Day 120: That Thursday feeling ;) Is it normal?

Lunch time on Thursday is just a whole different thing ;) For non UK readers - the equestrian weekly, Horse & Hound, comes out on Thursdays. I really do enjoy what they are currently doing with the magazine, the new format is way more interesting than the previous one.

I am sure you can't not notice my amazing fruit and yoghurt bowl of goodness ;) I shall share my food related thoughts soon, you might remember my sugar avoidance attempt, which is going quite well, and the trying different stuff quest, which also is going fairly well. Inadvertently, I picked up a book a few weeks ago which turned out to be some sort of nutritional sensation but I didn't know it at a time. I bought it because of...well, more about it another day!

From time to time I watch this series of videos from a travel obsessive who films various aspects of his adventures. He is a popular video creator and understandably attracts many comments each time he hits the publish button.
One of the comments drew my attention - someone, let's call him Ed because I don't know any Eds, said he had found that he couldn't quite relate to what was being shared on the videos.
"I have a normal 9 to 5 job - said Ed - and none of this stuff seems possible for a normal person. I would love to do these things too but I've got all the normal stuff to do..." (I paraphrase Ed here).

Can I just ask you Ed - how is a 9 to 5 a normal job? How are you a normal person? It's a funny thing when you think about it. Are all non 9 to 5s abnormal? Is normal when 31% of population does it? 82%? And population of what? Where exactly?
Is it normal to make no time in your life, Ed, for some abnormal things you really would like to do?
Is it normal Ed, that you waste your time on watching abnormal videos showing abnormal people doing things you will never make time to do in your normal life?

You won't read this Ed but I would like to share my 'abnormal wisdom' with you. There is no normal. There is no abnormal. Just you. Just me. No need for normalising anything. Just go and make your own travel videos :)

Following my heavier reads in the last few weeks I went for an all change with my next book (although I can't really call it a light read exactly!):

It's a rather engaging story. I even wish my train journeys were a little longer so I can read more ;) I find it very hard to simply get back home and sit with a book that is unrelated to horses or coaching but travelling is like borrowing time, no internet, nowhere to go...
The only worry is that while engrossed in the book you pull into the station, look absentmindedly at the station's name outside the window, wonder why it seems familiar and then realise it's familiar because you have to get off at it!

I'd been working on some new exercises today that I would like to test on two of my riders with canter issues and tomorrow there is an interesting day which includes a new rider coming for an intro session to check if they like my teaching enough to join in on Aspire programme with a pony that recently became available for share. My London team is expanding rapidly!

Hope you're all having something good in your day today (and you too Ed if you are reading this ;) )
Wx

Day 119: The Puzzle (ment) Game

Emma and Shabby today - working on staying calm, relaxed, supple and confident 

Shabby must have read the training scheme I prepared for Emma because he took the relaxation theme to heart today ;) It really is so rewarding to see this little horse work things out and learn.

In the world in which vets "prescribe" working horses in pessoa to "develop" "correct" muscles and where training often is an equivalent to sophisticated bullying, I find that the best thing you can do to not go crazy is to question everything and observe the horses as if you have never seen the buggers before ;)

It's like a puzzlement game of sorts, all this is, and if you don't dig deep with spades of common sense, you find yourself covered with soiled pseudo facts.

When I posted a little overview of the journey of Shabby's training on Aspire blog yesterday, I got a "helpful" private email from a reader describing how best to attach draw reins when jumping to gain control over Shabby's erratic stride and hollowing and how to teach him to bascule better...

The sad part is that it was actually a very well meaning advice by someone believing in the benefit of that sort of approach.

Gah. Sometimes I feel totally alone in this slower paced training I chose to go by. Selfishly, I wish there were more people brave enough to question the status quo, brave enough to question what we do to horses' mouths and bodies and how we train them because then it wouldn't all feel like such a lonely quest.

I am vaguely aware I am repeating myself on this subject but hey, that's my thoughts today. Perhaps not very original.

I am thankful though for the riders who share the same values because they do make it all worthwhile.

Wx

Day 117 & 118: Sensation seeking

Possibly one of the greatest quotes I have had pleasure reading! 

