I rode today! This is the first time since the accident. I was sort of nervous about it, but everything went smoothly. Penny was antsy in the cross ties while I was getting her ready. Was it because I was nervous, or just because she was taken away from her herd mates? After the ride, she was very mellow. Was it the exercise, as mild as it was, that calmed her, or because I was no longer nervous? The barn owner and one of her daughters rode with me, and we stayed in the ring, but I walked, trotted, and cantered. Penny behaved herself impeccably, as if the last time I rode her was just yesterday. I'm lucky to have a horse like that. I saddled and bridled her all by myself, which I wasn't sure I could do, especially getting the girth tight enough, but it all went well. I did find that switching my dressage whip from one side to the other was difficult but not impossible, since I had to raise my arm enough so the whip cleared Penny's withers. And when I dismounted, I didn't realize that keeping my right hand on the saddle when I jumped down would jerk it up painfully, but I survived. One of the barn owner's sons took pictures, so if they turn out, after she has sent them to me, I'll try to post at least one.
In spite of waking up to snow, the sun came out, the snow melted quickly, and it was a lovely day to try riding again. Just when I was wondering if I'd ever get back on a horse!
