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Kelly and Letham and I have been planning to go riding together for while--I brought my riding gear from home when I first moved here but have never gotten around to finding a stable. Today we finally went, along with Nicole, a theater friend of Kelly's. Letham knew of a stable in Forest Hills--I got up at the crack of ass this morning and met them in Midtown and we drove in together in Leth's sporty lil' silver convertible. Kelly and Leth wanted to get there early because the place didn't take reservations and we were worried we'd have to wait a long time if we weren't first, so I got up at 6:30 this morning. *groan*
But it was completely worth it--this was the most fun I've had in forever. I rode a lot in college--Sweet Briar has some of the best college riding facilities in the country, and we routinely trade off the IHSA championship with UVa (and, I think, the University of Kentucky). I continued riding for awhile after college, mostly lessons and hacks, although I showed from time to time, but haven't done it since 1995--riding is an expensive interest on a starving actor salary. But I loved doing it--it is an addictively fun athletic challenge. It's the control of an animal several thousand pounds heavier than you, it's the relationship between you and the animal, it's the test of your skills as you urge the horse into a faster gait...and best of all, it's the sheer physical thrill when you go really fast. At Sweet Briar my favorite thing about riding was hacking--not working the horse in a ring but riding on the trails and the fields. Cantering that horse--or better yet galloping--across a beautiful green meadow with the smell of boxwoods and cows surrounding you...man, it doesn't get better than that. Riding is as close as you get to flying (besides maybe skiing).
So we each got a horse and my horse, Magic, was a skittery little thing. Because of my size, I usually have to ride a pony rather a full-sized horse--you control the horse through your seat (that is, how you actually sit, and through the pressure of your legs) so the more leg you have relative to the horse, the greater your control. Kelly kept teasing me about riding a horse "a full 17 hands!" I joked that would be like one of those maharajahs, sitting stop an elephant. We rode into Forest Park and rode along the bridle paths there, every now and then trotting or cantering. Magic was certainly a challenge--he had definite opinions about who should have control! And he had a very energetic canter but such short legs that every time we cantered I would fall behind. So then I'd have to extend his canter and every time I eased up on the reins, he would duck his head down which would 1) unbalance both him and me, and 2) you can't give a horse his head completely--you have to have some rein. I mean, I'd love to take off but not unless I'm in a more forgiving environment (that is, not surrounded by trees!). And at one point Letham's horse started acting up, bucking a little bit, which Magic did not like, and for a couple of minutes we both had our hands full. But I love that--I really enjoy the athletic challenge of a spunky horse, it tests your skills. Who wants to walk sedately the whole time?
We rode for about an hour. It was such a good time--when we got back to the stable I seriously did not want to get off Magic. It was just so much fun. Here I am after our hack:
As soon as I got home, I took the longest, hottest bath I could and then I took a looooong nap. *Groan* Every muscle below my waist is trembly and weak.
But it was completely worth it--this was the most fun I've had in forever. I rode a lot in college--Sweet Briar has some of the best college riding facilities in the country, and we routinely trade off the IHSA championship with UVa (and, I think, the University of Kentucky). I continued riding for awhile after college, mostly lessons and hacks, although I showed from time to time, but haven't done it since 1995--riding is an expensive interest on a starving actor salary. But I loved doing it--it is an addictively fun athletic challenge. It's the control of an animal several thousand pounds heavier than you, it's the relationship between you and the animal, it's the test of your skills as you urge the horse into a faster gait...and best of all, it's the sheer physical thrill when you go really fast. At Sweet Briar my favorite thing about riding was hacking--not working the horse in a ring but riding on the trails and the fields. Cantering that horse--or better yet galloping--across a beautiful green meadow with the smell of boxwoods and cows surrounding you...man, it doesn't get better than that. Riding is as close as you get to flying (besides maybe skiing).
So we each got a horse and my horse, Magic, was a skittery little thing. Because of my size, I usually have to ride a pony rather a full-sized horse--you control the horse through your seat (that is, how you actually sit, and through the pressure of your legs) so the more leg you have relative to the horse, the greater your control. Kelly kept teasing me about riding a horse "a full 17 hands!" I joked that would be like one of those maharajahs, sitting stop an elephant. We rode into Forest Park and rode along the bridle paths there, every now and then trotting or cantering. Magic was certainly a challenge--he had definite opinions about who should have control! And he had a very energetic canter but such short legs that every time we cantered I would fall behind. So then I'd have to extend his canter and every time I eased up on the reins, he would duck his head down which would 1) unbalance both him and me, and 2) you can't give a horse his head completely--you have to have some rein. I mean, I'd love to take off but not unless I'm in a more forgiving environment (that is, not surrounded by trees!). And at one point Letham's horse started acting up, bucking a little bit, which Magic did not like, and for a couple of minutes we both had our hands full. But I love that--I really enjoy the athletic challenge of a spunky horse, it tests your skills. Who wants to walk sedately the whole time?
We rode for about an hour. It was such a good time--when we got back to the stable I seriously did not want to get off Magic. It was just so much fun. Here I am after our hack:
As soon as I got home, I took the longest, hottest bath I could and then I took a looooong nap. *Groan* Every muscle below my waist is trembly and weak.
