HOORAY FOR NO ROUNDING UP 6th DEC

I am up at 06h00 to shower and prepare for the ride. It is a glorious morning with not a cloud in the sky. Don is going to East London to take Luisa to the airport. He drops us at the stable yard. We are blessed. The horses stayed where they should be. No rounding up today. We cross the horses over from their field opposite the stables, into the stable yard and begin the feeding. The clients arrive, we introduce them to the herd and Cheryl tells me I will ride Robin again. She wants to see him roll me on the beach again! You are wicked Cheryl. No, Cheryl wants to teach me how to be assertive. Now we are all ready, Cheryl drops another bomb – You can lead the ride she says to me. And off we go. Kick him says Cheryl…. Get him moving forward……. And so the ride begins, with the pressure on my legs to get Robin moving forward. About 250 m up, I am stressed and my legs are tired…. Cheryl pulls up and coaches me…. At the same time I’m told to be assertive and not aggressive. I do not think I am aggressive but perhaps the power play between Robin and I begins. We do the usual route. I stop ahead to take photos – Wrong move. I cannot get Robin to walk on. Cheryl passes me and obligingly Robin moves forward. I hate the fact a horse can make me feel so incompetent. I also begin to think I’m riding a donkey….. Cheryl insists if you can ride, then Robin will give you a good ride. We will talk a month from now Cheryl……..
We do our usual route and head for the beach. Cheryl is dying to see Robin roll me on the beach yet again. I am determined this will not happen. We are back en route home. I won. No rolling on the beach today. So Cheryl, please tell me I have accomplished something……. You say little….. Give me a pat now and then ok….. I work better with recognition…. Ha ha ha….. I am burnt today. A beautiful day for good weather, but with the wind we had, there was no recognition of the sun penetration. I am sore.
Again, peri peri chicken, which Ashleigh is taught to make. We eat and I bed early.
M