But as I drive, I can’t help wondering whether the little cottage I’m sharing with Trish is even my home.I’m beginning to think this insane move was just that—a crazy mistake.Because those rude Irish women might be right.I may be too boring, too weak, and too American for this new life I started.As much as I hate to admit it, even to myself, I miss the safety and the comfort of Colorado.
Ireland’s feeling like less of an escape and more of a prison.
11
Samantha
Training new horses is fun.
Training new ridersandnew horses, well, it’s a little nerve-wracking.Even so, with close to daily rides, it’s neat to see Natalie and both her older girls flourishing.
Even with an accomplished rider, Riona has been a bit of a mess.Natalie’s managing it, but getting her lead changes to be smooth has been harder than we thought.Plus, she often over jumps things.Dramatically.“Okay, that’s probably enough transitions.Let’s try a lead change,” I say.
Natalie grimaces, but she doesn’t argue.
She angles Riona around the corner of the arena, and then she holds herself and the horse painfully straight, and then she sits back on her left hip and asks her to move over.Riona’s change is immediate and smooth, and the smile spreads over Natalie’s face like creamy peanut butter across hearty, whole grain bread.“Oh, good girl.”She pats her shoulder.“That was perfect.”
“Bring her around and change the other direction,” I say.
I might have imagined it, but I think Natalie just swore.
“You’ll be fine.”I laugh.
“This is her bad way,” Natalie mutters, just before she asks.But it’s a good morning, and Riona changes smoothly again.
“I think we’re almost ready,” I say.“Those both looked great, and you kept yourself entirely straight.”
“For once,” Natalie says.
“That’s good, because the show’s a week away,” Clara says.“We’d better be looking good by now.”
“Alright,” I say.“Then you go next.Show me your pattern.”
Clara and Hannah are starting slow, doing the novice jumper course and a dressage pattern.I think it’s been great for Dara to build her confidence over easy, easy cross rails and with very simple patterns.
Clara starts her off perfectly, getting a good rhythm and not cutting the corners.
“Nice,” I say.“Stayed just where you should on that bend.”
Then she turns Dara for the first cross rail, but I can see the tension in her eyes and in her hands.Dara’s head pops up, her ears flattening as they go over the jump.It’s hard for kids going over tiny jumps to go into jump position properly, because they just don’t have to lean very much.But they can’t handle bigger jumps without popping the horses’ faces as they land the jumps.
Clara still does it with almost every jump.
“Remember, don’t throw your hands away, but give her just a little release as you clear the poles.”
“I know,” Clara says.“I’m trying.”She does better over the second jump, but then when she comes around the bend, headed for the vertical in the center, she pops her again.
I don’t have to tell her.She can see it in Dara’s ears.“Your horse is tattling on you, and I know that’s hard to watch, when she pins her ears, but she’s an honest girl.You’ll appreciate that later.”
On her second line and the last vertical jump, she actually does much better, releasing with her hands just enough.
“Wow, those looked amazing.”I nod.“If you can do that during the show next week, you might walk away with some nice blue ribbons.”
Clara’s smiling.
But when I set up four more jumps for Hannah, her younger sister, and I raise the cross rails, I can tell she’s a little frustrated.It’s hard to watch your younger sister be better at something.It’s also what happens when you take a few years off, so Natalie and I try not to talk about it.
Hannah and Conor are the best fit in the barn.I mean, Conor would probably be the best fit for most anyone.He’s willing, he’s amiable, and boy is he talented.But watching them course around at two feet, and then once they clear those perfectly, two-six, is a thing of beauty.“Your improvement has been remarkable,” I say.“You two have really come together as a pair.I love you so much, I’m not even using Conor this week for any trail rides.I don’t want anyone messing anything up.”