I am having a rather easy week travelling wise with all work close by and my regular "further away" clients being, well, away ;) I'd been using a surplus of time to catch up with my writing, put together some posts for Aspire blog as well as sit down and organise a few clinic dates later this year. The first one I wanted to sort out is a summer clinic in Poland at Stajnia Sabat which is now provisionally scheduled for the end of June so at least one date is done.

By the way, have you ever heard of Sensation Seeking?

According to Wikipedia...."Sensation seeking is a personality trait defined by the search for experiences and feelings, that are "varied, novel, complex and intense", and by the readiness to "take physical, social, legal, and financial risks for the sake of such experiences."[1] Risk is not an essential part of the trait, as many activities associated with it are not risky. However, risk may be ignored, tolerated, or minimised and may even be considered to add to the excitement of the activity.[1] The concept was developed by Marvin Zuckerman[...]"

I have a feeling I might have traces of that personality ;) Damn them - the mysterious them - labelling everything and everyone. There is an online test you can take to check how 'sensation seeking' you are. Mine was pretty conclusive I must admit.
I wonder how many sensation seeking bloggers are out there? Could writing be classified as adding to the varied and complex experiences? I think it might do...depending what you write...

I must stop rambling.
Speak tomorrow.
Wx

P.S. Listening to this song on repeat  - love it :)

Day 115 & 116: Weekend, Hambleden Part 2, video editing and chatting by the river

Day 115: Saturday

Saturday afternoon. Richmond riverside. Coffee and chats with one and only Suzanne! 

Today was a rain and rainbow kind of day. Wonderful in so many ways yet sad with my Gran's funeral taking place thousands miles away. With everything happening so fast it was impossible for me to fly over and attend. I think of her often. I am not even sure about the whole funeral celebrations. Either way, I would have liked to be there for my Dad and the rest of the family.

I think she would have liked today...

Richmond, London - 25th April 2015

A lovely new rider got in touch for Jasper following my shout out for him on Aspire blog so she will be joining in on Development programme. He is a fab horse that I am very much looking forward to working with and seeing the pair progress and improve. Being a 4 year old and a very green chap, his work isn't going to be incredibly exciting but it should be a fun adventure in bringing on a youngster and teaching him all things ridden-horse-life.

Jasper and his new rider

I am also playing with the use of music to improve the feel of rhythm and focus in my two young riders. We started with some simple drill sequences last week just for me to check if they can multitask and remain safe. Today, I let them ride with an earpiece in one ear so they can hear their chosen soundtracks which they found themselves and matched with their horses' beat in walk, trot and canter.
We will now build upon this experience which went incredibly well for one rider (hugely increasing her relaxation and in turn, horse's way of going) and good for the other and work towards some very simple floor plans to give them an idea of a dressage to music training.

From June I will be re-focusing to jump training with them so I want to make the most out of the flatwork training until end of May.

Day 116: Sunday. Video editing and writing day.

One of the girls have now trained with me for a full year so I put together a 5.5min footage from her starting on Aspire training to current sessions. She is such a pleasure to teach and I am very excited about her progress and good things to come :)




Below is also a finished video from Hambleden Horse Trials with Emma and Shabhash.

I will write a blog post about the event on Aspire blog to discuss the day from coaching perspective. We now have one month to the next event and I hope we can address Shabby's tension in show jumping phase (and Emma's!). It was the first time I saw him over a course and let's just say, there is a lot to work on ;)

Considering his lack of mental calmness and general decreased focus on the rider at a show, he contained the craziness to some degree. He went superb and clear across country (albeit too fast raking time penalties) which is Emma's favourite phase. Now I just need to get her to fall in love with the dressage and jumping ;)





I hope you enjoy watching them :)
Wx

Day 114: Hambleden Horse Trials - Part 1

Since my internet connection makes it impossible to edit the full video from today while my eyes are still functioning, I am posting Part 1 of the footage and will write about the event tomorrow once full video has uploaded.

It was a lovely event and Shabby managed to stay off the last place in the dressage, knocked just about enough rails to still go to the next phase and had an awesome run XC to finish 30th overall.

