My mom and I pulled up to the barn and I hopped out because we were a little late.  I was expecting to ride Gracie but instead my trainer Debbie had me grab a brownish gray chestnut with a multicolored mane out of his stall.  I had ridden Ice before loads of times but there was something special about this time: Debbie said that I was going to ride with no reins today!

After Debbie and I tacked Ice up, I walked Ice to the arena and stepped on the mounting block to get on.  I put my foot in the short but light stirrups.  I put my hand on the pommel and swung my leg over the horse’s haunches and gently sat down in the saddle. It was a little easier than with Gracie because Ice is shorter and doesn’t walk away when you are half mounted. Once I had mounted, Debbie said that I would have my reins for the first half of the lesson and that she would put me on the lunge line when she thought Ice was warmed up.  Once we had walked around in the arena two or three times (switching directions each time), Debbie had me trot. While trotting I FINALLY learned about my posting diagonals.  When the horse is trotting they are either on the left lead or right lead and you as the rider should always rise and fall with the leg on the wall.  This way when the horse’s leg goes forward the rider will post. Then a few minutes later Debbie had me walk and she put Ice on the lunge line.  With the lunge line Debbie was able to steer Ice in a circle from the center so that I wouldn’t have to worry about steering.  We started to walk around Debbie.  Then we stopped and I tied my reins in a knot. This way if I felt unstable I could grab the reins and still kind of use them.  Then we started to walk again.  Debbie had me bring Ice to a trot and then to a canter! 

Next I practiced the most difficult jumping position without hands! Afterwards I trotted and then even cantered without hands.  Debbie had Ice and me flip directions and we did the same thing but going to the right.  When I was in jumping position without hands it felt like flying – really flying – and I loved it!  

After the jumping position the rider is supposed to put their seat right back down once they are over a jump. After a few more circles around Debbie, Ice and I walked around the arena going in all the corners.  I hopped off, gave him a sponge bath, and put him back in his stall.  I absolutely LOVED this lesson and can’t wait to do it again!