A Random Wednesday

Yesterday I had to revise for and take an exam at home. Normally when I'm at home, I'd turn on the radio or play something on my laptop so that I'd feel less bored and isolated. But I couldn't concentrate with the radio on when I was revising and taking such a boring exam. So it was utterly quiet in my apartment with me counting down each question as I go along and imagining the things I'd rather be doing. It was boring beyond my tolerance! I thought I may have died (I admit I do have a rather low tolerance for boredom).

It was finally over and I got to go horse riding at night which was a whole world of difference! I rode a huge Paint horse called Oklahoma, 16.1hands, okay so he's similar in height to some thoroughbreds I have ridden but he is just plain bulky and oh so adorable (orange with white patches). He is very gentle and rather lazy but I got him going with my ever increasing leg muscles and I cantered on him. The canter was nice - his strides were big so my feet flew around in the stirrups and got into wrong positions. I need to work on keeping my heels down while cantering. Last time I cantered on New Mexico and to start the canter I kicked him instead of just squeezing (in order of 'strength': a squeeze, a kick and then use of crop) which I shouldn't have done cos he went into a very fast canter (or a gallop?) so I pulled on the reins for him to slow down but nothing happened - we were still going at full speed even while turning on a tight corner. I thought shoot I'm gonna fall, I wondered how I should do it so I won't get hurt badly. The acceptance that I'd fall made me more relaxed and when I pulled on the reins he listened to me and slowed down to a trot and that was how I avoided the fall. It may seem counter initiative and hard to do in practice but in 'out of control' situations like this the rider should be relaxed so that the horse would in turn be relaxed otherwise he'd become nervous as well and keep going! Horses are extremely sensitive. I explained to my instructor that I had to cancel my lesson last week cos I had a little accident while mountain biking. She said how she's envious of me that I do all the dangerous sports like horse riding, climbing and mountain biking. I guess I'm really lucky to be able to do what I'm interested in!

Speaking of mountain biking, the wound on my leg is healing great but the wound on my arm not so much. I develped a yellow scab on my arm and a couple of days ago in the shower it fell off which may not sound like a big deal but the skin beneath it was white with numerous red spots. Upon closer examination the red dots were blood vessels! I freaked out and would have fainted except I've never fainted in my entire life. Soon I will decide whether to get into mountain biking or road biking. I will make that choice once I try out road biking. I'll then buy a bike which reminds me I'm spending over 2k on replacing my dying turbo engine in my Saab! Arghh with 2k I could get a really good bike!