As per usual, riding horses is really good at making me think I figured something out and then laughing in my face about it. As I explained in my last post, Duke likes to get hollow in his back and go around in a pretend long and low frame. This becomes extra apparent in downward … More Reverse Idiot Epiphanies
It’s November 1st. And while, to many, this signifies the beginning of the holiday season, equestrians know better. Forget “the most wonderful time of the year.” It’s really “the most painful time of the year.” This is No-Stirrup November. To celebrate, here’s a revisit of a classic post: Thoughts While Riding Without Stirrups. Cheers, and … More No-Stirrup November: Thoughts While Riding Without Stirrups
This past weekend was the big finale show for the local circuit and it’s always a fun one. It’s an out of town one, so our team stays over in a hotel and it’s a full weekend of nonstop horse show goodness. We drove up Friday afternoon and schooled outside first. This went great, except … More Show Recap: WHJA Fall Finals
It’s been a challenging month or so with Drifter. I haven’t wanted to write much because I felt I needed to work through things before writing about what I now call our “creative differences.” Also, I didn’t really realize that I’d actually kept it bottled up until I got a little teary in a lesson and … More Overcoming Creative Differences
As I reviewed the photos taken at our last show, I realized something. The position of my back is terrible when landing off a jump. I mean, really bad. I think this realization was so stark because I’d also just finished watching a video of the winning rider in an equitation final, so of course she looked … More Baby Got Back (Problems)
A quick reminder: My goals for this weekend’s show were to have rhythm and clarity. I put them in that order because it’s hard to achieve clarity without rhythm and the level of control and calmness that it provides. And I also wanted to not die of heat stroke. So did we achieve our goals? … More Show Recap: Sweet Summertime
I am bursting with pride. Drifter went to his very first show this weekend. And he was a rockstar. He was a little nervous when we arrived, but settled right into his stall and from then on he offered a calm demeanor and willing attitude the whole weekend. I honestly went into the weekend totally prepared … More Drifter’s First Show
I almost titled this post “Best Course Ever” but then I figured that it wouldn’t be our best ever – just the best one so far. The jumps were set from about 2’6″-2’9″ or so. Maybe a 2’3″ in there. And it was awesome. Other than the fact that he knocked the first rail down, it was pretty fabulous. … More Video: Best Course Yet & First Flying Changes
Autumn is a time of transition, and for me it is no different. Twinkle and I have competed together in our last show as a team, and we’re parting ways. This was always the plan: Ride and compete with Twinkle for a year, then go on to riding Drifter full time. It’s bittersweet all the … More Moving on, with a Twinkle in My Eye
Not too long ago I read an article about how women tend use qualifying words like “just” to pacify those around them. In a work setting, it could be used like this: “I’m just checking to see when you might have that project completed.” Just. It softens things. Makes you less demanding. Less “bossy.” Since … More Why I’m Banishing the Words “I Don’t Know” from My Vocabulary
Centered in the Saddle 