With twice as many barn chores, and an increased teaching load to pay for our hobby, I found less time to ride. Melissa, always willing to share the joys of equitation, had lots of kids ride Fancy. Several Boy Scouts earned horse-back riding merit badges on her. She was very well liked.
She tolerated, but gave me little respect. Perhaps it was my 200 pounds and/or inexperience at my age. We figured this was so after one frustrating ride. I couldn't get her to move! So Melissa got off OReilley and rode Fancy. Lo and behold, she performed perfectly to the slightest of cues. She showed off a very smooth trot! She performed like the former 4-H dressage horse that she was! Maybe Fancy just didn't like men.
With so little time on the saddle, my experience level stayed neophyte. My horse was well ridden but not by me. I barely got more than half a dozen short rides a year.
There was one ride that Melissa said I did perfectly. Unfortunately, that was 10 minutes of my life that I had absolutely no recollection of. We were riding back the long gravel road from the neighbors, when Melissa asked if she could trot OReilley. As she took off, Fancy took off after them. I remembered trying to grab the saddle horn and slipping. Next thing I knew, I was taking off the saddle by the stall! I asked Melissa where the time went.
Supposedly, I fell off and landed on my back with a thud. I got up, mad as a hornet, chased Fancy, grabbed her reins, remounted, walked her to the spot where I fell and rubbed her nose at the ground. Then, I swung her around with authority and rode her home. I paused by a steep drop just beyond the gate and seemed to want to ride Fancy down the slope. I then chose to dismount and walk her down the slope. Very soon, I returned to present time and found myself untacking my horse.
My best ride, and I did it while in a state of shock-induced temporary amnesia! I guess I have it in me ... somewhere.
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