Voice

The Voice in my Head

All of us have fond memories of our beginning years learning to ride. My first few years (1964-1969) were spent under the instruction of Sheila Rodgers (now at Good Shephard Farm). A couple of years ago I had the priviledge of sharing in a surprise party that was given for her. We were asked to write some of our favorite stories to share with her. This was my contribution.

1973- Potomac Horse Center in Maryland. After two months of dressage work in rings only, we hike up our stirrups and head out into the field for the cross country phase of our training. I'm riding the little grey horse with the reputation. We're cantering towards our first fence at a decent clip. Two strides before the fence I feel him dropping back. The voice in my head tells me to sit up and get behind the motion. I push him forward, we leap into the air and the voice in my head tells me to get with him before the landing. We land and he bucks. The voice in my head tells me to hang on and move him forward. We canter back to the group, the first rider in my class to return to the barn without grass stains after riding this horse.

1975- Trying out Dianne Grayson's horse in her yard. We canter round the bend towards the barn, he drops his shoulder, throws his head down and starts to buck. The voice in my head tells me to sit up. The voice in my head tells me to pull his head up. The voice in my head tells me to push him forward. Within three bucks his head is up and we are cantering around the yard again like nothing happened. A lifelong horse sharing friendship began.

1976 and 1977- Intercollegiate alumni classes. No matter what horse I draw the voice in my head helps me get the best ride I can out of it. My coach is impressed and another life long friendship began. I do well and go on to win regionals and qualify for nationals. At the nationals I'm jumping a nice little horse who had a perfect round in the class before mine. No trouble ahead. As we round the bend towards an in and out, the horse drops a shoulder and cuts off half a stride. The voice in my head tells me not to stop or circle, I must jump that fence. The horse leaves the ground before I'm ready and we're sailing in the air, for a split second the only contact I have with the horse is the reins. The voice in my head tells me to get it together on the landing. The horse lands, I land on his back, the stirrups magically swing back onto my feet and we jump out, thanks to that voice in my head.

1986- Trying out for a position exercising cutting horses. My first ride is a 1985 National Cutting Horse Champion. Western saddle, western bridle, I'm told not to have contact on the horse's mouth, he must have his head free and he's going to buck. The owner holds his head while I mount. Sure enough, as soon as he lets go, the horse bolts and begins to buck. The voice in my head tells me to ride it out. Use my legs to steer, keep him on the rail so he won't be twisting and turning. Once around the ring, twice around the ring, he's still bucking, the voice is encouraging me, and I'm still on. He settles into a lope and I take my victory lap around the ring that secures me the job.

1990's- My green horse bucks me off over fences, I'm grounded for six months, and sat out the next show season from the fear of falling again. When I tried to come back, the voice in my head was still there but my body wouldn't listen anymore. Then I ran into Sheila at a friend's party and thought, who better to train my horse than the woman who trained me so many years ago. At the barn, as I listened to Sheila give a lesson the first day, I suddenly realized, the voice in my head has always been Sheila's.