11/10/2023
A great post by Amy Skinner Horsemanship...
"It works every time. I know it does, but there is always the struggle to hone it- to live it, breathe it, be it: rythm, relaxation, connection.
So simple, so profound, and yet, the hardest task I have ever undertaken."
“Ride like you’re on a cloud,” my teacher said. “Each foot step soft!”
It’s getting dark. The highway traffic from behind my arena has picked up, I can barely hear her. A motorcycle backfires.
I’m focusing with every scrap of my ability.
One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four. I almost have it: my gelding softens, his neck comes out of his chest and he breathes.
My daughter comes flying up the hill. “Hi mommy!”
My geldings head pops up, I feel myself tighten. Back to counting.
“Stay with me!” My teacher commands. One, two, three, four.
My beautiful gray is scrambling now, his eye on the little girl leaping off the gate, throwing sand, playing with whips and flags from my corner collection.
Logically, I know rythm focuses and balances the horse. I’ve seen it many times - taught it many times. Mentally, now, i have to fight to stay present. It is a battle.
“Loosen the reins! Loosen the reins!”
How can anyone ever loosen the reins in chaos? I think of my poor students, and suddenly understand their plight.
Breathing, breathing, counting. I drown out the traffic, let go of my surroundings. I hear them, see them, but stay here, stride for stride.
Back to looseness, my gray sneezes.
“Ah! The schwung! He’s swinging his back now!” She exclaims, she waves her arms excitedly
It works every time. I know it does, but there is always the struggle to hone it- to live it, breathe it, be it: rythm, relaxation, connection.
So simple, so profound, and yet, the hardest task I have ever undertaken.