First sits

About a month ago, I was working Sage in the arena, teaching her to line up and stay lined up with the mounting block. It was going okay - not spectacularly, but okay - when my trainer friend, Sarah, walked by, watched for a moment and swooped in. Within five minutes, she had us sorted and moving in a better direction. 

She's a good trainer and a good friend.

Since then, it's been all mounting block, almost all the time.

After a week or two, we got to the point where I'd done everything but actually sit on her. I knew she was ready. I knew I was ready. We just needed a little push.

Right about that same time, my friend, Trisha, who is also a good friend and horse trainer, sent me a message, asking to come meet Sage over Thanksgiving break.

"Oh," I thought to myself. "This is it."

On Sunday, Sage and I had a really good mounting block session. Everyone present was telling me to just get on her. I said no. We had a plan. Monday was the day. I was confident, excited and happy. I knew we were ready. I couldn't wait to look between her ears.

I didn't sleep at all that night. By midnight, my excitement had turned to anxiety. I am fifty six years old and a middling rider at best. What makes me think I should be getting on a four year old, unbroken mustang, who was completely wild this time last year? I can't afford to get hurt. Why am I doing this? Maybe I should ask someone younger, stronger and more experienced to do it for me.

Fortunately, my confidence returned with the sun. I remembered that the four year old  mustang in question was Sage, an actual unicorn.

I thought about all those walks and training sessions. I know we were ready. It knew it would be fine.

I was right.

Trish arrived as I was tacking up Sage. We took her to the arena and did a little bit of groundwork. Then I walked her over to the mounting block, and she lined herself up. I mounted, sat and dismounted several times. 

I think these video clips are of the first and second sits, but they could be second and third.

Once we knew she was going to be okay, we asked for a few steps. At first, Sage said no. Apparently, I'd done a little too good a job of teaching her to stop at the mounting block and not move. She was extremely reluctant to take a step, not because she was worried about carrying my weight, but because she is a perfect, baby angel who wants to do what she's been trained to do. Fortunately, she's also a perfect, greedy, baby angel who is susceptible to carrot bribes.

We got this far from the mounting block.

Here's our first between the ears shot.

It's a long way from first sits to trained riding horse, but this is still a big milestone. I am so pleased with the way it went. I am so pleased with Sage.