I’ve never been one to dwell upon my successes. Rather, I’ve always tended to dwell on my failures. For instance, if yesterday you asked me to elaborate on one of my horse-related successes, I’d have given you a blank look, and then 24 hours later, I maybe come up with one. However, if you asked me to talk about ten horse-related failings, I’d provide you with a War and Peace-related synopsis, each one taking twenty-four hours to relate.

I am learning, in taking jumping lessons, to celebrate, no embrace, success. I say embrace rather than celebrate because in this way, I want success to appear as

though it’s an integral part of my being.

Last night I saw evidence of success – the end result of my being a very disciplined and very tenacious rider. Ten years ago, I decided that more than anything, I wanted a reliable riding horse. And this is what I now have. Raudi was fairly reliable this past spring. However, I determined that our taking lessons together would make her even more reliable. I figured that lessons, which would take the form of arena work, would strengthen our communicative bonds.

I soon discovered that the focus of said lessons was on jumping, with equitation supposedly being a secondary concern. I say supposedly, because as it turned out, there was considerable equitation involved. You have to have a good seat, good balance, and be positioned correctly in order for your horse do to as you want, on the ring or out on the trail.

This past spring and summer (to coin a jumping related metaphor), Rosie and I have had our arena-related ups and downs. Early on, there were more downs than ups; though as time has gone on, there were more ups than downs. Had I not seen progress, I would have found other things to do on Tuesday and Friday nights.

In the past three weeks, things have been coming together nicely for Rosie and me. This is because, all summer, we’ve been building on successes; successes being defined as the good things that come about when one acts upon positively-related feedback.

Last night was the best riding lesson yet. I took Raudi out in the afternoon for a short trail ride, on the lower loops. She was relaxed and at the same time forward. She had a really nice canter at the end portion of our ride, along the trail and out on the road.

After, I did yoga and visualization exercises. Then we went to lesson. I tacked her up, and we then did our pre-lesson walkabout, which is something we both really enjoy. I noted that she was attentive to the horses that had gathered on the far side of the arena fence, but not unduly so. She was also a bit jittery. Marie, who was riding Fiero, joined us, and so we then rode (at a walk) our horses around the arena. This was fortuitous, because my focus was then on the conversation and not so much on Rosie.

Beth appeared in short order and announced that, because the footing was slippery in places, we’d work in the center of the arena. Hearing this, the four of us in the early class nodded in agreement.

We began the lesson proper by walking in a circle over four overturned cavalettis. Then, we trotted over the same. It took a few go rounds, but Rosie finally shifted from going over them at a pace to going over them at a trot. I noted that as she got warmed up, she became increasingly more animated.

Beth next added ground poles, one on each end of the cavalettis. My horse’s doing well prompted Beth to say “she does increasing better when the problem becomes more complex.”

We did the same from the opposite direction – Rosie did refuse once, but because the obstacles were low to the ground, she complied when I took her back over them.

The next order of business involved going over the cavalletti/ground poles then circling around and doing two parallel cross jumps. We then followed one another. This was challenging because Rosie trots fast. I subsequently have to slow her down so that she’s not on top of the horse in front of us when we go over the jumps. Rosie did wonderfully, picking up speed beforehand, and happily launching herself over both jumps, repeatedly. A telling moment came after she knocked over the first cross-pole. She charged in a rather wayward fashion to the second jump, veered a bit to the side, and then leapt over the highest part of the rail. This was much to my surprise, for I thought for sure we’d go crashing into the jump post. Beth, surprised, remarked that “it was very good that she continued.” It then occurred to me that Rosie is indeed, a fearless individual – this being the attribute of a good jumping horse.

We next did the above, and in addition, went around a cone and over a diagonal cross rail. Rosie did well with this too, both in following others, and individually.

We had a really good grande finale. As the other horses were going over the final diagonal jump individually, Meagan and Blaine changed the jump from vertical to cross-rail – this depending on the ability of the horse and rider. As Marie and Fiero prepared to jump it, I blurted out, “I’m not going over that, am I?” to which everyone laughed.

It was soon my turn again. Before doing my round, I said to Beth, Blaine, and Megan that I’d like to do a small vertical. Right then, before Beth had time to say anything, Megan and Blaine took down the cross rail, moved the jump cup down two holes, and set a vertical pole in place.

I took off and did the cavalletti and cross jump sequence. I next came around the cone and headed at a canter in the direction of the vertical jump. I did as I’d been taught, by putting my head up and heels down. As we approached the jump, I let out the rein a bit, grabbed Rosie’s mane, and gave her a light thump with both legs. Over the vertical she sailed, landing in a balanced fashion. “Keep going!” Beth said, so we did the sequence one more time. I would gladly have done it again, but of course I heeded Beth, who said “done!” Yep, I thought, as always it was good to end on a good note, and in my mind there was no better note than this.

Success. I’ve seldom allowed myself to bask in the glory of my accomplishments. However, I’ve been doing this all morning. I began writing the above dispatch, then midway through, called Vickie and (I think) in a very articulate fashion, provided her with an overview of last night’s lesson. Then I resumed working on this particular lesson learned.

Success. The trick is to now notice it when it occurs, that is, in non-horsey situations. One example. Solving a writing-related problem or finishing a writing-related project. Gotta try and attain the same sense of euphoria that comes in having done well in the arena, outside the arena. A tall order. If I’m successful at being successful, I will also embrace it.

Next: 232. 8/28/14: A (Slight) Change in Routine