Der Fortschritt!

[lantairvlea]

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It's a bit of a shame I missed out on videoing Friday because she did buck it out pretty spectacularly, but it's also nice not having video of her being most unhappy and me fumbling a little to figure out how best to work her through it. But this is Thursday and today

Comments

[geminiwench]

Horses are VERY good at knowing the difference between confidence and bravado.... and they love confidence and don't trust ANYTHING else!

[lantairvlea]

Isn't that true!

[geminiwench]

I think that is why riding lessons are *so good* for so many people.

My mom was especially good at teaching teenage bullies on horses. She'd give them a senstively ornery horse... that the bully couldn't bully... that the bully *had* to learn to listen to, but could still be strong with. Teaching that bully how to be clear about what they want, rather than MAD about it. She might have saved some lives teaching them those skills.

She also worked with abused women and children.... especially women who had been taught to give in, give up, and not to have opinions. That doesn't work with a horse. KNOWING what you want... is half the battle. And what else IS confidence?

[lantairvlea]

That is exactly why! Horses boost confidence and on the flipside can knock you down a few pegs!

Your mom sounds like she was very good at what she did and helped a lot of people. She is pretty much retired now, right?

[geminiwench]

And Now For Something Different:
I am going to hazard a guess that you are not familiar with the Omak Stampede Suicide Race? It is an annual night downhill horse race + river crossing.
It's TERRIFYING to watch, and can't even imagine riding it... but a local filmmaker did a good short film about one of the champion horse/rider teams recently that I really enjoyed... here is the trailer...
http://www.samwilsonphoto.com/pages/eagle-boy

I wish I had a way to share it with you... I think you'd like it. It's more about the horse and his 15 year old rider... its a slow-moving, pretty beautiful, and the races are (of course) exciting and breathtaking.

[lantairvlea]

I think I've heard of that, or at least something similar, what a crazy thing to do with horses!

[geminiwench]

I think bronco-busting is worse.... at least with the suicide races there is a relationship with people riding their own horses and a trust factor,... rather than usually a meeting of strangers trained to f*** each other up!

[lantairvlea]

Yep, I avoid getting on things I KNOW will try to throw me. Bronc busting and bull riding are two things I don't understand!

[adafrog]

What a good girl;. :)

[lantairvlea]

Today was much more exciting. I added a stirrup to the saddle on one side and we had some theatrics again. We'll see how tomorrow goes!

[adafrog]

Wohoo!