Our indoor is huge. You could play polo in it. This weekend there are temporary stalls in half the arena because THS (Tower Hill Stables) is hosting a show. I wanted to ride outside because it was so freaking humid inside but rain was moving in. We went in the indoor with the temporary stalls, 4 children having lessons, including one on a lunge line, and assorted parents wandering in the arena, taking pictures and ooohing and aaaahing. Oh, and jumps in the arena.
As soon as I mounted, the rain started. I mean a flooding downpour and that's the only thing you could hear. I could not hear Kim giving me instructions. The side arena doors were open so rain was blowing in. But none of that bothered Miss A., and we had our best lesson ever. We trotted a LOT and she is responding to inside leg/outside rein. We did sets of trot poles with me in 2 point, avoiding the kids on school horses (bless those saintly school horses). We did not canter because it was too hectic. Oh, and my glasses fogged up because of the humidity and half the time I could only partially see.
I NEVER would have done this on Bob. He would have hated the rain, freaked at the people and the temporary stalls. Hell, I would have freaked out at all of this. BUT, I trust this mare more after 2 months than I ever did with Bob after 26 years. It's so relaxing to not ride defensively.
I'm still smiling.
