July 12, 2012

How bad do you want it?

This is a question I ask myself before I ride, when I'm riding, and after I ride. How bad do I want to event? What am I willing to do to succeed?

Today I had a lesson on Griffon, an Irish Draught. It was also in the high 80s today with high humidity. Since the indoor was way to dusty to ride in I rode outside for my lesson.

During my lessons I have been working on strengthening my lower leg and making it solid in order to drive the horse forward. I have my good moments and bad moments, but it is certainly coming along.

Towards the end of my lesson I really started to feel tired, and Griffon felt my energy draining too because he became much harder to stay in the trot, let alone have him still be forward.

Eventually it got to the point where I had to take my feet out of the stirrups to get him into a trot (I know BAD Stasha) but I was so weak and my awesome trainer was shouting at me to get him into the trot "A few more rounds Stasha and we'll call it a day!" so I knew just walking wasn't going to get us anywhere.

I finally had to call it a day when I almost puked from the heat. Yeah, it almost got bad, and I really didn't want to stop but I knew Griffon wouldn't like it if I hurled while I was on top of him (I bet no one has desensitized a horse for THAT). Having to call it a day early made me feel like a quitter, because I know eventers show in this weather and probably in even hotter and more humid weather, and I couldn't even last an hour just trotting around.

Please don't pity me, it's my own fault, if I was riding more than once a week I'd be much farther along in my learning. My trainer, because she is so great, has always told me that I can work for an hour and then ride after, but with me working sometimes past 5, and my car only getting 19 miles to the gallon, the barn being 30-45 minutes away depending on how well my car wants to run, and having a TON of stuff to do at home, I never seem to find the time to make it out at least a second time. I have been looking for people nearby that may have a ridable horse that I can ride just so I can work on me, but no luck so far. I am hoping when school starts up I can still take lessons with my current trainer and ride multiple times a week at the barn on campus.

Until then I'm just going to be thankful for the times that I am able to ride, and I will continue asking myself how bad I want to do this!

Thanks for reading :)

2 comments:

  1. It's HARD to make yourself ride when it's hot and/or humid out. So yeah, you have to want it pretty bad. But having said that, you also have to be really careful with yourself (and of course your horse) in high heat/humidity. You can get overheated and dehydrated so, so quickly. Feeling tired, lightheaded, and like you're going to throw up are BIG RED FLAGS for overheating. Be kind to yourself, take a break, get something to drink (water, e-lytes), and get cool. Heat exhaustion is not something to treat lightly - it can land you in the hospital! And just because others can ride in those conditions and are used to it doesn't mean that you should expect that of yourself if you're not acclimated for that kind of exertion in that kind of weather.

    One thing that can help (other than frequent breaks while riding) is to load up on liquids, potassium, and sodium starting 6 or so hours before you ride. Drink LOTS on your way to the barn. Ride with a cool towel around your neck. Wear performance fabric (i.e. dry-fit) clothes.. anything to help keep you cool and hydrated. Good luck in your next lesson!

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