In two weeks from tomorrow, i will have been here for six months. That is not shocking to me for some odd reason. I think that's because i've finally settled in and everything feels like home to some extent. Waves of homesickness come and go but they are definitely not as bad as when I first got here. Thank god. I'm recognizing things when we drive places, and i could tell you how to get to the beach or LA (mostly because every single sign out here has an exit for it). The longer i'm here, the stronger my desire is to explore. Hopefully i can soon! Six months goes by faster than i thought...
Trying to explain the things i've learned about riding would be impossible. The things i've been learning are starting to become ingrained in my head every time i get into a saddle. I have this subconscious checklist i go through throughout my entire ride, not only for me but the horse too. How's my position, where are my legs, hands, are my fingers closed, is my right leg too far back? Is the horse on the bit, on the forehand, is he listening to my aids? The list goes on and on and on....It's pretty amazing because i feel like i am in a boot camp. I've started expecting a certain level of work from every horse i ride. I think that's the teamwork aspect; i put in a certain level of effort and the horse should work as hard as i do. The most rewarding thing for me has been seeing and feeling the change in my horse. He is so different and so much easier to ride in comparison to when he first got here. Suzie rode him the other day and that was the first time i got to see him go around. I was so proud; because of the work i've done with him he feels better and looks even more handsome than he did before (if that's possible). I can't wait to see what he's like in another five months. I can't wait to know then, what I still have to learn now.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what I'm going to do when my apprenticeship is done here. The idea of moving back home is always comforting, but i've been wondering if that's really what i want to do. What i really want is to learn as much as possible, and to become as good of a trainer and rider as i can be. It's good to keep my mind open to anything and everything. Who knows, maybe i'll be shipped over to Germany for a few months! I just know that whatever opportunities have yet to make their way into my life, i won't be afraid to take risks in order t0 have the experiences.
One thing that i've realized is how important it is to have balance in your life. I am living my dream, but now that i've been here for so long it's time to meet some people and actually start having a little bit of a life outside of the barn. I just hope that i can meet people here that are as amazing as my friends from back home!
Well hopefully i'll write sooner than i have been. Until next time.....
