you are initiated into the world of the fast sports with horses. Cantering is when you are ready to handle some bigger objects in the horse world.
My grandfather was there, having taken me to riding lessons. After about half an hour of walk/trot exercises, I finally halted Fancy and asked Marie if I could canter.
Now Marie is a tough woman. Her horses have a healthy respect for her. She is short (I'm taller than her, but that isn't saying much for me!), but she is a strong woman. At first, being shy, her yelling out commands in a quick, snapping way flustered me (now I'm used to it, and have to keep from laughing when she is yelling "No, no! Your other left!"). She does not want the horse to be in control of her students, but she is also usually very happy if a stubborn horse that I ride goes cantering off shelter-skelter ("Look at that! She's moving! Just enjoy her canter! Isn't her canter nice?").
So, when I asked if I could canter Fancy, she said to go ahead, with some very preliminary instructions on how to get a horse to canter.
Well, I headed up the rail. It was so exciting-I was finally going to canter...or so I thought! I turned, and tried to get Fancy to canter. Of course, the crazy (very smart) girl just trotted faster, and faster, and FASTER! I tried again, and again with the same results. Finally, Marie told me not to think of it. Walk Fancy down to the end, then turn, and kiss to her while moving my inner leg back and giving her a little squeeze with my legs. And not to focus to hard.
So as I rode up to the end of the ring, I chattered nonsense to Fancy. And then came the moment!
Fancy cantered at my cues. It was magically wonderful! I love going paddle boarding on the ocean, and the feeling of the canter was an enhanced version of the waves carrying me forward. I was ecstatic, and so pleased with Fancy and myself when we stopped.
I had ridden a wave. I had cantered.
I have cantered many other times since that day in that stressful August, but nothing can replace the time when I first felt that magic, that control, that beauty.
Thank you, Fancy!
Fancy is going to appear in my book Starry Nights under the name of Licorice. Licorice, like Fancy was to me, is the first horse that Starlet will ride...and the horse on which she falls in love with riding!
God bless!
Indi