Ally

Chapter 21

I'm actually riding a horse.

Okay fine, maybe more like sitting on one, but still!

I already know that i'm gonna be sore tomorrow because i haven't ridden in so long, but it's worth it.

My stirrups are a bit long, but i don't really care.

It feels so good to be back on a horse, almost like there was a part of me that was missing and i finally found it.

Before the accident, horses were my life.

I'd be at the barn 6 days a week, riding and helping with chores.

" Nice job Ally, you look like you never stopped riding." Ann calls out.

I grin, " Thanks." i tell her.

" I say it because it's true, now how about you try and walk Diego around on the rail." Ann instructs.

" K" I say.

Slight technical difficulty, i have no clue where the rail is.

That might be a problem.

Wait, i think i found it.

My foot bangs against the fence.

Yep, i definitely found it.

" You okay Ally?" Ann asks.

" Yea, i'm fine." I respond.

" Good" She says, " Keep walking on the rail for a few more minutes, then were gonna try something else."

I nod my head.

For some reason, not being able to see while i'm riding is easier then i originally thought it was going to be.

Maybe it's because i already know how to ride, or maybe it's because Diego is making it easy for me.

Whatever it is, i thankful for it, because i remember what i looked like when i was first starting to ride and it was not good.

I looked like a dying fish.

Scratch that, a dead fish.

It looked like i was clinging on for dear life, probably because i was.

" Okay Ally, try and pick up a nice slow jog. Take it easy. Remember that this is your first time riding in a while." Ann calls out.

I nod my head in response and cluck to Diego to pick up a trot.

Diego, being the lazy horse that he is, decides that he's rather keep walking.

I squeeze with my legs and ask Diego to trot again, but he just keeps on walking.

" Really Diego?" i mutter to him.

I ask him to trot and he finally listens.

For about ten seconds.

I cluck to Diego and put more pressure on my legs until he picks up a trot.

" Good boy." i say to him.

He has a pretty smooth trot which is nice.

Aspen had a big bouncy trot that could be pretty hard to sit.

" Good job Ally, now on the count of three we're gonna stop." Ann instructs.

Oh god, i hated it when my old instructor did this.

Yea, i get how it can help if you just started riding, but after a while it becomes kind of pointless.

" 1"

" 2"

"3" Ann calls out.

" Whoa boy." I say to Diego as i ask him to stop.

He stops, probably happy that he doesn't have to trot anymore.

" Okay Ally, now i'm gonna have you come to the middle of the arena and stop."

" K" I respond to Ann.

Wait, how am i supposed to know where the middle of the arena is?

" Umm, Ann?" I say.

" Yes Ally?" She asks.

" How am i supposed to know where the middle of the arena is?" 

" Just try and find it." She responds.

Well that was helpful.

I know that i'm on the rail right now, so if i turn away from it and walk forward then i should end up in the middle at some point, right?

I'll try and probably fail.

But it's not like i have a better idea.

I turn Diego away from the rail and walk forward until i think that i'm close to the middle of the arena.

" That was pretty good for your first try, we'll work on it." Ann tells me, " Do you know the pattern for clover leaf?"

I nod my head.

I know the pattern, i just can't do it that well.

" Good. I already set up the barrels so let's try it!" Ann says enthusiastically.

How's that supposed to work?

" Don't i need to, you know, be able to actually see the barrels?" I ask, extremely confused.

" Nope." She replies.

I am so confused right now.

" Each barrel has a speaker on it that's playing a different song ." Ann explains, " If you listen to the songs you should be able to tell which barrel is which. The first barrel is playing " Knockin' boots" Because that song is stuck in my head for some reason, the second barrel is playing, "Savage love" because that song is way to catchy for it's own good, and the third barrel is playing " Never seen the rain" because i heard that song on the radio. Got it?" 

" Yep" I respond.

I guess i never thought of using sounds to navigate while your riding.

I mean, if you can do it on the ground then you can do it on a horse.

I'm probably going to suck at this.

No, i am going to suck at this.

" Okay Ally, you ready to try this?" Ann asks while helping me bring Diego to the time line.

I nod my head in response.

" Remember to take it easy. I've seen some videos of you competing and you were on fire, but today is just a day to help you get back into things, Also your riding Western instead of English."

I nod my head again.

" As soon as you cross the line, the timer starts. Okay, GO!" Ann calls out.

I start out at a jog and make sure to listen to the songs so that i don't fail completely.

When were heading back from the last barrel, Diego breaks into a slow lope which was not expected but fun nonetheless.

" Pretty good Ally, 38.6 seconds." Ann tells me when i get back.

" Thanks." I reply.

" I think that's a good note to end today's lesson on, why don't you walk Diego around for a bit to cool him off then you can dismount and un-tack." Ann instructs.

I nod my head and start walking Diego around the arena.

Today was really fun, it feels nice to get back on.

As my mom would've said, i'm in my element.