In Her Eyes

EUREKA! Success! Today was one of those days when I had to just admit that I had been a stubborn fool and was blaming my own laziness or lack of preparation that caused the rides to fail, on my beautiful, sensitive horse. Instead of working on my turns by using my seat and leg with more balance and correct leg position WITHOUT using any reins, I had continued to use my hands to balance myself and in doing so was pulling on my horse's mouth. Over and over again she'd speed up as I pulled to keep myself from falling over. The lack of steadiness on her back made her nervous, then speed up, at which time I would, of course, pull her mouth to slow down, which would make her go even faster to avoid my rough hands.

Today I completely avoided contact and I could see immediately when I was shifting the wrong way, dropping my shoulder or putting too much weight into my left stirrup when I was trying to go right, but would lean too far and put me and Chanty off balance. I could tell immediately when I was doing it right. She would turn beautifully and continue on the rail slowly and more relaxed. We worked on it with my endurance saddle which has a different feel than the dressage saddle, but then after a short rest and a treat, changed saddles and boots so that I could prepare to ride her in that saddle next week. She was fantastic. My student watched and was so impressed at how SLOW Chanty was as she sees her as a very fast horse, because of how many times her nervousness had dictated the speed at which she moves. Nervousness that was caused by my imbalance and erratic pull on the reins. I had to tell my student that we are ALL students, constantly learning and for me, who helps others for the satisfaction I feel, it means that I will continue to improve as a teacher, even as I educate myself.

It never ceases to amaze me how forgiving horses are to us clods of humankind. Chanty, if she were a person, would have seen me coming with the saddle and bridle today and said: "Haven't I given you enough chances to get it right. I'm not going to let you bounce all over me and pull on my sensitive mouth, hurting me and making me feel so scared. Do you think I'm nuts?" Why do they allow us to keep coming back so we can get it right. I suppose it is because their survival depends on living in a herd, putting up with the day to day stress of life. Some don't put up with the physical torment of humans, any more than they would put up with it from a herdmate. They will fight back and make sure you don't do the same thing again. Chanty just wants to get along and knows where her comfort comes from in the form of food, water and shelter. She puts up with me, to a point and I thank her for letting me come back another day and try again. Hopefullly, I will do what works for her from now on so that our rides will be enjoyable and I will see in her eyes the calm, sweet creature that she is...thank you Chanty!