One of the things about being a 40-something re-rider that is the source of much insecurity for many of us is our equitation. Some people are blessed with graceful, athletic bodies that are able to have just the right angles for doing everything that is needed for a perfect riding seat, but the majority of…
Tag: riding after 40
Fall in Summer
As horse people, we never want it to happen. We hope and pray that it won’t happen. But, inevitably, even in the best of circumstances, it happens. I’m talking about falling off. Every experienced horse person will tell you that falling off is part of riding. And it’s usually when you’re starting to feel really…
A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That
Anyone who has worked with or owned horses understands that horses don’t give a flying F about your plans, even if those plans are supposed to be beneficial to them. My barn owner, Kate, her husband, Lee, and I had plans to get Kiss trailered to a clinic at my trainer, Deanna’s on Friday afternoon….
It’s Spring and The Kiss-anthemums Are Blossoming
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but everything is good! Updates on my riding and training progress with Kiss.
Everybody’s Doing It, Sooo…
There are so many things in the traditional horse world that most riders accept as conventional wisdom but is actually, at best, not doing the horse any favors, and at worst can be harmful. For example, the flash noseband is rampantly used to keep a horse’s mouth shut, especially in the dressage world. Nevermind that…
It’s a Mess
I don’t think anything can prepare you for the emotional roller coaster that is divorce. Going through this currently, I’m humbled and amazed at how utterly flattened I feel emotionally most of the time. Thank the heavens for Kiss, who has been a very good girl through everything and has provided me that little bit…
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…
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…
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…
Equicurious 