Funny Business
I'll be the first person to acknowledge that I'm serious in my training and at times a bit too serious. To me every moment that I'm around my horse is usually spent trying to figure out how I can better the both of us. Or more accurately what I can be doing better. So I'm surprised to say that our training has become a bit more playful over the past week or so. I'm even more surprised to say that his training is progressing faster since we made this shift. Admittedly, I do get arena bound. And with show season coming up my focus
Breakthrough Moments
I've been really reluctant to post anything for the past couple of days. Mostly because I wanted to hold on to the wonderful feeling that these past few days of training Achates has given me. As anybody who works with or trains horses will know, not everyday is a "breakthrough day". Most days are like chipping away at a block of marble. You have the finished image of what the sculpture will look like in your mind, but the actuality of what's in front of you is far from it. But every once in a while something will come upon you out of
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