That’s an excellent question. With a mare, it could just be her hormonal attitude. You are absolutely correct in wondering how to approach the weird moments.
I watch your videos from South Africa. I do dressage online in the UK. I find your videos inspiring and so interesting they have helped me a lot. Thank you.
Words of wisdom condensed from what can take a lifetime to learn for many of us. We can find the “joy” in unexpected places. Competition and jealousy are forms of throwing salt into the wound. Even if we resolve to be generous and tolerant, the truth is, we still infect our minds and hearts in the flash of a moment when we are caught by surprise. I have many examples of deadly unanticipated experiences that add to the suffering. What you state as most rewarding are the “moments”. The best moments are spontaneous harmony with the horse that come from thousands of moments of struggle and frustration. You mention the cost and the 10,000 hours that are a huge obstacle for amateur riders. It’s much harder to have only one horse to ride and that same horse for maybe 15 or 20 years. You struggle with the same issues the whole time never knowing what it would be like to have many different horses to ride. If you’ve owned or ridden maybe 15 horses in your lifetime that were all strong in the bridle, you never feel a horse that goes behind the bit. Or visa versa. You miss the chance for a taste of success on more trainable horses and the revelations it provides. The artist as painter has a long road to travel too, but he always has the same canvass. And if you ride alone, that is without an instructor, forgive me, but you end up practicing the same bad habits over and over again expecting a different result. If you have a very strong dose of the “horse virus” your feet will take you out the door even when your mind tells you not to go. I’m drawing a picture of the dark side. There’s a bright one too, but I don’t need to discuss it because it’s not the problem. The importance of your content in presenting the struggle is hugely important because it opens a door to finding a path toward emotional balance. We are not masochists……as far as I know. But sometimes it’s a hard argument to win. And, no one has talked about it much. Instead, they reminded us of the inherent weakness of the student rider and the suffering horses. They wrote books that we thought would teach us to train horses. I really enjoy and appreciate your discussion of the realities of horsemanship because we are never further from the truth than when we are deluded by ourselves. And there are few things in life more deadly than a closed mind.
Yes you do. It’s just that I’m placing the emphasis on the negative references that I was inspired by from your reality check. I guess one could say that success should be measured by the size of the obstacles one has to overcome and the privileges one was denied. There’s no practical path to a level playing field in any sport. But that doesn’t necessarily stop us from playing. But I think that gives one the liberty to acknowledge it even if it isn’t politically correct and accept or admit the loss of a dream.
I just found your channel. Thank you for all of this information. I love your honesty and humility with this format. Really looking forward to being a subscriber and continuing this crazy horsemanship journey.
The spectrum is an interesting conversation. We are pumped with so much information about saddle fit, feed supplements etc yet when you look at riders back in the yesteryears, they just were good riders, riding in whatever was available at that time! Love watching you under the saddle, educating us on good riding ❤
I love this format , it helps me get in my head and really think about what you are saying, I appreciate your vulnerability in asking questions that are back to basics and fundamental. Keep it up.
Ive gotten to the point where I've asked myself if it's really humane to sit on a horses back (and yet I keep doing it) Do they like it or simply tolerate it? Do we have the right to ask them, not only to carry us around but to carry us around in a very specific way which we as humans deem better? I dont know.
Yes, the horse has the answers. Unfortunately, people don't care or don't know anymore how to listen to them. I wish everyone would go back to the old masters. Read Seunig, Steinbrecht, Mueseler, the HD.V.12, etc. I was lucky. I was taught by old school riding masters. They would turn in their graves at warp speed could they see today's so called "dressage". I quit watching competitions. They make me cry.................. ( Yes, I'm old)
I have started wondering about natural horsemanship too. Is it really the best thing for the horse. I mean sometimes I think is any of this natural for the horse.
I think what I’ve liked about natural horsemanship is the communication piece and building a language with each other - and that’s what I also love about dressage - that working together to be more supple and looser and willingness. I also just love learning and find it super rewarding when I have those Aha moments with one of my horses. Maybe it’s also that both of those disciplines when done well look effortless and feel magical…
"The one who really has the answer is the horse." Solid gold!
Yay. Thank you for your comment. I feel the same.
Good discussion. I agree so much with your views on dressage and horses in general Looking forward to the next video. Thank you 🎉
That’s an excellent question. With a mare, it could just be her hormonal attitude. You are absolutely correct in wondering how to approach the weird moments.
