第一次真正騎馬, 是在澳洲. 依著當地旅遊資訊上騎馬活動的廣告, 一個人租了台腳踏車前往馬場. 出發前教練就口頭交代幾樣, 比如往左拉韁繩是左轉, 反之右轉, 停往後拉, 要走就輕踢馬的小肚肚, 要跑就用力踢, 然後, 一群人就各自騎著馬一隻跟著一隻地在灌木叢裡漫步, 然後抵達一個無人沙灘後就隨意讓馬狂奔了! 現在回頭想其實蠻危險的, 畢竟即使是很有經驗的人都有可能墜馬, 何況是一無所知的初學者. 但是, 我就是這樣愛上騎馬的. :-)
之後陸陸續續在不同的地方騎過, 在台灣的台南, 埔心和龜山的馬場分別騎過一次, 在印尼峇里島曾騎到鄉下去看鄉村風光, 在美國德州頗為乾枯的灌木叢中騎過, 在喬治亞州騎美國家庭自己養的馬, 也曾騎下大峽谷在懸崖邊與綠色的河流之上享受午餐餐盒(這次其實是騎騾). 都是讓人回味無窮的經驗.
終於, 我從上個月開始正式學騎馬, 教練說騎馬要放鬆, 平衡, 跟隨, 目前練習從最基本的慢步和快步 (分為壓浪和打浪)開始, 還沒練到跑步. 每一次去都有新的體悟, 其中感覺最大的差異是在第一次無蹬騎馬, 雙手雙腳完全放空, 隨著馬的節奏快步卻只能用身體保持平衡, 才知道原來以前靠馬蹬施力是錯的. 不過知道跟真的做對還有段距離, 我還有很長的路要走, 教練說的沒錯, 每個人學習的快慢不同, 但在馬上的時間就是一定要夠. 已經開始期待下次的練習了!
之後陸陸續續在不同的地方騎過, 在台灣的台南, 埔心和龜山的馬場分別騎過一次, 在印尼峇里島曾騎到鄉下去看鄉村風光, 在美國德州頗為乾枯的灌木叢中騎過, 在喬治亞州騎美國家庭自己養的馬, 也曾騎下大峽谷在懸崖邊與綠色的河流之上享受午餐餐盒(這次其實是騎騾). 都是讓人回味無窮的經驗.
終於, 我從上個月開始正式學騎馬, 教練說騎馬要放鬆, 平衡, 跟隨, 目前練習從最基本的慢步和快步 (分為壓浪和打浪)開始, 還沒練到跑步. 每一次去都有新的體悟, 其中感覺最大的差異是在第一次無蹬騎馬, 雙手雙腳完全放空, 隨著馬的節奏快步卻只能用身體保持平衡, 才知道原來以前靠馬蹬施力是錯的. 不過知道跟真的做對還有段距離, 我還有很長的路要走, 教練說的沒錯, 每個人學習的快慢不同, 但在馬上的時間就是一定要夠. 已經開始期待下次的練習了!
The first time I really ride a horse was in Australia. I saw an advertisement about the horse riding for tourists, then rented a bike to look for the horse field. Before the riding, the coach only taught us few things such as the signals for the horses to turn right, turn left, stop, walk, and run. Right after the instruction, we ride in the bush, reached a beach, and run! Now when I thought of the experience, I have to admit that it's a bit dangerous. However that's how I started to love horse riding. :-)
After that experience, I ride few times in other places. I ride three times in Taiwan, once in the villages at Bali island in Indonesia, once in the dried-up bushes in Texas in US, once with the US family's horse in Georgia, once with mules down to a river valley in the Grand Canyon National Park to enjoy the lunch on cliffs above a green river. Each experience was unique to me.
Finally I have started to learn horse riding officially since last month. The coach said that relax, balance, and follow are important. Now I am learning trot and posting trot. Each time I learned something and felt differently. The first time I ride without hands on the halter and feet in the stirrups was really amazing. I could only rely on my body to keep balance, and I realized that forcing on stirrups is wrong. However, knowing the theory doesn't mean doing it right. I still have a long way to go. Every one's progress might be different, but it's for sure that significant hours spent on horses are required. I am looking forward to the next practice already!
