Riding lesson

Yesterday afternoon, my husband and I drove out to the stable for my first riding lesson. We found the house number and pulled up the driveway. After searching around, we realized that we had driven past the drive leading to the stable. We met a young girl who helped around the stable and also took lessons. My instructor was finishing a lesson, so I went off with the aide to get the horse. I met Tamara, a beautiful 17 year old Eyptian Arabian. She balked at coming out of the corral, so the teen enticed her with some grass. She found a lead, I attached it and walked her to the inside arena. Tamara is voice trained and gentle, but does not like to go around other horses. So to pass them, I opened the gate into the arena and walked her past the other horses. My instructor showed me where she stored the equipment. I gathered a pad, girth, saddle riser and English saddle. Later I got the bitless bridle. My instructor showed me the proper way to put on the saddle and bridle. I then clucked softly and led Tamara into the arena to the mounting block. Once on Tamara, my instructor adjusted the stirrups and told me to hold the reins as if I were holding an ice cream cone. Hold the reins about an inch above the saddle. As Tamara walked, I felt one with her and spent the next few minutes trying to stay near the rail. I also learned that if Tamara had her ears pointing forward, as she did when she heard a flock of birds chirping outside, that I needed to talk to her and if necessary change direction. Not so critical in the arena, but quite important on a trail where the horse could become a runaway. The time flew by and once I dismounted, I led her, dropping too much rein to my dismay, and into the hallway, where I learned how to stow the saddle and stirrups. I groomed Tamara and then helped my instructor put on her blanket. My husband and I gave her some peppermint candies for her hard work and then I led her outside and the instructor put her into the pen with Jay, her horse friend. I am so very lucky and I have four more lessons!