“Hey, Little Red-haired Girl, I have your pony here!!!” Meet Bailey, my most recent date. If you follow my blog, you know I work with Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue. (RRHR.org) Rescue horses come to Infinity Farm- one at a time, for a 2 or 3 week stay. It’s a like speed dating! Two weeks isn’t enough … Read more
Last week I had a bit of a Christmas rant (read) and declared I would celebrate Thanksgiving until New Years. I feel better already. I followed with, “And if thanksgiving is my religion, then the barn will be my church.” I know I run the danger of offending a wide range of religious and spiritual … Read more
My corner of Colorado is having a particularly colorful Autumn. The sun rise is later and later, but the dawn colors seem worth the wait. Tomatoes plants have wilted but the tree leaves are frosted and toasted to richness. I hear big weather is coming next week- so these are precious days. Waterfront property isn’t … Read more
Possibility, napping on her nose. Anna, Infinity Farm.
The connection between horses and music is not abstract. It’s literal. I was learned this fact years ago riding with a group of friends at a barn party. The sound system was cranked up and Bobby McFerrins’ Don’t Worry was playing. I am sure the song choice was meant to be a joke but as … Read more
I am hooked on the writings of classical trainers. It isn’t that I am an elitist; they use an inspiring word that I like and don’t hear so much these days: ART. “Theory instructs us that we should work from a foundation of sound principles, and these principles, rather than going against nature, must serve to perfect … Read more
The equestrian world can seem kind of bi-polar. Some of us ride like headless (brainless) horsemen with little consciousness for our horse or surroundings. Some of us are such control freaks that we slow every walk stride and micro-manage our horse’s nose into being afraid to take a breath. Most of us are working towards … Read more
Lately, I am discovering I like mares more and more. They are so NOT like most of us humans. They have a refreshing honesty. “If you aren’t going to drive the bus, get out of my way and I’ll do it.” Succinct, blunt and clean with her intention- a mare will get the job done. … Read more
Dressage is an equine discipline of beauty, partnership and art. YouTube is full of spectacular videos of elite horses and riders. When Blue Hors Matinee’s freestyle was viral, a dozen non-horse friends sent me the link. I hear Moorlands Totilas has groupies like the rock star that he is, but my personal favorite will always … Read more
We humans are always labeling ourselves. Labels reflect politics and attitudes, or can define a purpose. The horse world is no different. We divide ourselves by breed or riding discipline. Sometimes a label is inclusive and sometimes not so much. Some riders label themselves as recreational as opposed to competitive. This feels odd to me- … Read more
Has it been one of those weeks? Everything that could go wrong–did? We all know how it feels when gravity gets heavy-handed and you begin to feel thick and bound by life. It happens. Maybe you should go to the barn and let yourself be carried a while. If you have a partnership with a … Read more
This week I have been preparing for a clinic this weekend at Infinity Farm. It is the my favorite clinic every year: Fundamentals of Dressage. One of my clients asked if it was going to be the same as last year. (Eye roll -is this a trick question?)
Namaste is a Sanskrit word -which means it’s very old. Most translate it to some version of “The spirit in me respects the spirit in you.” There is so much in a name. Namaste is also an easy-on-the-eyes, young, Friesian-Arab gelding with a big dressage heart. I have known him for about 5 years and … Read more
The foundation of Dressage for the rider/horse is rhythm. I define that as a balanced combination of relaxation and forward. It sounds deceptively simple. A rider/horse can not sacrifice forward for relaxation, or relaxation for forward. The art of riding is in negotiating the balance of the two in both the rider and the horse. … Read more
Sometimes our personality isn’t the best match for where our horse is at the moment -but acting the part of a confident rider might reveal a path from being the Odd Couple to Fred and Ginger in Shall We Dance?
It has been a scary week in our horse world. Everyone is aware by now that there is an outbreak of EHV-1, a potentially deadly virus. Get educated and understand bio-secure recommendations. Use the internet to its full and best potential by getting the actual facts as given by actual professionals, like veterinary colleges or … Read more
… and Grace gives herself a promotion. Dressage borrows lots of language from ballet -after all, we are the dancers of the horse world. Pas de Trois is a dance of three. I have commandeered that phrase to describe riding lessons as a conversational dance between horse, rider and instructor. All three participants have to … Read more
Dear Drama Queen, I understand getting upset. You have so much passion and desire for riding. I know how much you want to do the very best job. Sometimes the world seems to conspire against you; it’s like every bad thing happens to you and none of it is your fault. No one else has … Read more