Back in the saddle.
No seriously, in an actual saddle.
While I spend the majority of my time in Phoenix, I’m a sorry excuse for a cowgirl. However, having at least done some shooting, making guacamole and margaritas, tacos, and now horseback riding, I feel like I’m getting there.
I went to the Arizona Cowboy College for a lesson on horseback riding. I’ve been on a horse several times before, but not in recent memory. I was clearly due for a refresher. Lori, head horse lady there, took me through the process of getting my faithful steed all set up and ready to ride.
This is not Mr. Ed. This is Sir. Get used to saying, Yessir!
He’s so pretty!
So we get Sir and she instructs me how to put the lead on and takes me through brushing him and getting him ready for the tack. We select a pad and a saddle and after buckling about 14 different buckles and straps (no one wants to fall off a horse), we get him ready to go.
Now Lori looks like you’d expect a cowgirl to look, minus the hat. She’s tanned and has sunstreaked hair, jeans and boots. She’s engaging and has a long and storied history with horses and Arizona so I’m loving listening to her tell me about her experiences. She gets me all set up on Sir and we start walking around the ring – me doing my best to steer a horse who seems like maybe he’s still groggy. The ring is set up for jumping and all sorts of equestrian skill tests that I’m not remotely qualified to attempt. She has me step up the game and get ol’ Sir up to a canter. Exciting! I’m so fast!
But as I’m tooling around on my new ride, I mention that I’m semi-familiar with some rodeo/horsey type things and that awhile back I had a friend that used to ride barrels. And guess who gets to take Mr. Sir for a ride around some faux barrels? Ummm yes, MEEEEEE!
Please be tolerant with the videos. 
I’m working on it. Baby steps. I’m not all fancy yet.
Turns out there are different classes you can take – I’m thinking about building on my cowgirling skills and maybe going for 3 or 6 days sessions. Some classes even involve cows. I really hope that involves a lasso…
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Have you ever seen Major Payne? It reminds me of the scene where the deaf kid goes “dir yes dir” (or sir yes sir).
Loving the riding of the horse with 1 hand and filming with the other – that shows extreme amounts of badassery. Soon enough you’ll be hopping small fences with musical accompaniment in your videos – POW!
In case you get throwed, here’s a walking story that came out of of AZ that you might like to critique:
http://roadprincess.yolasite.com
Tough gals are the best! Love yuh!
{ 2 trackbacks }