Easton Horsemanship's blog post
Posted in: horsemanship
Today I am feeling victorious. My little roan horse, that I have been riding pretty solidly for the summer, performed very well yesterday. We saddled up and went for a fairly long ride around a big loop near my home. We had the type of ride that I have been waiting for since I began riding him. Low key and without trouble. A big deal for this particular horse.
Fall is definitely here. The cool air is a welcome change from the scorching heat of summer. Mid day temperatures are quite pleasant and are ideal for saddling up. My riding schedule though, has been and still remains, late afternoon to early evenings. It has become somewhat of a race to perform barn chores, give a lesson, eat and ride after a full day working elsewhere. Darkness falls quickly as the sun sinks down over the distant mountains. I typically still have time to ride at least one horse while retaining quality in my approach.
A lifestyle that includes horses is a busy one. Caring for them as well as finding time to ride adds a lot to a person's plate. I know that with myself, it seems that there is always a horse related project that I am either working on or preparing to get to. Along with the day to day maintenance and upkeep of horses an ongoing project list will grow rapidly if not tended to. In addition to chores and lists, riding, to me, is a must. A big reason that I have horses is for the joy that comes while riding.
This week my wife and I are experiencing a power outage. Our neighbors and us lost power early Saturday and we are staying with friends. We're not sure when our electric service will be re-activated. Hopefully today. Due to circumstances I am re-posting an article I had previously submitted in April. I read through this one again and feel it covers some things that are worth revisiting. Enjoy!
I had a conversation with a student of mine this last week. We were discussing the topic of confidence in a young horse. A horse needs to have confidence not only in themselves, but also in the rider. As we humans saddle up and mount a horse we change their center of gravity. Our added weight, coupled with it's position over the horse, shifts their center of balance upwards a little. In essence, the horse becomes top heavy while carrying the load of a rider.
I have been having a fabulous weekend soaking up information at the Buck Brannaman clinic here in Bozeman. Though I have attended quite a few of these clinics I always pick up new information. Sometimes I am reminded of some key points that I had forgotten to implement. I really enjoy learning and seeing others excited about improving their own skills. Watching Buck ride is always an inspiration to keep improving upon my riding and understanding of horses.
I have found it to be relatively common that a horse has a tendency to drop their shoulder in a turn. It really is not so much a dropping of the shoulder as it is an off balance turn that falls to the inside. Typically when this happens I have seen riders try to correct it by lifting the shoulder. This may work to some degree but barely. It is not the falling shoulder that is the issue here. The problem lies in engagement.
Most of us strive to achieve lightness with our horses. Wanting to offer kind, gentle cues and have a smooth flowing response. I honor that similarity among us and commend you for it. Lightness in a horse is a wonderful feeling. Both horse and human operate together in this scenario and almost become one being. The word Centaur comes to mind.
With horses there is a working relationship that the horse and human develop. The relationship becomes, over time, a partnership. The main question then becomes "Who's the boss?" Or, at least, who holds more stock in the company. Often times it is the horse who is the major shareholder. The one who has the final say in which direction the company is headed.
Here we are again. Another week has come and gone. Time can sometimes seem to pass by so very quickly. I hope that my readers are enjoying these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them. So many ideas come to me during the week that I feel would be worth mentioning in my weekly post. Trying to not put all those ideas into one jumbled, un-readable article, is my biggest feat.
I have mentioned in a previous blog that this time of year focusing on quality over quantity is helpful. I might add to this that quality is always a main component of riding. Quantity can, a lot of times, take precedence over the former. I have been guilty of wanting to pack so much into my mounted work sometimes that I never really get a maneuver solid before I move on to something else. As a result, when I would get back to checking up on my work the next ride, I would find that nothing had improved. It's times like these that have left me wondering "what gives?"
This week the world lost a renowned and respected Horseman. Peter Campbell. A man that truly understood horses and did right by them. A man that was not only a great teacher, but also one who inspired others to rise up to greatness. Though it may not have been entirely reciprocated, I considered Peter to be a friend, and his presence will be missed. A sentiment that is sure to be shared by many.
I really enjoy this time of year. The snow has mostly melted off, other than the last of the major drifts. The turning of the clocks (though the spring forward is a bit of a butt kicker) has added extra daylight to the evenings. This time of year brings back, for me, the ability to saddle up a horse after work and get some riding time in before dinner. Granted, not all evenings will be conducive to riding. It is, after all, still only March.
I greatly enjoy getting back to riding. If you're at all like me, the horses have had quite a long string of days off. The winter has been for them, "break time." I do know that they have enjoyed their time away from a routine exercise program. Their days have been filled with lots of eating, napping in the sun, and playfully biting each other's faces. I have lately been observing from their behavior that they are beginning to get a little bit bored and are ready to get back to work. That behavior can be either a blessing or a curse.
Have you ever forgotten to bring your toothbrush on an overnight stay? There you are, after an evening out with friends where you ate lots of flavorful, pungent foods. You are loving life and even jumped at the offer of a decadent dessert when the waitress asked if anyone had saved room. Now your laughing to yourself remembering all of the fun you had, washing up and getting ready for bed when you open up your travel kit and "Oh no," you have forgotten your toothbrush. You are suddenly faced with the dilemma of going to bed with "fuzzy" teeth or trying somehow to use your right hand index finger as a makeshift brush. The result, no matter which option you choose, is less than optimal.