It really hasn't been too long since I took a step back from everything that seemed like it was moving too fast in ever decreasing circles. Not just horses, everything. Long enough to make me realise I really am the minority - and that where I was, things are moving even faster. In regards to the topic of this blog, it is now common to have a photo of a horse with it's mouth tied shut, foam everywhere, looking miserable, with a beaming rider and the accolades of all their peers. People really do not seem to see the problems with a forced frame. It is revered. It exhausts me. It exhausts me whether I try to argue against it, and it exhausts me holding my tongue.It would be easier to step away. But I am developing a stronger and stronger urge to prove something. Even though a champion ribbon won't make me happier than my day to day life - I hope that I can break through to SOMEONE. For too many people, winning is everything, and the tricks of the trade have become too easy and too fast. Relative novices can feed their ego in a sport/art that once took an age to achieve advancement. Having said that, I need to temper myself. If I want to be listened to, I can't make myself be unpleasant to listen to. I want people to be interested in the links and quotes and articles from learned people that I admire. For the horses sake, I want people who need shallow authority, to look to those teachings. These days - the shallow authority is in a Frame, with the Right Coloured Ribbon.

Well it has been a few months since I have posted. There has not been happening an awful lot in the saddle - I have not ridden much since march for a number of reasons. First of all, I was having some niggling fatigue issues from the head injury, and after being a mum and working full time and looking after all the horses, I had to drop a few daily activities. Riding was one of them. Which coincided with the autumn grass coming through = although Lou is still in the same paddock that she has been in for a year, and the sheep have kept it down, it was impossible to stop the effects of the super grass shoots bursting through. When I did ride she was a bit spooky, twitchy and not happy, so I decided that I wouldn't undo all the progress that we had made. I am busting to get back on again - just in time for the first day of winter! It is still not muddy but DARK. Hopefully will get back into the swing of something soon, though. Winter really does drag though in Auckland, and we haven't hit the wet muddy misery yet. I have to say though, my stoicism for the mud grows over the years! With the off season from showing that pretty much puts a halt to things after easter, through to October, there is way too much time for speculation, planning, evaluation. Not that this is BAD, but it has meant that I have seen and mulled over many things that have continued to discourage me from competing in the showring. The reality is the things I find most abhorrent are the things that seem to be rewarded directly and indirectly - short neck, behind the vertical... the use of draw reins to get a 'frame', tying the mouth shut to avoid addressing tension issues, even worse - draw reins and flash nosebands used with double bridles and spurs - I look at photos of horses and ponies being schooled and ridden and competed in this manner and it ruins the beauty of these gorgeous animals for me. Worried eyes, horses looking at the ground in front of them, tight curb chains... even harder for me is that I really am a minority in this way of thinking. I am seem to be a little bit wacko, I think. My personal task for the off season is to find that balance of using the drive and motivation to prove that you CAN produce a show horse in an ethical, 'classical' way... and the growing belief that what really matters is happiness and contentment and enjoyment. As well as Lou, I also have a rather nice pony of Kevin's to produce and am looking forward to that. I have had her sitting in my paddock for a couple of months now and have watched from a distance as she has relaxed and settled. The way she carries herself and reacts to her environment is so much calmer now, and has made me glad that I have the time and will allow the time for her to get used to being here before I expect her to work for me. Not rocket science, but not the Modern Way. I can't believe what a hippy I sound these days - but in every aspect of my life I am more aware of how other people - often other people who want my time and money - want to dictate to me what should make me content and happy. It really is great to win a champion ribbon.. but it is also great to have a happy, relaxed horse greet you when you arrive at the stables - to have your heart sing in gratitude that you can trust a half tonne animal with your life. And it wasn't until I got older and then had a baby that I really grasped the concept that you are trusting them with your life~~~

Setbacks

For me, the most disappointing setbacks are those not in training, but in circumstance. On the Saturday just passed, I was entered for a local show. I was really looking forward to it! Lou was doing really well, and I had been working SO hard to make the improvements that I saw needed making since Nationals.
Of course, just to further build my character, she had a fat leg when I pulled her out of the paddock on Friday to wash and plait! grrrrrr. Had obviously banged it in the paddock. Iced and warm poulticed alternately for a couple of hours, but it didn't get better enough for the morning ridden classes. So frustrating!

A couple of days off, it seemed better yesterday so I had a ride. Mainly at the walk but very productive, worked on shoulder in and counter shoulder in transitions, got a beautiful forward fluid walk, and some lovely trot transitions.

Back from the National Show Horse and Pony Show

Totally exhausting yet rewarding week away with horse, child and friends. It really was the show I had been building towards - the two previous recent outings were a warm up and as I had said, gave me confidence that Lou would rise to the occasion. Putting ourselves up for consideration at national level showing was a little nervewracking in that I knew that no matter how much we improved afterwards, I was never going to live it down if she blew up! I know I shouldn't care what people think but hey, I'm human.

The good news is that she was GREAT. Hot and fiery and eyes popping out but overall happy and obedient and FUN to ride. A couple of minor placings but in my world, we won the title! I was just so thrilled that we pulled it off and did it the way I wanted to.

It was inevitable that I was going to be down the line from horses displaying their tension in more 'acceptable' ways - hollow backs, dropping behind the bridle, broken at the crest, open mouths so I wasn't disappointed. If that is what that judge wants - yay them. I'm happy to wait for our time.

There was plenty to see that horrified me, of course. Horses being lunged in what can only be described as rollkur with a drop noseband in the heat (and it was HOT), lame horses being bullied in double bridles, draw reins of course...lots of miserable looking horses and to be honest, miserable looking riders! The only thing that seems to get most of them smiling is a red ribbon or championship sash. How depressing.