Chetak
I want to use the post to explain exactly what the name Chetak means to me. Chetak is the name of a warhorse from India, more specifically the region that my family is from. The original Chetak gave his life for his rider, carrying him safely through the battle and then to safety after before succumbing to his own fatal battle wound. My dad told me this story several years before I got a horse and I classified it away with all the other miscellaneous information in my head. I didn't give it anymore weight at the time and definitely never considered the role
Mental
Today I wasn't able to get to the barn. When I texted my trainer about my disappointment she brought up something I rarely put into action. She told me to ride mentally. Why I've never put this idea into effect is beyond me, it seems like the obvious way to keep your mind engaged even when you're away from your horse. Since my main issue with Achates is getting him to come through and forward I pictured myself riding him this way. I felt him moving balanced underneath me, and light in my hands. I went through an Intro level test and rode