Light.

I sat atop Polu. A moment of silence as I halted him square towards the far end of the ring. I took a breath and closed my eyes. Polu shifted as he shoo'd a fly away, stomping his front hoof. I kept my eyes closed, feeling the sudden movement, listening to the squeak of the leather Dressage saddle beneath me, rubbing against my leather boots.

I raised my head and opened my eyes to a gently painted blue sky, with only a few clouds. The air was a little cool, but comforting. I am not a heat person. When I ride, I like to do so when the air is just cool enough to feel good in my breeches, not too hot, not too cold. Comfort. I closed my eyes again and opened to see a few birds flying above, lowered my head, adjusted my reins and asked for Polu to walk forward.

At this point, both of us lacked the enthusiasm to do much. Lady Levad left for a 2 week stay in Europe. Her colleague was to step in and continue our training. Polu and I are working consistently 5 days a week, although LL will ride him from 1-3 days herself to keep him tuned. With her being away, I was concerned that Polu and I would lose some motivation, push and desire. And in the fears of fears, lose two weeks of potential growth! Polu has a natural, desriable, work-ethic, however with me piloting him, we, or I rather, occasionally falter. LL is quick to comment that my own work-ethic needs work. She kindly suggests that Polu is sacrificed potential. He could easily go as a grand prix mount, but not under my riding. - I should sell him or hire a rider because it's ludicrous I waste his talents on my own selfish desires as a rider. But, LL fails to understand that I am a testament to her own training and riding. If I fail to progress further, part of it is on her shoulders. It's a fact of being a riding instructor.

Polu is the horse of my dreams to be very honest. He's one of the most lovely horses I've been around, with correct conformation, a highly trainable mind and 3 fabulous gaits. He's the perfect marriage of sensitivity and maturity. He rarely has a silly moment, as everything is very business to him and he strives to be a perfectionist. I'd say he is a dream to sit, because his gaits are dreams indeed, but they are definitely a challenge for anyone other than that of the advanced levels to sit. He has an expressive front end, with an equally so, hind end. His front end floats ahead, the hind end powers from behind with purpose and meaning. I am, in love.

Lady Levad's colleague is late. I am concerned. I walk Polu over to my cell, which is sitting on the wall of the arena. - LL would not like this, as she assures me the only thing to do with cell's at the barn, is to leave them in their proper place, the car. I often times see LL, hypocritical to her own barn morals, chatting it up for hours on end at the barn while a farrier, vet or barn employee works under her. They often comment, that her discussions on the telephone go on from business, to personal, laughs to anger and different languages all throughout a short time while one professional in her presence. LL assures everyone that over-seas business concerns of the highest priority and must be delt with no matter what. But, that we, the clients, must leave business at the barn gate to make positive we are prepared for training and nothing else.

To my cell, I look at it to see if I missed a call from said colleague. Nothing. I must be home by 6pm, it's already 4 and I'm doubting my 3:30, hour lesson, has been canceled without my knowledge. I make a quick call to LL. It must be night in Europe. She answers in all seriousness.

"Hello Elizabth."

"Hello (insert her name) aka Lady Levad."

"I was under the impression that you had scheduled my lessons with _____ for the week, posted on Polu's schedule board. I was expecting her at 3:30 and have yet to see her."

"Elizabeth, I thought I informed you that _____ will be riding Polu while I am gone. Therefore no lessons. It is much easier to make sure Polu is on the right track. You can schedule lessons with _____ if you wish and I would recommend, but I only contacted her regarding Polu."

" (LL) I think I need as much attention to training as Polu does. I need to keep up with him."

"I do not have time to discuss this with you right now. ____ will be there soon, she has many horses and one less groom this week, so her program is running behind right now. Have patience."

"Good-bye"

With that, LL hung up and I was left, feeling un-welcome atop my own horse.

Grip.

Taking hold of his oily, yet soft white mane, I grabbed hold. My perfectly positioned toe, on that perfectly shiny iron. I gracefully lofted myself above the white horses back. I sat for a moment, checking my stirrups to ensure they were of the right length. I adjusted my reins and began to move away from the illustrious mounting block.

My instructor, Lady Levad (I call her) was fashionably late. We had a mutual understanding of this, sometimes, necessary statement in timing. I was also late to arrive at the barn, so while LL was late to give me my lesson, it allowed me to give Polutios the appropriate time needed for warm-up. He required little, however. He was as soft, supple and delightful as they come. He should be, afterall. He was mine.

Lady Levad finally arrived, an appropriate 10 minutes later. She was perfectly poised as she walked to the indoor arena. Surprisingly, she snacthed a chair, sat down and said in her demanding yet exquisite European accent, "Lets begin. No time to haste."

"LL," I said.

"I'm too exhausted to do tempi's today, I think Polu is as well. Can we save that for tomorrow?"

LL looks in my direction. She glimmers as she smiles.

"We must do tempi's. It's important we continue. One day of slipping will cause a break in training."

Without another word, I agree. LL knows it is shameful for me to make a request, especially about those tempi's.

They have come easy, yet difficult for Polu. He rushes through them and becomes frustrated when I ask for him to slow. Then in a split second, the tempi's fall apart. Schooling 2-tempi's has proved our nemesis.

LL has us begin by doing some walk to trot and then trot to canter transitions, up and down until she feels that he is supple enough to continue to lateral work. I digress. Dressage is not easy.

Polu becomes increasingly irritated, as his down transition from the canter isn't what LL wants. I ask, again, he drops his shoulder and slams into the sandy arena footing.

LL shouts to use my outside rein, pick him up, ask again.

Again, I ask. Again Polu disagrees. Then, he bucks. I stop. LL says continue. I do and again he bucks, this time harder.

This continues, until I fall off. A fall from grace.

LL is disappointed I couldn't sit that, unflattering, little mans buck.

The ride ends not too long after. My boots, breeches and even my face have traces of arena footing, further proof, that I am not the rider I hoped to be.

As LL leaves, sadness sets in as I ponder my failure. Pitty, pitty.

The Blog; Rider Writes, An Introduction.

Rider Writes is written by me; a self-proclaimed equestrian who has spent 10 years in and out of the saddle. I have owned horses and own horses now, have spent many years practicing the art of riding, training and horse ownership along-side my only teacher, the horse. Today, after observing the horse industry from within and a-far, I have decided to write about my own experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly here on this blog.