Full report coming shortly, tomorrow or on Sunday, for now, a little intro teaser :)

Event website: http://www.symminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk

Day 112 & 113: The book of significance and pre-competition thoughts

Day 113

In my teens I watched a movie called The Bridge on the River Kwai. I thought I forgot about it until a couple of weeks ago.
- I would really recommend this book...are you looking for something to read on your travels? - helpful Waterstones sales man is standing next to me handing me a book. For a brief moment I wonder how on earth does he know I am looking for a book to read on my flight and then remember about a little suitcase I am dragging along having just bought it.
- Ah yes, on my travels, yes - I take the book and try not to judge it by the cover. It has a soldier on it and I have just finished "The Storyteller" by Jodi Picoult which is a damn moving Auschwitz memorial (and which by the way, I totally recommend - fabulous read) so I am not really looking for another war related heart wrenching experience.

But somehow, even though I only skim read the back for some clues on content, my eyes land on one word - Burma. 

It's funny how our brain can work - in images. I see the movie's title in front of me in that one word even though the book and the movie are only connected through the fact, they carry the story of the specific place in a specific time. 

I buy the book. Fast forward two weeks, I read 90% of it and can safely say, I made a wrong choice as far as avoiding the heart wrenching literature goes. But it's one incredibly written book that makes you blink twice every time you put it away and re-connect with reality. 

I would like to believe that if this book was a must read for everyone, the monstrosity of the terror described there would not repeat itself. But I am not so sure. Either way, do read it. If you dare. 

Day 112

EARSIE. Wednesday Day 112: out and about in Oxfordshire on the chestnut powerhouse ;) 

- Are you taking a selfie for your blog? - asks Emma as I point my phone at the lush countryside in front of us. 

- No, just the world through Freddie's ears.

- Earsie! - she says and I am thinking it's a good word to make up for the situation.

- Earsie it is! 

The lessons went well. 

Shabby too worked fairly well although he is my worry with the unconventional tension and a list of creative ways he deals with everything he isn't sure about. He's got his first event of the season tomorrow and I hope he keeps his legs in sequence in the dressage and remembers to breath jumping. Cross country should be easy for him so I am not bothered about that. 

The dressage test is the BE106 (2012) which is a good one for Shabby as there are no endless rounds on the outside track but instead, questions keep coming which should focus both him and the rider. There is no huge pressure but I do hope they both do themselves justice as they worked very hard in the last few months and very much deserve it. 

Keep everything crossed! 

Day 111: First 1 for Thank you, second 1 for Spring and third 1 for The Back

1.

First of all, thank you for your lovely comments and virtual support following my yesterday's post about my Granny passing away. Let me tell you, she would not be having any of that. She would be in the kitchen making large quantities of tea ordering everyone to sit down and relax and stop fussing. She would force feed you cookies and whatever else she bought especially for the day.

But, thank you...Xxx

1.

In Richmond, London, the spring has turned the world into a romantic movie. Blossoms everywhere, wrapped around cute cottages. Bright sunlight bringing the rich colours in everything, from stunning sand brickwork to rubbish bins. Everything sparkles. Everything sings. Loves. Lives. Such an odd time to die at, such contrast. I think I'd rather die in the winter myself.

1.

As I school Jasper, a green, young horse today, a thought hits me. Some ages ago, I read this sentence somewhere: "An average rider rides the front of the horse, a good rider rides the hind legs and the great rider rides the horse's back".
I am thinking, I am only somewhere in between the good and the hallway that leads further on. I am thinking, that as I ride, I feel acutely aware of every push of the hind legs, every uneven power, I can sense the weight commitment before the horse fully makes a decision how to turn, I adjust my actions to how the inside hind leg travels under or on the side of the barrel. Everything I do, the way I sit, the way my inside hand goes up offering some help in turn, the way I let my legs sit quiet on the sides of the horse and let him find better rhythm, the way I wait for him in the turn so the momentum doesn't take him outward too much - all this I do with mental image of his hind legs even though I look ahead.
But I realise, as I ask him for simple changes of rein and frequent transitions, that only some of my awareness is with his back, that even though I sense his natural crookedness, the way his back drops ever so slightly on one side and remains tighter when we turn, it's not enough. I realise I need to focus on that much more. See his back move and yield and change shape in my mind's eye with much more clarity if I am to ride better.

