Adventures in Horse Riding

For only my second time riding a horse, I like to think I did pretty well. I stayed on the horse which was a huge win. I was also the best in the class (sure there was only a 7 and 8 year old, but still).

There are many things I have learned about horseback riding in my two lessons. Trotting is way faster when are on the horse. My wife likened it to driving a car – the first time you are in the driver’s seat, slow speeds feel like a million miles an hour. I am told that sensation gets better the more you ride. I was concerned because horses have four gaits: walk, trot, canter, and gallop. (Humans only have walk and run.) If trot feels like I am on a bouncy lightning bolt, what is canter going to feel like?

I did have plenty of practice trotting during the lesson and even weaved through some cones. Getting a horse to trot is not as easy as I thought it would be. Sometimes you have to give them a good kick! The kick gets them from “you are a beginner and I will do as I please” to “gahhh! I didn’t realize you were serious – fine, let’s trot.” My horse, Rico, is a little challenging to get going; some would call him lazy.

When Rico and I are walking, it is not enough to just walk. Just walking is for suckers. Instead I have him weave through the giant mounds of horse poop. I figure Rico doesn’t want to walk through it and it helps me work on my steering. Everyone wins.

We are a team – Team Drico.



In other news, I built a square foot garden – 3x3. It is only one third filled with herbs. Basil, parsley, and rosemary. So far they are doing well. Pictures will be forth coming. Once complete, building a garden will totally go on my list of new things. Also on my list of new things, I am making limoncello. Just to be clear, I will not put every new food I make on my new things list, but it is a three month process. Anything new that is a three month process counts.



Lastly, I bought, well Mary bought me, a heart rate monitor watch. It is pretty cool. I used when I played ultimate Frisbee this past weekend. I think the monitor is pretty accurate. I was getting tired when my heart rate was high and better when the heart rate dropped. It was in line with my heart rate zones. What I decided is that I am out of shape (for me), and need to do more aerobic exercise. I think the heart rate monitor watch will assist greatly in this endeavor.



To recap, horses = fun; garden = awesome; heart rate monitor watch = healthy.

1 x 30

Revisit, Reboot, Restart - whatever re- you want you use, I am retrying blogging. I have to be more successful than my last two attempts. So, why begin writing again? For one thing, it is a healthy outlet. Maybe I have something to say, and maybe someone wants to read it. Although that might be wishful thinking.

I just turned 30 a little less than a month ago. Still hasn't sunk in, but there doesn't feel like there is anything to sink in. I want this year to be something different than previous years. I decided to do... wait for it... 30 new things! Starting today!

Today, I went horseback riding. I am signed up for 8 lessons. It was more fun than I thought it would be. Sure I am in a class with an 8 and 7 year old, but it is more about you and the horse than the other riders. Since there are only three of us in the class, it is basically a semi-private lesson.

My horse is named Rico. He is a brown horse with a white face. Very sweet. It is tougher to him moving, so I am told. I am not sure I would know until I ride other horses. We walked and trotted and zigged zagged through cones and stopped. Towards the end of the lesson, the instructor, Angie, creates an impromptu obstacle course combining all the elements of the days lesson. There is a lot more to horse riding than sitting.

And so, 29 more new things to go!