Back in the Saddle

I could have used that lyric in yesterday's post. When I was a sickly teenager, I used to have my Aerosmith Greatest Hits cassette cued up to that song and hit the play button when I woke up. If I ever meet them, I'm going to tell them that they got me out of bed every day for a year or so.

Yep, I went to meet my new riding instructor last night. You see, I made a decision over the last week. It's time to make this whole thing legal.

A few years ago I had three riding students, despite my lack of paperwork stating that I'd be qualified to teach. The good old government --or as we sometimes refer to it in this country, La Goovairnmaunt--has decided to get involved with riding establishments. It is actually a good thing in the long run. There have been people running some pretty shady horse operations. But I just bristle at any kind of governmental nose-sticking-in.

anyways....I really liked teaching and I want to keep doing it, but I don't want to get in trouble for it. I want everything to be above board and legit. So, I'm going to take the tests for my Rider Levels and then go for my Instructor's Certificate. Hopefully I'll be able to get my Levels over the summer.

My coach is so great. She's tiny- she's shorter than me! I get dizzy around people who are shorter than me, just because it happens so rarely!!!! But when I'm on her horse it doesn't bother me.
Maybe between my riding instructor and my pilates instructor we can get that slouch out of my back.

My back is killing me today but that's not because of riding. It hurts a lot lately. I went to my first Pilates class and could barely move. I'm the youngest person in the class and the most immobile. I get carded when I want to buy a drink...but I took twice as long to get up off the exercise mat as the rest of the class! Whatevs. No point comparing. I couldn't keep up with the class but it'll slowly get better. Next week maybe I'll only feel like I'm 85 instead of 90.

I can't wait to see my horses again. I picked out a new-old saddle for our little mare today. All I have to do is pay down my credit card a little bit and then, we're going riding!!!!And I'll get some new summer photos too.