03/10/2024
Raven and I competed together yesterday, and despite much resistance on my part, I think we both had fun😆! It has never been my grand dream to show or be a competition trainer. I have always had epic amounts of anxiety about it; but I enjoy this horse so much, that she makes everything we do together delightful.
I know this is insanely long, but, I have no clue when people have the time to post online, so in this rare opportunity, I have a whole lot to say.
Despite my poor piloting that took us off course twice, SHE still achieved, for us, a 60.4 on our first attempt. At our second attempt we, together, recieved a 65!
This was my first time showing a horse under Légèreté principles, and that is a really important achievement to me. For me, it is about the horse. This means learning, discovering, and forever seeking the truly best way. It means being brave enough to start completely over. It means knowing when to admit you were wrong; even if you were wrong your whole life! Although, many of my peers feel hopeless with the horse world right now, knowledge is eternal. I feel hopeful that there is a way forward which preserves the knowledge and principles of the classical masters of dressage. I know that those who truly love the horse will one day find this, too.
I have found myself amongst an incredible group of horsewomen, who I believe, TRULY support eachother. Just to name a few:
Thank you Monae for your unwavering commitment to the horse, and your infinite support of Adamo Equestrian.
Thank you to Carol for making Raven happy and beautiful, and more so, for following me through this dark tunnel with your partner, Pisa, and trusting me that there is a well-worth-it light at the end.
Thank you Michelle (why can't I tag you!?) for trusting me to try new things and for pushing me to compete and, of course, for the opportunity to partner with your incredible horse!
Thank you Shannon for trusting me with the most precious thing in your life, and endlessly showing up for me and my program when we need you.
Thank you Emily (Extra Mile Equine LLC) for keeping the horses happy in their bodies, and the long brainstorming sessions to help me resolve these tiresome thoughts.
Thank you Laura for your experience and guidance, for the endless opportunities you allow me, and for always believing in and pushing me, no matter how frustrating that must be.
Thank you Pippa for opening this doorway and offering a bridge between the worlds I am attempting to straddle.
And the non-women who deserve thanks:
Thank you James for making Légèreté possible for me and sharing this knowledge with us all.
Thank you Trevor for your love, endless patience, support, labor, time, energy, amazing software skills, business advice, camera skills, your gracious acceptance of the horse world being forced upon you, stall cleaning, horses holding, grooming, repairing, solving, and flawless management of my chaos. Honestly, just thank your for literally everything.