I got on the horse.
With my long history of horse riding, even though I'm an old woman, I'm no longer always assigned only old horses.
I do like old horses, as they tend not to be too energetic and lack curiosity, which allows me to ride with ease. For horses around 20 years old, they often go along with the rider's feelings, which makes it easier to grasp the sensation of being one with the horse. (This is, of course, just my own opinion, and it doesn't apply to skilled riders who can maintain a stable and beautiful riding form on any horse.)
Nevertheless, old horses are often assigned to beginners.
Lately, I've been riding young horses more frequently.
As an old woman riding a young horse, I get a lot of guidance from the instructor.
(They must be desperate not to let me fall off. Thank you!)
Just yesterday was a case in point.
"Predict the horse's behavior. Consider what condition the horse will be in after it has cantered (the equivalent of running in top gear in a car) for a few rounds."
"Even if you slow down to a walk (which would be like shifting to a lower gear in a car), the horse might suddenly speed up, because it's young and has momentum. You need to anticipate such behavior."
It's like the saying, "Trust, but don't rely too much."
I also learned how riders should handle unexpected situations. Actually, I must have been told these things many times before.
By being repeatedly told these things, they're being imprinted on my brain.
I'm always filled with gratitude for my persistent instructor.