Sustainable Dressage

Today's AB Tech class was very interesting, and I had a ton of fun! We all discovered (and rediscovered) what an amazing horse Jasmine is. You wouldn't think it to see her in the pasture or to lead/drag her up to the barn. She seems like a normal, mellow school horse. But, man...she can move, and boy is she fancy! It was fun to watch her try to take care of the novice riders while at the same time harboring the ability to really MOVE with the more advanced rider. I've said it at least a dozen times before, and I'll say it again: She's worth her weight in gold.

Anyway, I've been thinking this afternoon (while weed-eating and working in the yard) about the idea of riding correctly, riding well, and being in harmony with the horse. So much of what we've talked about in regards to the horse's body, his anatomy, his various functions and systems really informs us to be compassionate riders. This, then, demands that we be thoughtful, reflective, and understanding. We've also talked quite a bit about dangerous and abusive training techniques that take very little of the horse's natural functions and systems into consideration. It's heart-breaking to see the videos of horses being ridden in such barbaric ways.

However, not EVERYONE rides that way. Here is a website I'd like you to check out in your spare time (ha! who has that?). It's called "Sustainable Dressage," and there are some fantastic articles on it regarding the training scale, collection, and rollkur. Another thing I love about it is the various illustrations that show how leverage bits work, how the horse's body moves, and our unintended effects upon the horse's movement. I wish this lady would write more; her site hasn't been updated in ages. I like her methodical approach and her evident compassion and understanding.

On a completely different note - Obe is happy as a clam in her new pasture with Rocky! Being in raging season, she was SOOO lovey-dovey with him, licking him, nuzzling him, drinking from the trough while he did. She's like a middle-school girl all twitter-pated over the boy in French class! Ha!

Directions to FENCE for horse trials

Hey, class!

This link will take you to the website of FENCE and the directions there.

We'll meet up at 9 AM on Saturday morning. When you turn into the Mane Gate, the road will fork. Take the LEFT fork (the right fork would take you up onto the Steeplechase course). There will be cars and trailers parked along the road once you enter a gait onto the main show grounds. I will parked here (or standing somewhere near, so you'll see me soon after you drive in). We'll then gather and head over to the cross country course. Please try to be on time. I may wait around for 10 minutes or so, but I want us ALL TOGETHER to walk to the cross country course (it's across the street and up a little ways). The drive takes about 45 minutes from the barn.

I'll see you there!