When asked recently why I still ride horses my first thoughts were of the joy and laughter riding bareback all summer long when I was a little girl. To this day riding brings me that same happiness. My riding journey has taken many paths. I did pony club, worked with Thoroughbreds at the race track, and was a wrangler leading pack outfits in the mountains.
My favorite is riding Dressage, which was my specialty for many years before I met my husband. I switched back to show jumping when Cori was little because I figured it would be more fun for her. Nowadays I am riding Dressage again because it’s safer and easier on my body. I am 61 after all and the thing about Dressage vs jumping horses is you’re a little less likely to fall off.
The word Dressage means ‘training’ in French and is based on the movements used by cavalry in battle. Think horse moving sideways to dodge a sword or moving in place to trample an enemy. Modern dressage is about doing similar “moves” in perfect rhythm and balance so that it looks like dancing. The natural partnership that is required to make the moves look in sync and easy. The work invisible to the eye is what makes it so challenging and fulfilling for me.
I got the dressage bug again after helping a young professional here in California, Niki Clarke. She is one of the most beautiful and talented new riders I have ever seen. I started dreaming about how much I’d love to have a Grand Prix or high level horse to have some fun on or, as they say, one last hurrah.
One day I told Nicki to keep an eye out for me for a nice, safe, fun, Grand Prix type horse that would like to be retired, knowing that was quite common with show jumpers. She laughed and told me that she has never had anyone want to just retire a horse like that to a good home, that if they were still fit enough to ride they were always sold for tons of money. But the very next morning she called all excited to tell me that she had found my horse.
Someone had called her the night before looking to place a lovely horse to a good home. She had known this horse since it was imported from Germany as a four year old and thought it would be a perfect match. (Talk about putting something out in the universe and getting an answer!) Even more amazing, when Cori and I went and rode “Winslett” for the first time, we found out that she is related to Cori’s horse Opus, who we still have, and his sire (dad) is Winslett’s grand sire!
I have had Winslett for about a year and a half now and every time I go out to ride, I still feel that pure joy I did when I was a little girl riding bareback. But I am over 60 and have broke a lot of bones throughout my life, so some days are harder than others to get out there and it’s not been easy getting fit and strong enough to ride again at this level. So this morning was special, I felt like a teenager when I pulled my breeches on and I rushed out at dawn to ride before it started raining. When I got off Winslett today and Cori asked how my ride was I answered “Every part of it was great!”, which to me is true. I feel so lucky to still be able to ride.
In hindsight I realized that wasn’t really a descriptive answer. After thinking about what I should have said, I thought of how neither my horse nor I ever get frustrated or confused. We really do enjoy our time together. I am having so much fun exploring the incredible complex movements that we practice… finding balance, flexion, lightness and impulsion.
One of the most amazing things about this mare is that she shares little secrets that make us both smile. We really have a lovely two way conversation happening. Riding truly keeps me fit and happy. It gives me a bounce to my step and a smile on my face that lasts all day long.
Even Opus loves Our Stable Life, he and Winslet have developed the cutest relationship, we catch them scratching each other’s necks and eating together, totally in love with each other. Living with my family and having a horse to escape and learn with is the best life I could imagine.
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