Look Ma, No Stirrups!

So a couple lessons ago, Ike the trainer took away my reins...He decided to continue the trend, so once again I found myself in a round pen with a horse, a trainer, a missing piece of equipment, and no way out.

Apparently I have the habit of standing up in the stirrups when attempting to canter (well, technically the horse can successfully canter; the trouble, rather, is with me attempting to stay on the horse). To remedy my problem, Ike thought it best to remove the source of the problem...the stirrups. On top of all of this I was in an English saddle, which is something akin to riding a horse with a bike seat strapped to it.

For twenty minutes I sat on a horse as it ran in circles, while I attempted (successfully, thank goodness) to stay aboard. As we progressed Ike said, "Wow Cory, you're a fantastic rider when you don't have stirrups!" ...I wasn't sure quite how to take that, but as the horse started speeding up again I decided it best to chalk it up as a compliment and hold on tighter.

I'm pretty sure that the main reason I didn't fall off is because I didn't think my body would react well with the hard wall of the round pen. Either way it was pretty exhilarating and, despite the terror, I think it helped my riding ability (which I typically judge by how sore I am the next day). Watch out Ciara, cuz I'm gonna whoop ya at horse jumping (once my body recovers)!