Proud
There are days that I couldn't be prouder of my horse and today was one of them. I've been riding Achates pretty consistently over the past week and it feels great to be getting back to where we were. Since September I've been trying to change how I ride, focusing on getting away from using my hands and concentrating on more of what my body does. It has been both fun and frustrating playing around with exactly how each shift in my own body effects the way Achates moves. Thankfully during those frustrating times I was able to turn to a wonderful friend of
Fight
I haven't been to the barn since my fall mainly due to extreme soreness but tomorrow I will get out there, and I'm so excited to ride! I will also be riding with one of my lovely riding buddies and her magical Arabian, Jasper. I love riding with them so I'm really, really, really excited! Other than sitting tight I've been trying to take stock of exactly what I need to do to keep progressing with training and my goals. Today was a minor setback unfortunately, an opportunity that I had been looking forward to fell through. And if I'm honest with myself
Falling
Today was not the greatest day for me. I fell off of Achates when I went out to ride him and wasn't able to get back on, not exactly the happy reunion I was hoping for. My fall resulted in a plethora of bruises, some more severe than others. I went to the doctor's after to get checked out since I had also hit my head when I landed. Thankfully I got the all clear and was told to take it easy this weekend and then reassess, going from there. Falling off horses and accidents in the equine world happen everyday, all the time.
Returning
Since Thursday I haven't been out to work with Achates. I had a minor lung infection that was aggravated by my asthma but everything seems to be back on track now. I'm more than excited to get back out there, make my return to training and continue the progress Achates and I have been making. When I'm not riding I miss it. Not just the riding part but everything about it, solving problems, working hard, and more than anything hanging out with my horse. Riding keeps me functional and sane, more than that though it just makes me feel better about what I'm
Backwards but Forward
The barn Achates and I are at recently finished installing their outdoor arena. This is a VERY exciting development considering that our indoor arena is slightly larger than a 20 meter circle and I am more than excited to have some more room. The new arena isn't quite finished but I couldn't resist trying it out today. I decided to lunge Achates in it instead of riding him. Why? Because it's a completely new environment than what we've been working in this whole year and he deserves a chance to go through his emotions and let any steam he has out. The way I
Chetak
I want to use the post to explain exactly what the name Chetak means to me. Chetak is the name of a warhorse from India, more specifically the region that my family is from. The original Chetak gave his life for his rider, carrying him safely through the battle and then to safety after before succumbing to his own fatal battle wound. My dad told me this story several years before I got a horse and I classified it away with all the other miscellaneous information in my head. I didn't give it anymore weight at the time and definitely never considered the role
Get Motivated
Lately I've been having trouble getting motivated. With Achates laid up it has been hard to keep focused on exactly what my goals are. Honestly, I've been getting a little down on myself which is never a good thing. Thankfully I have great group of friends who support and keep me on track. They remind me that I should be living in the moment, the here and now, and not worrying about what's coming. That I should enjoy every small success that comes my way. So while my faithful warrior rests up I'll take stock of where I'm at and where I