Here’s a summation of how it went today: I was rattled, unrattled, somewhat rattled, extremely rattled, unrattled, somewhat rattled, unrattled. These states of being are a result of an energy fluctuation, which relates to what I am/was doing at the time. I do mean to say that what I am doing here is not easy. I am in a relatively different place than what I’m used to – say, a differing community – and learning to teach and ride horses.

This morning’s barn chores went well. Mike, Amy, Kelley and I hit a rhythm and maintained it. There was plenty of good humor, very imaginative at times. We were like children playing. The horses, they picked up on it, I think enjoyed having us around.

After lunch, egg salad sandwiches that Carol made (she is afraid that I am not getting enough protein), I got Gabby into the cross ties, groomed her until she looked like a shiny copper penny, then set up the agility course in the outside arena. It was cold and blustery when I started, and when Karol joined me, it started spitting. Oh oh. But we kept at it.

I attempted to take Gabby through the course ,and Karol gave me yet another great lesson. It at times is a bit unnerving, she says things that either indicate she has a very good eye or is psychic. Her first observation, which was in the barn, was that I began moving before I was connected to my horse. I need to take a minute or two, get myself centered, and then move, with the horse in hand. Her next observation, which was outside and came in question form, was what was my objective in setting up the obstacles that I set up? I did not say what I was thinking, which was that I didn’t have an objective, I just used what was handy and set up the course in a way that might be of interest to the horse. Duuh.

Karol worked with me, first on getting me to lower my energy level and next on keeping Gabby’s attention by thinking of my body position in relation to where she was. We went over poles, around the barrel, and around the star pattern. The feed bucket star obstacle work was the most revelatory –I have had a hard time getting Gibby to lift her feet, as I have had a hard time doing this with Hrimmi and Raudi and Tyra. At first Gabby tripped over the poles, but then when I did as Carol suggested, and thought about my stride in relation to her hindquarters, it went much better. By now the wind and rain had picked up, so we headed into the arena where I watched a woman on a big white horse named Duck go through her paces.

Next, I groomed and saddled up Raleigh in preparation for the next lesson. I worked with Juliana again –for a second time, no it was a third time. I need to ask Karol about this. I was at first rattled because it took a while to tack up Raleigh – and I had no quiet time beforehand.

I hopped to it and began working with Juliana on the lunge line – I need to find out if she was the teen ager I worked with who knows Tai Chi.

I muddled something awful – both Karol and Sally were extremely helpful. Their attitude was and is that they are setting me up for success by suggesting how I might do things correctly. I really need to see feedback for what it is – feedback – not criticism. It’s not “you have done a terrible job and need to get into another line of work” but rather, “What it is you are doing isn’t working so try something else.”

After, we talked for a bit, then went out to dinner and talked some more. The update clinic is going to start on Sunday (gulp) so the pair are impressing upon me the fact that I need to see it, as I have my lessons thus far, as a chance to learn some new things. Furthermore, update clinics are for those like me who live in areas where there are no other Centered Riding instructors, and in need of input from them.

Tomorrow there is going to be more of the same. I hope to again ride Gabby although if Sally gets her way, I will ride Raleigh, a much larger horse than Gabby.

It’s again late. I need to catch some of those more illusive Zs.

Nexr: 110. 4/ 20/17: Internship: More of the Same