Centered in the Saddle

I think we can all agree that 2016 has been a weird year, right? I’m certainly looking forward to 2017!

Early in the year, Drifter started learning to jump bigger jumps and learn striding through gymnastics and got a fun wintery photoshoot. I finally bought a new saddle. As the winter wore on, the jumps started getting a little higher and by the spring, Drifter was getting comfortable between 2’6″ and 2’9″.

In June, our riding and philosophy got a big overhaul with Kirsten Nelsen. Drifter got a major haircut and suddenly started looking like a grown up show horse. I finally felt that my relationship with Drifter had solidified into something strong and beautiful. I got a new perspective on centeredness.

We had a series of amazing jump lessons and Drifter suddenly started giving me flying lead changes. Then I took him to our first show and freaking rocked it.

In June, I found my new favorite sun shirt and awesome shampoo and conditioner. I went to Vermont and saw adorable Morgan Horse foals.

I set goals for our next show, and didn’t really meet them. I realized I had a form problem over fences and set about trying to fix it. I watched and read about the Rio Olympics for two weeks straight.

Toward the end of the summer, Drifter and I hit a rough patch. It was very frustrating but we worked through it. I showed my nephew how to ride for the first time, and my heart exploded from cuteness. I took Drifter to our last show of the season, then found out that it was our last show together, ever. I struggled with that for awhile.

I reflected on the beauty of barn friends.

Then, I decided to make a change and finally try something I’ve always wanted to do: Eventing. I started taking lessons in jumping and in dressage. I met new horses and had one of the best lessons ever even though I fell off (twice). I joined in a Horse Book Club and started trying out the gymnastic exercises in our book.

Funny. I started and ended the year in very different places but doing the same type of exercise: Gymnastics/grid work.

This is not at all where I expected to be at the end of 2016. I thought I would still be riding Drifter and turning our training to bigger jumps and trying out the jumper ring. But instead, I’m at a completely different barn, in a different discipline and riding different horses. What a ride!