Reinforcment!!

This weekend, three things have happened to remind me of how fervently I feel that I am on the 'right' path for me and my horse.

1) I am riding a pony for a friend at shows. Lovely lovely pony, very good friends. Very different way of schooling; the buttons I go to try not only don't work, but are frowned upon. Good example is the indirect turn - if Lou pops her neck a quick indirect turn not only restraightens her, but calms her. An indirect turn on a horse who hasn't been trained with ethical equitation turns into 'crossing the rein over the wither' - not only totally ineffective, but also a cardinal sin!!! It is a challenge for me to adapt and try to do what they want. The biggest lesson I have learned from the exercise is - other people's expectations are WAY more stressful than your own!!!!

2) I taught a lesson today. I haven't coached in awhile - it was taking up so much time, and to be honest, most people (esp young people) don't want to hear what I have to say anymore. Too much patience, too much effort! All good. Everyone has their own journey. Anyway, I have one client left pretty much, whose horse has been out with injury. This young girl approached me via a referral, and it was with a fair amount of trepidation that I turned up to the lesson. Pleasent surprise!! Girl had enough natural balance and horse had enough natural willingness and flexibility that some basic exercises produced the sort of work that gets a second lesson - straight lines and turns - let go of his head and trust - showed her how to lift her ribcage, engage her core and 'pinch her bum cheeks'. Oh, and I made her throw out her flash noseband! Horse was mega relieved. All in all, a fabulous reminder about how taking things back to the correct basics can have immediate results. And thank goodness for that horse, that their were immediate results!!! Most people don't have the patience to work through more than one lesson of not results. I probably didn't when I was younger.

3) Final thing that totally reinforced my approach was an awesome, awesome ride on Lou tonight. We had as much of a hoon that you can manage in a paddock, and after a good 5-10 minutes of cobweb blowing strong canter/hand gallop, she came sweetly back as soon as I asked and we trotted on the buckle while she cooled down. Lots of snorting and happy nose blowing, super relaxed. I want to take her to the beach and really let her go!!!!

A good weekend.