I lit out for 'bama land about 230 Eastern on Friday and pulled in the driveway at about 530 Central, so a 4 and a half hour drive. Not bad at all.
The parking was very odd. Apparently, they really value the grass on either side of their driveway so all the people staying in their trailers (including generator-less me) were crowded into this one gravel spot under some trees. If I would have thought about it, I probably would have parked elsewhere to sleep. I had generators running on both sides all night long and got no sleep!
But I didn't care. I was at ED!!
We started on Saturday about 830, on foot, with Ed in the arena. It was so surreal. The second he opened his mouth and that accent came out, I about fainted. It's ED WRIGHT! STANDING IN FRONT OF ME!! HOLY SCHLIT!
We walked around the pattern and he explained the points in a turn and basic things to think about before we got saddled. I even got to be his "horse" while he explained the strongest spot on a horses back. Nothing like getting on your hands and knees in the dirt before 9am.
Then it was riding time. Bubba was a complete freak of course. They had their young horses in pens along the side of the arena and he kept boogering at them, so for the first 5 people, we were walking up and down the fence line remembering where he left his brain. Goofy animal.
I was number 6, right in the middle of our 15 rider clinic. Ed got on Bubba first thing and decided he didn't like the medium shank I had on him. (I didn't think he would. The first few rides in that bit he can be really heavy.) So, Bubba got to work in the Pretzel all weekend.
I was very nervous the first time through with Ed watching me and constantly telling me things. It got to the point where my brain short circuited out and I just did what he said without processing it. Probably not the best use of my clinic time. I think Ed could tell I was nervous and kept it simple. We had to lope big circles around the second barrel then come in to a regular turn. My left hand is much more mobile than my right I've learned.
The second time through went much better. I remembered to breathe and really worked on feeling my horse. First we trotted through the pattern, turning each barrel 3 times. Then, Ed had us lope through twice. He said, "Good job. Who's next?" I can die happy now. =)
Saturday went very well, for me especially. I sat in the arena and watched every horse and rider that came through. I never saw as much as Ed did but I did, at least, see some of it. That man misses nothing.
Saturday night was not so much fun. I was exhausted from the long day in the arena. My feet hurt, my knees hurt and I was just beat. The weather had been blowing and rainy all day long and it only got worse Saturday night. It came a flood. My trailer had a leak and I didn't bring nearly enough clothes or blankets. I was COLD and my shoulder hurt from supporting my body weight in the fetal curl I had to do to stay warm. Needless to say, I didn't sleep worth a darn Saturday night.
Sunday I got up and had a hellacious headache. Made it down to the barn and Bubba was in a state. Complete nervous wreck. In the storm last night, the chickens they had running around the arena had decided to roost. In the barn. Right on top of Bubba's stall. He was freaking out. His eyes were the size of dinner plates. Every time those chickens moved, he jumped ten feet. He kept trying to crowd me out the door so he could escape. I threw him some hay (cause he hadn't eaten his dinner) and he cautiously munched on that while I got him saddled.
The Sunday session started with the "vet stuff". Ed went over saddle fit, pads, feeding, shoeing, etc. Most of it I already knew (thank you BHW). Bubba's saddle also got the seal of approval for fit.
Then it was time to ride. They did the order in reverse so I was a little later than Saturday.
While 15-7 were working, Bubba was tied to the back fence they had set up, kind of like a psuedo-alley. And while he was back there, he was fine. But those chickens were hanging out in the pens with the horses behind the first and third barrel. O boy.
We came loping through the pattern and those chickens attacked poor Bubba at the first and the third. For the video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qHq4K2dZKs. The chicken attack is toward the end but you can also see some of the drills Ed was having us do.
After the chicken attack, he was never the same. The second time through, loping towards the first barrel, he kept jumping sideways. Poor guy was a nervous wreck. Those chickens scared the daylights out of him. He would be ok if we were standing still but he was never fully tuned in to me like he usually is.
So, from Bubba's nervousness and the long drive I had to make, we cut Sunday short. I hugged Ed(!) and thanked him for a great clinic. We made it home about 10 Eastern.
All in all, it was a great experience. I'm trying to talk Brion into going with me to New Orleans for another one in October.
I feel a lot more confident in my riding abilities and my ability to handle my horse. Ed told me I had good hands (though a tendency to get bracey when I get nervous) and a good seat. I didn't realize before how unconfident I was. I suppose a few years of bad runs will do that to you. It's nice to hear compliments from a horseman.
I have some things to work on at home.
- My hands being more mobile, especially the right. Move out to the side if you need to.
- Our approach to the first barrel (though I'm curious to see if some of the issue on Sunday was chicken-related)
- Rate rate rate. I have to remember to have soft, progressive hands at our rate point until he starts to do it on his own again.
I love having some direction! Hallelujah!
Can't wait to go again next year. Thank you Ed!
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