If I don’t blog, I might scream…
As the saying goes… “opinions are like ___ holes, everyone has one”.
That is the most prevalant feeling that I have right now. And what was this sparked by? An innocent post on facebook of all places, lol. A friend of mine posted a video link of a dressage ride. The new record. I posted to her that it was the best dressage ride I’ve seen at that competetive level in a LONG time. Probably ever.
Then a few other friends have posted the same video. To which I find people tearing it down.
Do I think that I am watching the essence of perfection unfold before my eyes as I watch this ride? No.
I do note that a LOT of high level dressage competition that I’ve watched lately is FULL of hollow backs when collection is desired, mouths are gaping and foaming (even when wrenched closed with a flash) and the horses in general look like every inch of their bodies are doing their best to escape the person on their back while completing the task at hand. I’m talking about world reknowned riders here, not backyard DQ’s.
This ride did NOT look that way to me. Sure, there were moments when the horse did not look like he was one with the force. Like he had moments of irritation. He was behind the verticle more than I’d like. Also there were quite a few moments of just utter concentration and darned hard work going on! That was no easy ride!!!
Dressage isn’t my style. It’s too micro-managing. It’s too foo-foo. It’s too a LOT of things for me. But do I see the beauty in it? Absolutely.
Speaking of absolute- the point that I simply MUST make right this very moment before I implode on myself like a dying star is this: There is no absolute when it comes to horsemanship.
Period.
I’ve had lots of folks tell me lots of things. I have friends on EVERY end of the spectrum. Worked with/know trainers from the very old school cowboy way, to the modern day version of “cowboying” (which is usually more akin to being a class-a jerk) to folks that let fluttery bull pucky float past their teeth that would have none of us ever ride our horses because we just ain’t ever gonna be good enough. We can’t ever ride that perfect ride of zen-like communication where we are not “abusing” our horse by not being perfectly clear with our intent.
Well crap. If I listen to them, I should never ride and instead bow down to Horse like a diety. The almighty perfect creation with whom I do not deserve to clean the hooves of. Or pay the vet bills of. Or pay their feed bill before I even buy my own groceries (which I do, by the way).
No. No, I will not fall victim to one end of the spectrum or the other. NO.
Do I strive for perfection in my communication and relationship with my horse. Sorry. The answer is still no. Not be crass, but I don’t strive for perfection in my marriage for goodness sake. Or any other HUMAN relationship.
I do strive to be better today than I was yesterday. Most of the time I can pull that off. Though not always.
I do strive to apologize when I hold fault… in fact, I am sure most neighbors or passers by have heard me apologizing to my horse on many occasion when we are working on something. Not because I am “not worthy”. Not because I think the horse better than I. But because I do understand that a LOT of our issues are legitimatly my doing… not being clear, not having the right answer for what he needs. Asking him to do more than what he can offer.
Heck, I’m not a very good rider anyway. I’m lucky I stay on, especially with my propensity to sit forward all the time. Dang it. Pockets. Pockets.
Woops, back to topic. Do I think I’m abusing my horse? Not at all. In fact, I’m not ashamed to tell you he’s darned lucky to have me. Yep. That’s right… He’s well fed. Couldn’t be fed much better. He receives all the care, attention and whatever else a horse could need or want. Regular worming, hoof care, (cleaned and treated at least 4-5 times a week- can you say that about your horse?) Low sugar treats on occassion. Lots of grooming, massage, stretching. Buddies in his pasture that don’t give him the beat down. And he’ll be with me for his last breath, Lord willing.
I just don’t know how some people can stand themselves. How high-and-mighty can a person be without feeling that the weight of the whole world is on their shoulders?
I’m not perfect and I never will be. I don’t expect other folks to be perfect either. I don’t expect that if you and I ride together we’ll have all the same viewpoints on everything horse related. And I don’t expect that all of my opinions are right and you’re the one that’s misinformed. Or that you’re “abusing your horse” if you’re not perfect. Which you aren’t, by the way *wink*. Sorry to have to be the one to tell you that. I hate hearing it too.
Sometimes I’m braced. Sometimes my horse is. Sometimes he’s braced because I am. We try to always end on a good note. Each day better than the last.
And you know what? Every day I show up and he nickers at me. I have a song in my heart just for him. Is everything perfect? No. But you know what? We show up anyway. We work on it. Even when we don’t really feel like it. And isn’t that what matters?!? I think it is… I think that is what counts more than the perfect moments. Showing up for the imperfect ones… Sharing their burden and working through it together.
I feel better now ;~)