So much to learn. I hope I have time for it. I damn hope I can make time for it.

Selfie with Jasper, the adorable green youngster

Until tomorrow,
Wx

Day 110: Maybe I won't come back, maybe I'll just stay there

- Maybe I won't come back - she says, her blue eyes a watercolour, like when you learn to paint and you add too much water in.
How does she know that. Why would she said that.

She said it before. So many  times. But she sits here, not quite smiling but not quite gravely either.

- Of course you will be back, it's just a simple operation, you won't even need an anaesthesia.
- Granddad had it easy - she muses - got up, washed, shaved, had breakfast and then, bang, just like that.
What do I say to that. Sure. Yes, he did. Easy.
Easy?
- You will be good, you've got to fight it through, you've fought harder things!
- Hmmm
- I'll be back in the summer. See you in the summer?

And as I hug her small figure, kiss her wafer thin cheek and as she gives me her watercolour, once watchful, now slightly distracted stare, I don't know that she is right, that she won't be returning from hospital and that summer meeting?...There will be no such thing.

Just like that you can have last conversation and no idea you did. Just like that, someone can leave and take a part of you with them.


R.I.P. Granny G. (20/04/2015)

_______________________


“Let us hurry to love people they depart so quickly” Jan Twardowski

Let us love people now they leave us so fast
The shoes remain empty and the phone rings on
What's unimportant drags on like a cow
The meaningful sudden takes us by surprise
The silence that follows so normal it's
Hideous like chastity born most simply from despair
When we think of someone who's been taken from us.

Don't be sure you have time for there's no assurance
As all good fortune security deadens the senses
It comes simultaneously like pathos and humour
Like two passions not as strong as one
They leave fast grow silent like a thrush in July
Like a sound somewhat clumsy or a polite bow
To truly see they close their eyes
Though to be born is more of risk than to die
We love still too little and always too late.

Don't write of it too often but write once and for all
And you'll become like dolphin both gentle and strong.

Let us love people now they leave us so fast
And the ones who don't leave won't always return
And you never know while speaking of love
If the first one is last or the last one first.

Day 108 & 109: Busy weekend

I need to catch some snooze time so instead of writing a post, let me share some recent spring photos with you - of people and horses who make my days fabulous :)

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS! ;))))


Until tomorrow :)
Wiola x

Day 107: What are you talking about...

Sunny Friday training :) 

The first thing most horse people know about horses is that they are certainly not people. I think we can all agree here? Then, perhaps we learn not to humanise horses so that we can treat them as horses.

And yet, we then spend years applying human logic to equine species. Because they are naughty, because they don't want to, because they are vicious etc.

What I find to be true is that human logic works for horses only in so far as clarity goes. When we know what we are talking about, when we are confident in our intentions and when those intentions are positive and applied with integrity, most horses are only too happy to oblige.

Sometimes we can create artificial clarity - if we want basic straighteners and natural motivation, we can do our warm up out on a short hack, let the nature work its magic.
We can repeat an exercise until we truly understand it - once we do, the horse usually does too...

If I try something and it doesn't work, whether I am riding or teaching, the first question I ask myself is this:

What am I talking about?

If I don't know then I am trying either to do the wrong thing or at a wrong time.

Wx

Day 105 & 106: Succeeding at the right thing

I'm back and loving the weather vibe on the island! Lessons went great today, I went out and about to roam in the sunshine a little and my theory clients actually did their homework so it was a fab day on all accounts :)

Yesterday, I'd been mostly in transit. I use travelling for thoughts and writing and here is one of the themes that lingered on my mind thousands of miles above the bridlepaths...when schooling a horse or training a rider, we aim for a successful outcome. Sometimes, it will be a straightforward one, one that is visible and immediately recognisable.
Think: more ground cover in medium trot or more stable lower leg over an oxer. Then, there are successes that somewhat layer underneath those outcomes and as such are not immediately obvious. In fact, they might even be obscured and seem further away than they were before you even started.

Think: succeeding at becoming aware of a lower leg that drifts forward over an oxer. Succeeding at building the ability for minute collection for one step prior the transition before that medium trot can get better. 

Success no one sees at first. Successes that feel ugly and unrefined and raw and maybe even uncomfortable. Successes that make you feel like you are worse than you were before you attempted the refinement. 

