Private Lesson

 

The theme tune to 'The Good The Bad And The Ugly' rang out. I took out my cell phone from my pocket and answered It. It was mom."Hi mom....Yes I'm fine thanks....Yes I'm wearing clean under pants....Yes I'm eating well....Look I'll call you back later mom, only my instructor has just arrived. I'm having a private lesson as a  refresher course you could say....Bye then....Yes I love you too mom,bye."

 

 Only my instructor turned out to be my instructress ! A lady by the name of Goldie Horne. She watched as I tacked Smokie and led him into the manege. I mounted like in the cowboy films, reins in the left hand and holding the horn of the saddle at the same time, I put my left foot through the stirrup facing Smokie's front end. I pushed with my left and swung my right leg over Smokie's back, my right foot went into the right stirrup and I settled gently into the saddle.
 "Do you always mount that way ?" Goldie asked.
 "I can do it either way," I smiled, " I just prefer facing the horse's head when mounting".
 To tell you the truth I started to day dream, recalling the past when I used to get bitten on the ass when mounting facing the rear of a certain sorrel colored mare....with sharp teeth. She got me every time mounting that way. Oh, that seems....so long ago. The mare's name was Sherrie, very pretty mare. Half Arab, half Cob....should of been half Dobermann half Rottweiler ! I used to break out in a sweat as my dad drove me for lessons.
 "Are you listening Mister McCormack ?"
 "Um, sorry got a little distracted, and um, call me Kyle."
 I must listen to the instructions, after all I had paid for these lessons. She went on about position in the saddle and leg positions....well I am sure I could teach her a few....if you catch my drift !
 So now I was instructed to walk Smokie and bring him to a halt. Then she said some things about sinking my weight down into my stirrups through both legs. That was good advice as I had two legs. We went on to trotting and finally going over the cavaletti jumps. To finish this lesson I was instructed to jump over a the upright gate fence. Easy !

 

From up here on Smokies's back, I had a good view down Goldie's blouse. Didn't she know what that does to a guy or perhaps she did as she caught me ogling her and she buttoned up her blouse. She said we would do more advanced moves next time....I chuckled....she carried on, "like leg-yielding"....again a broad smile spread slowly across my face....as another interpretation sprung to mind...."side pass" she continued, "and we'll see how you are on flying change, if you're ready for it."
 "Oh I'm ready for it."
After dismounting Smokie I turned him loose into the paddock or manege area we had been using. Next Goldie discussed what I needed to work on. I booked another lesson for the following week, she lived in Twinbrook so had not got far to come in her car. I waved her off as she drove away. Describe her, um short blonde hair...dyed blonde that is, blue eyes I think, well my mind wasn't on her um, face and about late thirty's....maybe I was being a bit cruel in the age department.
 I was planning on heading into town to buy a book I had seen last week in 'Waterstones', another family run business. So off I went. Sabrina was in charge of the shop today as her parents were away attending a book fare as I recall. Sabrina Waterstone, was a real chatterbox, and single. She had long brown hair with a broad hairband holding it off her face. She lived above the shop with her brother and parents.
 "Hi again," she called to me as I entered the shop,"What can I do for you ?"
 "Hi, I saw a book last week on general horse care, riding techniques, tack, holidays etcetera. Have you still got it ?"
 "Should have, I'll have a look for you,....here it is, is this the one you mean ?"

Got to read this

 I purchased the book for $14.99 and fifteen minutes later, managed to....escape out the door while she was serving another customer. She could talk, that Sabrina !
 Back home Life was waiting for me and after seeing to Smokie , I made a fuss of her and played tug-of-war with her for a bit then set about making dinner. Steak with fries and a mixed salad.
 Later that night before I went to bed I entered on my laptop diary....read book thoroughly, see what I can do realistically, practice practice practice !

My First Horse.

 Three days later, Chuck, true to his word had called by with Joe and baled the hay. Some into those large round bales and some into regular bales. Chuck had brought Luke with him. I guessed Luke's age as being about eighteen or there abouts. Luke had heard I was after a western saddle and bridle and as it happened, had one for sale. We haggled a bit then finally agreed on a price and sealed it with the usual hand shake.

 The other night, I had been searching a few web sites looking at horses and ponies for sale at a price I could afford. One caught my eye. I hovered over the photo and clicked on it and watched a short film of the gray gelding being put through his paces. Okay so he was fifteen years old and had recently been retired from show life. I emailed my interest in the horse and got an immediate response from the other end. It seems the horse was well trained and would teach me more in two weeks then a youngster could in three months....and as I hadn't rode for eleven years....are you working my age out ? I thought the horse would be ideal both for me to start with and for potential customers to ride. After a while of emailing to and fro, I filled out an holding deposit on the horse and arranged to pay the rest on the safe arrival of the horse.

 Excitement and apprehension shot through me as I glanced at my watch. I would soon be the proud owner of my first horse ! I went and changed out of my coveralls and put my on my new outfit I had bought from McCloud's General Store. Better check myself in the mirror. Yup, that will do. Wish I had bought that cowboy hat though. Maybe next time. Oh ! Here's the horse box now. My heart skipped a beat.

 A young lady in her late teens or early twenties jumped down from the cab of the horse box.

 She had blonde hair and deep blue eyes. "Hi....um, mister McCormack".

 It was more a statement then a question, "My name's Jolene, I have your horse for you. Let's give him a few minutes before unloading".

 I nodded in agreement "My name's Kyle. How was the journey ?"

 "Fine thanks, had no trouble in finding your place".

 Life was where I'd left her in the house, only now she was looking through the window, tail furiously wagging and barking her head off.

 Jolene lit up a cigarette and offered me one which I declined. I thanked her but told her I didn't smoke. I gave her my American Express card details, signed my signature and she gave me a bill of sale, passport and all the other papers. I helped her unload the horse. A beautiful American Quarter horse, dappled gray, two white socks, black mane and tail. "You gonna tack him up and ride him ?" she said with a broad smile.

  That smile so....distracting so....sexy, and I caught her eyeing up my butt. "Um, I'll just let him settle a while in the paddock area adjoining the barn". I was gonna use this area eventually for schooling horses and potential clients learning or improving their riding skills. Besides It was bigger than the corral and I could watch him better.  As I hadn't rode for nearly eleven years....think I already told you that, I didn't want her to,um....watch me incase I fell off and then she might laugh at me. I just mumbled some instructions out to her, and she loosed him into the enclosed area to where I pointed.

 Jolene smiled....or was it a smirk ? She got into the cab of the horse box and waved goodbye. I couldn't believe I'd let her go without trying some of my charm on her. Seems I'm getting out of practice in that direction too ! I lent on the fence watching my horse....my first horse....of many. I day dreamed of what I'd be doing, like running a riding school on the place, may be taking grass liverys in, perhaps holiday stays, anything I could do to make a go out of the place. May be organize beach rides, take on staff, trail rides....hang on....slow down a bit....all in good time ! My horse came over to me and I let him sniff my hand.

 "What shall I call you ?" I looked at the names of some of his blood line. "Nah ! them won't do, think I'll call you Smokie", I said patting his neck. "We'll get along real fine....won't we fella ?"

 I left Smokie to explore his surroundings while I went for Lunch. Grilled pacific salmon with wild rice and steamed asparagus....well thats what it said on the box. I put it into the microwave and opened a beer. To round the meal off I finished off the coconut cream pie.

 Now to tack Smokie up and see what I had remembered....or forgot !

 Thought for the day....Didn't do too bad, might arrange for a few private lessons though.