Natural Rider?

Last night I had a few appointments after work so I didn’t get out to the barn until later. When I got there I found that my sister had been kind enough to clean the stalls for me and sweep the alley (they’d been in the night before due to a storm).

I realize this sounds like a nice, sweet, gesture but it is actually much more. You see sis is scared of the horses. She typically won’t even set foot in the pasture if I’m there and heaven forbid there is a horse anywhere close to the barn. We all grew up with horses (from age 8 up) so I’m not sure where her deep seated fear of horses comes from but it’s real and it’s there so I won’t ignore it.

I know the last show we went to she rode and actually enjoyed herself (at least I think she did). She has asked me to teach her how to ride so she can help her kids more since she knows that for at least one of them (Shari) this passion of horses isn’t going away anytime soon.

My sister has become comfortable with Nikki but it’s hard not to be comfortable around her. Besides being a hair taller than a lab, she’s cute as a button too. I’m trying to get her confidence transferred over to the big horses but that’s posing to be a real challenge.

Last night we (I) saddled up Sis and we went to the RP. I put my sister on and taught her how to flex (although Sis isn’t the best on to show that on since she’s stiffer than a cob) and explained the ORS. While she got comfortable with that I jumped on Max.

She seems to be ok at the walk or the canter (in a small pen or arena) but she is scared to death of the trot! I tried to teach her how to trot & post last night but she wasn’t comfortable giving me the control. When she finally did I was amazed! She is such a natural rider. Her legs are where they need to be, here seat is where it needs to be and beside needing to learn to “feel” the horse a little more she was in cadence with Sis most of the night.

I was pretty ticked! (sarcastic smiley here) I’ve ridden my entire life (well most of it) and I have to work to ride well yet my sister who is afraid of horses has such a natural seat. How does this work again?

I’m proud of her. She’s trying to overcome a fear and I really do think she enjoys the horses. I just think she “thinks” she would enjoy the smaller ones (Nikki, Abby) more but I’ll bet she’s riding the big ones in no time at all!