. . . Usually, my physical body has to play catch up with my mental acquisition. The ironic part of my circle frustration was that until my body proved it could be done, my brain refused to accept the concept that I could keep my horse on the circle through using my outside leg and rein aids. . . .
Read MoreQuick quiz: You put your friend, your husband, your daughter, your niece, anyone on a horse for the first time. What is the first thing you teach them? You give them the reins and say: Kick to start. Pull left to go left and pull right to go right. Pull both to stop. Right? Of course that is what you do, no matter what you know. . . .I was never taught that there might be another method in which to communicate with my horse. . . .
Read More. . . Simply put, without gripping or holding on, I had no notion of how to sit in balance on top of a moving object with an opinion that rarely matched mine regarding gait, speed, and direction. . . .
Read More...what did I expect, after all these years (I am now 50 years old) of riding in a dressage saddle, when my instructor told me I should ride my horse bareback to give both him and me a break? It would be relaxing. Ha. Relaxing! Perhaps she would be relaxed, but I had visions of me clinging and bouncing on my 4th level dressage horse. I figured it would not be pretty, but I was game to try anyway.
Read MoreThere was the time period that I called the “month of creative dismounts”. It seemed like I fell off my horse at least once during my 2 daily lessons and sometimes it was multiple times in a lesson.
Read MoreRider Development. What are the stages that you go through as a rider? Physical acquisition of skills. Cognitive understanding of theory. Emotional stages as you overcome fear, learn discipline, and find joy riding horses. Share with me your development as a rider. Come with me on my journey as a dressage rider.
