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| Finding the Wishbone Leg |
She was right, except I didn't know how ready I was, am, have been, didn't really know how long I'd been waiting.
Four weeks ago, a key was laid in my palm. Somehow, despite the frantic crowding of work into my life, I had the sense to use it, and I swung the door wide to a place I recognized. It's very significant to me.
A good friend of mine bailed a scrub pony out of the joust herd this summer, another guy thrown in too fast with no clue of what was to come. He lasted a few weeks and then discovered that bucking was the easiest way to get fired. My friend saw something in him that nudged at her, so she put him in training with a person she trusted. Every week I said I'd come watch a session, and every week I had to cancel to stay on top of my job. It wasn't until a few days after the festival closed that I claimed a day and drove down to the barn with her.
So I guess it's who T gave me this gift, the inkling of coming home to a place I never lived. I saw the life of her little horse transformed, saw his blooming willingness, saw him working in partnership with his trainer. No spurs, no gadgets, no fighting. Patience, kindness and consistency. The kindest rider I've ever seen, balanced, even and light in the saddle, wishbone legs resting long and quiet, hands that asked, then listened.
There I found an instructor, one who I understand, I mean intuitively understand. With her I don't over think, I just listen and do. My body, freed of my ordinarily clamped-down mind, accepts her directions quickly, avidly and with thirst, as though it has always known this way. Five lessons in, I see the rider that I am and the rider I will become. I see myself getting out of my own way, realize that I am already releasing.
10 comments:
You described your trainer and your ability to work with her so perfectly. I feel exactly the same way about my trainer. It's so rare, trainers like this... full of kindness for the horse, patience and wisdom.
Why not come and post this blog at a new Equine Blogging Network http://hay-net.co.uk/
That's just plain wonderful - wish I had someone like that nearby.
Absolutely fantastic.
Wonderful, I'm trying to get some dressage lessons over the winter- I can only hope they'll be as good as your new trainer.
She sounds like an awesome instructor. I loved the way you discribed it all. It sounded perfect.
Looking for the same thing in an instructor - kind to the horse and the human. Beautiful post :)
beautifully shared, thank you! May we all find that "sweet spot" in our riding when we are accepting, giving, patient, and adept with these wonderful beasts who let us ride them each day.
Nice.
How's Scout's RF hoof, by the way?
June, Scout's hoof grew out just fine. My farrier believes it was a blunt-force trauma, a kick or impact that took out that chunk. Two trims later, no trace was left.
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