Successes that are the building blocks. 

Then there are the quick ones. Using a little bit of the boot spray that creates the grip between the calf and the flap of the saddle stabilising the leg as a result. 

Pushing a talented horse into exuberant stride without creating the fundamentals for shoulder lift and hind leg activity in medium trot. 

Success, right?

What I am heading here at is that sometimes a success feels like a failure while we learn to navigate the steps. Sometimes, it is worth waiting so we can make sure we succeed at the right thing...

Wx

Day 103 & 104: Spending time

Just spending time with my parents, coffee and chats with my Mum, catching moments :) Flying back tomorrow.

Wx

Day 102: Family Affairs

Meet my God Daughter (squinting madly at the wind and sun ;)

Slightly silly pic but totally capturing a moment of photography in the wind and sun - just the right conditions to give you an odd hair and change a beautiful little girl into a squinting, highly unimpressed one ;) 

Today was a thoroughly lovely day filled with some obligatory church whereabouts and some great follow up dinner with family.
I also caught up with my Gran who couldn't make it to the event due to ill health so I popped over to her place to see her.
We had many a fascinating conversations including this one:

Gran: Why don't you and R. just get married so you can have a surname?
For a moment I don't think I am getting it.
Me: Gran, I do have a surname?? Same as yours in fact!
Gran: Well, that's not the same. If you have your husband's surname you could have all the rights.
Me: Gran, I have all human rights with my own surname?
Gran: But a man's surname...
Me: Gran, it's 2015, women have all normal rights without having to take another surname
Gran: *slowly shaking her head* It's not the same
Me: *staring at Gran incredulously and suddenly realising there is a century of a whole new dimension between us*

She gets a hug anyway. This lady can get away with murder ;)

Ahh it was great day. Now onto some relaxing!
Wx

Day 100 & 101: Travel Time & Real Time

Day 100: Travel Time

Today, I am mostly travelling. I'm writing this offline on my phone so I can copy and paste it later on here.
One thing I learnt from my travels is that, if you want to remain relatively unbothered and stress free, get on the go as early as possible but only that. Don't go overboard, no five hours earlier kind of thing.
I leave about 45 minutes buffer for anyone who wishes to die on tracks today. It goes without saying that nothing bad happens, all trains are on time and I even make it to London Liverpool Street early enough to grab a sandwich and a coffee and catch the Stansted Airport train that is the one earlier than the one I planned.

It always goes like this when I am not at all in a hurry :)

The airport is in its usual always-something-being-improved state so it takes me a moment to locate Hamleys. I am headed there because I want to grab something for my niece and God Daughter To Be. She hates having her hair brushed but has long blond curly hair so I go for one of those funky tangle teasers in kids version that is smaller and hopefully perfect for her 4 years old hand to handle.

I chose one that is all gold and sparkly and I hope she likes it.

- Great choice - says the salesman - tried and tested.
- Perfect - I say as I look at his 2mm hair that definitely needs no brushing never mind detangling - do you use it a lot?
- Oh yeah, all the time.
We laugh and off I go with my stubble hair tried and tested mini gold tangle teaser.

The joke themed journey continues as I enter the plane. The guy who is looking after the passengers is determined to spell all our names correctly and greet us properly as if we were to be forever acquainted and perhaps even involved in intricate business deals rather than share a two hour flight during which we will be having no conversation what so ever.
I let him battle with my name without help for a bit of banter.

Half way through the flight The Guy Who Takes Care of Passengers has another great idea. As he starts the usual lets-play-this-lottery-and-donate-for-charity interval, he tells us his big secret:

- You know, you really want to play this lottery. I did it myself. Now, I am a millionaire and only here for a bit of fun. I don't have to work here at all.

The rest of the crew and we, the bemused passengers, have a chuckle. The little kid next to me doesn't laugh because he is too busy being incredibly annoying.

A quick thought occurs to me: I hope the Guy Who Takes Care of Passengers doesn't make us all laugh to cover up for some major disasters otherwise happening in the cockpit.

At last, the pilot lands incredibly smoothly and I walk outside into a lovely, warm, sunny afternoon of my home town to meet my parents :)

Day 101: Real Time

New hair! 

