I am a self-admitted workaholic. What can I say, I love what I do! Helping people and horses feeds my soul! But you know what they say, all work and no play....well, I can't remember the rest of that because for years and years I did not believe it; for me, my work was play.
Well, this year I entered a new decade, yes my 4th decade on this planet, and I am changing my ways. I now try really hard to take Mondays off. For me off means no horses (other than feeding and basic care), no lessons, no paperwork and sometimes (not today), even no computer! The day has simple goals: catch up on sleep and find something to do that makes me smile. Today it will be play with the dogs and perhaps go sailing...
So Happy Monday and have a great day!
9.29.2008
9.28.2008
Riding my own horses.
Since my profession is helping others with their horses (http://www.horsehappys.com/), riding my own horses is often put on the back burner. This past summer and fall, I have been trying to change this and prioritize my riding. Some weeks are better than others, but all in all, I have been riding my own horses more and really enjoying it!
Today I rode Dezi, my primary partner, the bay in the pictures on the right-hand sidebar. He is my constant teacher. He is half arab and half lusitano. I have had him since he was 6 months old and now is around 15 or 16 years old, though often has the curiosity and energy of a horse 10 years younger...we can thank the half arab side for that! My goal with him is to have the utmost in connection. We ride without a bit and have been working on collection, seeing how far we can get bit-less. (Some say true collection cannot be achieved without a bit, I beg to differ...but that's a topic for another blog!) Most of the time, when I ride, I do not use the reins, they are just there for correction. We also ride bridle-less, with nothing on his head.
Today we were working on softness in using seat and leg ques, in particular the moving the front end across, I call this a frontquarter. He has been showing me that breathing, getting prepared and then asking yields the most consistent and lightest results. When I am organized and fluid in my request, he is like butter, just flows with me on the lightest of aids.
Cowboy John used to say "use as little pressure as possible, but as much as necessary", I am enjoying learning how little little can be thanks to Dezi!
Today I rode Dezi, my primary partner, the bay in the pictures on the right-hand sidebar. He is my constant teacher. He is half arab and half lusitano. I have had him since he was 6 months old and now is around 15 or 16 years old, though often has the curiosity and energy of a horse 10 years younger...we can thank the half arab side for that! My goal with him is to have the utmost in connection. We ride without a bit and have been working on collection, seeing how far we can get bit-less. (Some say true collection cannot be achieved without a bit, I beg to differ...but that's a topic for another blog!) Most of the time, when I ride, I do not use the reins, they are just there for correction. We also ride bridle-less, with nothing on his head.
Today we were working on softness in using seat and leg ques, in particular the moving the front end across, I call this a frontquarter. He has been showing me that breathing, getting prepared and then asking yields the most consistent and lightest results. When I am organized and fluid in my request, he is like butter, just flows with me on the lightest of aids.
Cowboy John used to say "use as little pressure as possible, but as much as necessary", I am enjoying learning how little little can be thanks to Dezi!
9.27.2008
Finding Horsehappys
I have been enamored with horses my entire life. My folks say I was born with it. I surely did not get it from them, my dad was a mechanical engineer, my mother was a registered nurse. Neither had hobbies that involved living animals. So I guess I was just born with it.
So what is "horsehappys"?
It is a word I invented quite honestly out of necessity to find a horsey word for one of my first email accounts years ago. By combining "horse"-the creature I love, "happys"-the smile and overall good feeling that makes life worthwhile, I devised "horsehappys"!
My definintion:
horsehappys -noun
1. that wonderful feeling you get when all goes wonderful between you and your horse.
2. the bliss of connection between horse and human.
3. overwhelming pleasure found in the company of horses.
So what is "horsehappys"?
It is a word I invented quite honestly out of necessity to find a horsey word for one of my first email accounts years ago. By combining "horse"-the creature I love, "happys"-the smile and overall good feeling that makes life worthwhile, I devised "horsehappys"!
My definintion:
horsehappys -noun
1. that wonderful feeling you get when all goes wonderful between you and your horse.
2. the bliss of connection between horse and human.
3. overwhelming pleasure found in the company of horses.
For those who love horses, no explanation is necessary for this word; for those who don't, none is possible.
I hope you enjoy this blog, it is my attempt to share my journey of life with horses and my adventures in work with people and horses through my business, Helpful Horsemanship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
