My adventure of taking a lesson while in Georgia began while I was still home in Nevada.
The first thing I had to do was determine where I should go. Feather helped by directing me to the USDF web site which gave me a list of dressage instructors in the area of Atlanta.
I located them on a map and looked to see which were the closest and the furthest from Atlanta. I checked out those who had websites, and in the end that was the deciding factor, not the distance. After stressing myself out because it was a 51 mile drive from Atlanta”, I discussed it with my husband and we decided Garland Farms was the place I would try first. Not the closest, actually almost the farthest from Atlanta, but the one that felt the most comfortable to me.
After reading their website I felt that the people who run the farm, Gina Krueger and her husband John, seemed like regular folks. I called and made arrangements to take a lesson on Friday at 11:30am.
Friday morning comes and armed with my map and instructions from Gina’s husband I head out. I had dropped off a friend first, and the map showed a 20 mile connection from where I was to the freeway I needed. It looked like a regular highway on the map, so I figured approximately 20 minutes, then another 40 minutes on the other highway, and I should make it with 15 minutes to spare.
I learned a valuable lesson . All highways are not created equal. My 20 miles of “highway” had a stop light at 1/2 to 1 mile intervals, and I hit almost every one when it was red. It took me an hour to get to the other freeway and I still had another 40 minutes of driving. And only 10 minutes to get there to be on time.
Now here at home I’m normally running late but everyone knows that about me. I was trying to not be my “normal” self. I had to call and ask if it would still be OK if I came late.
Pressure is off! Gina says that it’s fine, she’s just doings odds and ends today so whenever I get there is OK. After our phone conversation I am able to relax and enjoy the beautiful drive to Dahlonega.
My first impression as I turn off the road onto a narrow one lane drive surrounded by trees is, “how can this be a place to ride dressage when all I can see is dense forest”? A minute down the road and the trees opened up to pasture and soon I see the barns. I had stopped the car as I didn’t know which way to go when a nice lady came up and directed me to a parking area near the lower barn.
I am introduced to Maggie, my noble stead for the day, and given a grooming box. Feels just like home! I meet the trainer Gina, and after saddling and bridling we’re off to a covered arena with mirrors!
First I ride at a walk and I can’t quite get Maggie to the rail. Then I go on to rising trot. After one time around Gina stops me and tells me that my upper body position looks good (I’ve heard that before) but…. Here it comes…My seat needs work. She proceeds to adjust my leg and takes away my stirrups, then asks me to post. I thought, “how??? I have no feet!” But I did it anyway. It was very hard, especially when the horse wasn’t moving. I would like to say my leg stayed in that perfect position for the entire lesson and now I have a great seat, but this is real life and proper position takes time and patience. so I tried to maintain that leg as best I could.
We worked on posting and an exercise to take back for homework called the “mast position”, which is like two point only straight up and balanced, (which I could only maintain at the walk and a few steps of trot before falling back into the sitting position, but practice makes perfect). A lot of things were said which I know I have heard before and probably will have to hear again about a zillion more times before I finally get that “aha’ moment when it finally sticks.
Overall I had a great time. This lesson was the highlight of my trip. I felt that I learned a little more on my journey towards the goal of being the best I can be for my partner, the ever patient horse that carries me along as I slowly try to get it right.
Feather Touch Ranch 