Today, I am mostly getting spoilt. I was not here for my birthday and my brother surprised me with possibly one of the most amazing gifts - a new laptop. My Toshiba - that was also a gift but from my boyfriend, I seem not to ever buy any electronic equipment by myself! - is now about 7 years old and when I go through all the check ins at the airports I am usually asked to open it myself while the guards watch ready to jump away. So let me tell you, this new little laptop is simply amazing and I can't stop using it ;)

I am spending the day with my Mum just catching up and strolling around a shopping centre. Neither of us likes shopping for any extended period of time and even if we jump at the task enthusiastically, we are both bored after a few shops ;)

I got my hair chopped today too which feels really good and I am enjoying the change. The only thing I am dreading a little is the maintenance of those bangles!

Now, tomorrow I am playing God Mother to my niece in a christening ceremony so god help me ;)

Day 99: Boarding Pass

Just for the record, the trains were yet again delayed this morning. Someone jumped under yet again. It seems that death on the rail tracks is very alluring to growing number of desperate people.

Despite others throwing their lives away seemingly trying to stop me from travelling (is that too self-centred a thought do you think?), I made to my lesson location and all went very well indeed.

I also had my own personal drama (possibly over-reaction here) today that didn't really warrant the suicide measures mentioned above but nevertheless made for a *interesting* afternoon. Namely, I'd spent some hours trying to print my boarding pass for a flight I need to be on tomorrow morning.
Following a few unsuccessful arrangements with one friend forgetting to bring me the print out and other similar occurrences I finally managed to end up with a precious pass in my hand at 10pm (forever indebted to Helen and her husband for making this amazing thing happen ;) )

So, tomorrow I shall be reuniting with my lovely family but I will try to drop in with a few words and keep this daily ball rolling ;)
Before you leave, can I just say - my first purchase when I land back is going to be a printer.

Day 98: Energy

One of my today's lessons

It might just be one of life's inexplicable twists. Or maybe just a wicked sense of humour. Or maybe nothing at all. But you see, I really sucked at Physics at school. I was in fact so bad at it, I failed my exams and had to beg my teacher to let me re-take them. Once, on way to school, I went passed the entrance and just kept walking for the two hours that the Physics torture lasted and went smoothly into Literature class where everything made perfect sense.

I think about it now as I watch my rider working in the field and I have to smile because as I observe I know I am not watching for all that equestrian coaching teaches you. Instead, I watch and analyse energy...The forces that make the green horse, that is schooling out in the field for the first time, drift left and right as undulation of the ground sweeps him off his feet. The forces that make my rider lean a little forward and hold a little with her knees instead of sinking into the saddle, letting the muscles elongate, receive the opposing pull and slide her seat bones closer to the pommel. I watch the energy as the horse produces too much of it and then rescues himself with exuberant bursts of unnecessary speed.

As I make the correction I don't think about an outline, rhythm or rider's seat as such. Instead, I feel like I am searching for ways to direct the energy the right way, take a little from here, add a little there.

Damn you Physics. I thought I waved you goodbye long time ago ;)

 P.S. How amazingly warm was today!!

Day 96 & 97: Hairy musings

It's the week of farmer's tan here in the South East of England - I am already sporting a few lovely patterns over my neck and shoulders which coupled with various bruises courtesy of a spooked pony don't look promising for the choice of outfit for a family event I am attending this coming weekend ;)

Horse hair is absolutely everywhere, coats being shed in carpets, whirling in the wind and finding their way into places where they really should not be! You might think that the clipped horses are somehow a respite to groom but their short. prickly, cacti like stubble is even worse than soft and long natural strands.  

And so it's spring. Maybe for one week only but I'll take it. Even though I am usually too immersed in my work to bother about the weather unless it takes my voice away or drenches me solid, the warmth of the sun and a soft, light wind made me suddenly realise today how I missed them both. 

Another thing I do miss is the connection you have with your own horse. I have given up on going back into horse ownership for a while and I don't regret it. It's not something I would want to do right now. But there are aspects of it I do miss. You can ride many other people's horses, help them iron out some issues, help them move better and derive a lot of pleasure from doing so. However, there is nothing that quite compares to training with a horse you've been riding for several years, 6-7 times a week, in all conditions, in various places, on various show grounds. Nothing quite compares to the feeling of absolute understanding and cooperation despite many mistakes made. 

