As I’ve mentioned many times before, dressage is hard. You know how I know it’s hard? Because a large number of people who train in the sport seek out shortcuts. What do I mean by shortcuts? Shortcuts can be a number of things, but most frequently it’s the use of training aids, as well as…
Pon-ed
So, a lot has happened over the past couple of weeks that I’m not really ready to discuss quite yet. However, suffice it to say that it’s been quite the emotional roller coaster and I was also out of town for a full week, which, combined with the healing of Kiss’s “boob,” made for a…
The ‘Spooky,’ or Under-Confident Horse
At the age of 42, I’ve become somewhat of a connoisseur of spooky horses. I guess because I’m fairly even-keel on the exterior, I’ve often been paired with more nervous souls. When I was younger, I took all manner of spooking in stride. My first horse, Ahab, would jump to the side or full-on bolt…
A Long Weekend of Life Lessons
Coming off of a long weekend is always tough. You feel a little foggy and not quite yourself. It takes a moment to settle back into your weekday routine and focus on things that need doing. This weekend was full of activity after a lot of rain the week before. On Saturday, Deanna came by…
Dynamic Training
I talked about burnout last week and how those little flickers of success can be enough to keep you going through the grind. Last week, we finally had a significant breakthrough, where Kiss really started to get more balanced and relaxed into the work. She really gets into the work and enjoys it, once you…
Connect, Flicker, Hope
I guess I’m the type of person who can burn out easily, in that, I don’t like to hammer and hammer on a project or a challenge and never see any progress. I like to see the fruits of my labor at some point. I’d say I’m above average when it comes to patience, but…
Progress Can Be Microscopic
Supposedly former US President, Theodore Roosevelt, once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And back then, they didn’t have social media! That saying is one of my favorite things to repeat to myself. These days, it’s hard not to look around at what other people are doing, at how their horses are progressing, and…
Dressage is Hard, Y’all
Back in the 90s, I learned to ride with a dressage foundation. What that gave me was a great perspective on feeling the horse, responding to them, and being effective with my aids. As time has passed over the last 30 years or so, the learnings and the sport have evolved. Because I didn’t really…
The Other 80 Percent
Much debate has been had about the “20 percent rule” of the rider-to-horse weight ratio. On the one hand, many equine professionals and amateur trainers cling firmly to the scant number of small-scale studies conducted around this subject, while the plus-sized equestrian community, mostly made up of plus-sized women, rails against this rule as “fat…
Infinity Challenges
The weather for yesterday’s lesson was a relief. The sun, clear skies, and lack of wind turned the day before’s panicked and spicy “drinker of the wind” into a relatively plodding half draft horse. She was way more focused on me and really enjoyed the work we were doing – even though it was hard…
Equicurious 