Untitled - Campbell University

you’re going. Engage him, squeeze with your calf muscles to get him going. That’s it.
Watch your heels, keep them down.”
After two trips around the arena, I ask Gypsy to trot. This is fine; if he
stumbles, I’m at a fair enough position to catch myself. Unlike I will be at the
canter…
I remember how the canter felt before I was suddenly flying through the air.
Smooth, pleasant, rather like riding a rocking horse, only much, well…faster. And
farther off the ground. Gypsy has a great canter though, and it’s very enjoyable to
ride with.
Do I dare…
Before I can even complete the thought, Rachel calls, “Okay, ask him to
canter.” She must notice me stiffen at once, for she adds, “Don’t worry. Just relax
and ride. Go ahead.”
I take a deep breath. Gypsy, in the absence of any command, slows to a
walk, and I don’t correct him. Deep breath. In through the nose, out through the
mouth. You can do this, I think. You’ve done it before and not done a faceplant into the
ground. You’ve got this.
I pull back slightly on the right rein and lift the left one, shifting his body so
that he’s almost sidestepping. At the same time, I apply pressure with my right calf.
Gypsy speeds up a little but doesn’t break gait. It’s no surprise; he can tell that I don’t
want to do this.
Yet at the same time…I do.
I close my eyes for just a second.
“Well…if I’m going to die, then it might as well be while doing something I
love.”
And I ask for the canter.
Gypsy breaks into a perfect canter, and I panic. I grip his body with my legs
as tight as possible and hold my breath without being aware of it. “Relax!” Rachel
calls, but she might as well be talking to the fence for all the good it does.
Gypsy canters on, as if unaware of my crisis. He rounds the corner nicely
and doesn’t break stride once. I can see we are approaching that spot, the place he’d
stumbled last time. I brace myself.
We pass over it without the slightest falter.
I make it around the arena once before I can’t take anymore and bring Gypsy
back down to a trot. Rachel cheers and yells, “See I told you you could do it!”
I smile weakly. Yes, I’ve done it. This time. But the ride isn’t over yet. There
are still plenty of opportunities to get hurt.
Yet to my great relief, the rest of the ride goes smoothly. We canter once
more, this time in the other direction, and my body stiffens in terror again,
but it doesn’t last quite as long, and I’m more able to control what’s happening.
123