I watch your videos from South Africa. I do dressage online in the UK. I find your videos inspiring and so interesting they have helped me a lot. Thank you.
That’s so cool. Thank you for sharing
Words of wisdom condensed from what can take a lifetime to learn for many of us. We can find the “joy” in unexpected places. Competition and jealousy are forms of throwing salt into the wound. Even if we resolve to be generous and tolerant, the truth is, we still infect our minds and hearts in the flash of a moment when we are caught by surprise. I have many examples of deadly unanticipated experiences that add to the suffering.
What you state as most rewarding are the “moments”. The best moments are spontaneous harmony with the horse that come from thousands of moments of struggle and frustration. You mention the cost and the 10,000 hours that are a huge obstacle for amateur riders. It’s much harder to have only one horse to ride and that same horse for maybe 15 or 20 years. You struggle with the same issues the whole time never knowing what it would be like to have many different horses to ride.
If you’ve owned or ridden maybe 15 horses in your lifetime that were all strong in the bridle, you never feel a horse that goes behind the bit. Or visa versa. You miss the chance for a taste of success on more trainable horses and the revelations it provides. The artist as painter has a long road to travel too, but he always has the same canvass. And if you ride alone, that is without an instructor, forgive me, but you end up practicing the same bad habits over and over again expecting a different result. If you have a very strong dose of the “horse virus” your feet will take you out the door even when your mind tells you not to go.
I’m drawing a picture of the dark side. There’s a bright one too, but I don’t need to discuss it because it’s not the problem. The importance of your content in presenting the struggle is hugely important because it opens a door to finding a path toward emotional balance. We are not masochists……as far as I know. But sometimes it’s a hard argument to win. And, no one has talked about it much. Instead, they reminded us of the inherent weakness of the student rider and the suffering horses. They wrote books that we thought would teach us to train horses.
I really enjoy and appreciate your discussion of the realities of horsemanship because we are never further from the truth than when we are deluded by ourselves. And there are few things in life more deadly than a closed mind.
Yes you do. It’s just that I’m placing the emphasis on the negative references that I was inspired by from your reality check. I guess one could say that success should be measured by the size of the obstacles one has to overcome and the privileges one was denied. There’s no practical path to a level playing field in any sport. But that doesn’t necessarily stop us from playing. But I think that gives one the liberty to acknowledge it even if it isn’t politically correct and accept or admit the loss of a dream.
I just found your channel. Thank you for all of this information. I love your honesty and humility with this format. Really looking forward to being a subscriber and continuing this crazy horsemanship journey.
Those are some of the questions i ask too. One i think about often is that pendulum swing between power and suppleness, contact and self carriage.
The spectrum is an interesting conversation. We are pumped with so much information about saddle fit, feed supplements etc yet when you look at riders back in the yesteryears, they just were good riders, riding in whatever was available at that time! Love watching you under the saddle, educating us on good riding ❤
Always interesting, love your content and vlogs, thank you from 🏴 😊
So missed these videos, good information and plenty to think about. Keep them coming. ❤❤❤😊
Soft, supple connection...an endless journey.
For me, this was one of your better videos, thanks for sharing
I love this format , it helps me get in my head and really think about what you are saying, I appreciate your vulnerability in asking questions that are back to basics and fundamental. Keep it up.
The beauty of the beast is they always keep us guessing, but we love them❤ loved your video
Ive gotten to the point where I've asked myself if it's really humane to sit on a horses back (and yet I keep doing it) Do they like it or simply tolerate it? Do we have the right to ask them, not only to carry us around but to carry us around in a very specific way which we as humans deem better? I dont know.
Yes, the horse has the answers. Unfortunately, people don't care or don't know anymore how to listen to them. I wish everyone would go back to the old masters. Read Seunig, Steinbrecht, Mueseler, the HD.V.12, etc. I was lucky. I was taught by old school riding masters. They would turn in their graves at warp speed could they see today's so called "dressage". I quit watching competitions. They make me cry.................. ( Yes, I'm old)
❤
I have started wondering about natural horsemanship too. Is it really the best thing for the horse. I mean sometimes I think is any of this natural for the horse.
I think what I’ve liked about natural horsemanship is the communication piece and building a language with each other - and that’s what I also love about dressage - that working together to be more supple and looser and willingness. I also just love learning and find it super rewarding when I have those Aha moments with one of my horses.
Maybe it’s also that both of those disciplines when done well look effortless and feel magical…