Whatever makes them tune in to you, whether it's some primal need to move in unison to avoid being eaten or simply a heightened awareness and drive to stay balanced and safe, once that tune has caught you, that is it. You hear it in your head like notes of a favourite song that doesn't go away. 

Singled out, minute muscular effort that yields the response nobody seen called. A thought answered. Unspoken direction, executed. I miss that connection because you can't just have it. You have to earn it over time with consistent non verbal conversations until they become whispers and blinks. 

One thought for a canter. One longer blink for slower power. Miss that. 

Wx

Day 95: Just the perfect one!

Sorry, it's nothing ground breaking but then nothing such had happened today ;) I'd been charging my batteries, you know, busy week ahead.

Day 94: Happy Easter break :)

Dog sitting this adorable lunatic for a friend this weekend ;) Except of moving at speed of light, jumping up the walls and ricocheting himself graciously of them like some crazy bullet in sci fi movies, he is a perfectly well behaved and sweet critter ;) Thankfully he gets on with Woody or there could be even more bouncing involved.

It's been a long but very productive week. Looking forward to a lie in tomorrow unless it's raining dogs from the ceiling!

Have a great Easter break :) Wx

Day 93: It is up to you

Are you fed up with teaching beginner riders the never ending up-down-up-down routine of rising trot until you can no longer think of any other words that relate to equitation?

Do you end up with a massive headache from shouting the same thing over and over again, brain numb, angry at all the ponies and all the horses that didn't just get on with it and didn't trot around the arena like some carousel ponies with rods attached? 

Because if you do say yes, please consider that here is the thing - you really don't have to teach beginning of riding like that. 

No matter how much you tell yourself that that's how it's been done and that's how you have to teach, please consider that you might be wrong. More so - you have a choice to do it all very differently altogether. 

It is up to you. 

You are the teacher. When you walk into that arena, you shape the future of the horse and the rider that are there with you. You can teach them it's ok to be shouted at. You can teach them riding is about reward and punishment, control and obedience *just like you were taught* or you can teach them it's about communication, and balance, and maybe (just maybe) tiny bit of magic ;) 

Like a language, you know. At first, you learn a couple of words and you desperately try to guess the meaning of the rest. You grow curious. You grow the need to be understood, to be accurate. 

How about then you teach riding like a foreign language? The simple words first, the basic structure that will later carry the beauty of more complicated meanings, the little stories of the country, the habits of the regions, the cuisine, the values, ethics, character, temperament.

How about then, you teach riding as if teaching communication. Not the go or whack kind, mind you. 

It is up to you. 

If you say you have no patience to introduce a new language, no skill to teach something from scratch, no confidence in keeping someone safe isn't that truer, more honest than saying, you are fed up with shouting up and down? 

I spoke to a young instructor today and she says, she is always doubting herself, always worried that something will happen to her clients, always questioning her choice of exercises. She says, she always pretends to be confident so the horse doesn't sense her worry or that the rider doesn't doubt her. 

Here is the thing. The horse always knows anyway. People - not so much. You fake it until you make it. The doubts might never stop, you know...You don't have to repeat what you'd been taught just to keep yourself in your comfort zone. Look at the horse. Look at the rider. Help them meet and communicate so they both find something meaningful.

You will feel no boredom, no resignation quite the opposite. You might even find, your advanced lessons take a whole new meaning too. 

It takes time to learn a language. It takes commitment and willingness to understand.

It is up to you.

Sign your work with excellence ;) 

Day 92: What he does when one IS looking

Jasper on box rest with foot abscess and being very much fed up with it ;)

Day 91: By Seuss with a couple of today's snapshots

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities. Dr. Seuss 

Somewhere in Oxfordshire on a little power house ex-racehorse

Henley on Thames in the morning sun

The problem with writing a book in verse is, to be successful, it has to sound like you knocked it off on a rainy Friday afternoon. It has to sound easy. When you can do it, it helps tremendously because it's a thing that forces kids to read on. You have this unconsummated feeling if you stop. Dr. Seuss