Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Riding, Part the Second

After the glorious Remembrance Day weekend we had, with 2 fabulous rides out on the trails, we were faced with cold rain and wind. Luckily, our boarding barn does have a nice indoor arena, so weather is not really an issue. However, there's always something depressing about going indoors for the first time, giving up the freedom of the woods for going around in circles inside.

But, there's also something to be said for the discipline of an indoor ride. Because you can only go round and round, you have to make a plan and work on something, pick a skill to improve, or teach one to your horse. Funnily enough, tonight Murphy seemed to enjoy the arena; he certainly had plenty of energy and was responsive to my cues. Maybe he enjoyed the security of indoors, given his history with riding out. Whatever the reason, it was a really good ride, a nice warm-up to the winter season of working on skills. My daughter Rose and I talked about maybe doing a hilarious little pas de deux dressage thingy - I say hilarious, because it will be. If you're lucky, there will be video, and it will be available to view here. Wait for it, O Faithful Reader!

In the meantime, enjoy these few pictures of my darling Murphy, and think about what joy you may get in serious and disciplined practice of something you love, as compared to "just messing around". Maybe the knitters among you might think of the difference between knitting a quick but pretty stockinette hat, versus completing a complicated Aran sweater. Something like that, yeah.




Just like a very large dog

4 comments:

  1. I can't believe your Murphy stuck his tongue out at me. Cheeky bugger. :)

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    1. He's just begging you for a mint! Please? please please? A mint!!

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  2. I just showed this picture to my (already horse-crazy, heaven help me!) toddler, and she stuck her tongue back out at Murphy.

    (beautysmuse from Rav)

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    1. Awesome! But beware of horse-mad daughters; years of lessons later and we are a 2-horse family!

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