More progress is being made on the front for the ASPIRE TRP Benefit Ride come October 4 in Waterloo, Iowa. I have been racking my brain on creating the right outfit for the music I’ve chosen and the impression that I want to give, and with some much needed help from my mom I think we have found a winner.
I chose to model my outfit design off an Emanuel Ungaro spring 07 collection dress.
The dress shown in the picture above is the same design I’ll be working off, but have chosen to use the colors black and kelly green. I think these will contrast nicely and set off Jobi’s deep chestnut/sorrel color. Now, choosing a costume that is a dress is a tricky one, not just because it is a dress, but because I may have to get off Jobi at some point during the ride (still figuring out the choreography on that one), so it has to be functional enough that I can walk around in it off the horse and still get back on in a short time without the assistance of ground people.
I will be building the outfit around body slimming underwear that provides the coverage needed - the bottoms cover my thighs similar to bicycle shorts - as well as the stable shaping around the bust to keep everything in place.
Outside of the fashion aspect, Jobi’s practices are starting to give some sparkle here and there. My biggest focus is to shine up his flying lead changes, really build up his strength in the lateral work and put a bit more height on his rearing. He has a stunning rear from the ground, but once I’m in the saddle it is like his ’safety mode’ is switched on and his rears turn into baby hops. Much of it is likely strength, so I’m trying to build his hindquarters with transition work and I want to set out to the trails here soon to get some hill miles as well to get him in tip top condition.
Jobi’s lay down is lovely, I don’t think I will have any problems with that, we will see as I get some chances to take him to bigger facilities, if he gets more distracted at that time or not. It isn’t his usual self, he tends to work evenly whether at home or at shows so I’m not too worried.
Oh, and here’s a short clip showing his rear without a rider, just some easy rears. Enjoy!
It isn’t that I am against dangerous stunts. I even find them entertaining when they involve a professional, who isn’t advocating that beginner’s should try this at home or are capable of teaching themselves how to successfully do them. There are many who do stunts and tricks and so on, that impress me to no end at the amount of physical strength, skill and tact it takes to do them correctly.
Those aren’t the stunts I’m referring to…
What does concern me enough to actually mention it, are professional trainers and clinicians who use methods which are more like stunts (I will elaborate on this more in a moment), and are teaching them to beginners and riders who do not have the skills for such tricks to be successfully put into action without putting themselves and/or the horse at serious risk. I see it time and again, and saw another video of it today that came posted in my inbox.
What do I mean by stunts? Well, things like using so much pressure on the horse that he will eventually blow up, but as a professional having enough tact and skill to manage the blow up and keep it from being something dangerous. That is a great stunt that is really common, but when put in the hands of those without the tactful skills it turns into a mess. Another one is ‘desensitizing’ by tying items to the horse and hoping he doesn’t run through a wall or over the top of you. A professional will know when to dodge, duck, dive or dip, but the average horseperson may not and this could mean the difference between whether you’ll be needing a different kind of duck or not.
I have been in commensurations about the fact that I need to purchase a new saddle pad or two for the last couple of months and procrastinating in one way or another over actually just spending the money and getting something. It isn’t about the money, let’s face it, buying a quilted dressage pad is not the most pricey thing we as horse owners are faced with. At first I told myself that I wanted something ‘unique’… meaning not just white with black piping. Then when I started to see the cool unique pads out there, I told myself that they weren’t cut just right, meaning the withers weren’t high enough. Well, when I finally started to find some that were just right - unique and high wither shaped, then the excuse moved to something new entirely, the thought that maybe the pads I was looking at weren’t the best for my horse’s back?! *roll eyes*
Perhaps in my diluted thoughts there was some truth to pull out and be thankful for. The fact that I have not yet bought a pad has nothing to do now with not knowing what to get, simply not having had the time to place the order for what I have decided on.
I was perusing the Olympic website looking for show times for the Equestrian games… when I spotted this video and gave a chuckle. Good to see a horse so personable and who has such a relationship with his rider! I hope everyone is looking forward to the games as much as I am…
It isn’t because I love picking on competitive Dressage, it is because it is prevalent in competitive Dressage since it is right in front of us, that I can point to the examples so easily seen. False forms of collection abound in every arena however, and it isn’t because it is more fun to fake it, but often because we don’t know what to look for, how to recognize when that fun movement isn’t really what we thought it was, and not sure how else to train the horse.
I work a lot in metaphors, it helps my mind connect ideas and make sense of theories that may otherwise leave me in the dark. So, this is how I’m going to compare collection in the sense of competitive dressage… a bit like a weight lifter bench pressing weights that are inflated with air. Sure, it might look like he is lifting 300 pounds and his muscles are certainly flexed, he has some sweat upon his brow… but there is something missing and that is the reality of the weight, the action, the exercise. It looks like a bench press and acts like a bench press, but is he really lifting any weight? No.
What we see in the competitive arena are collected movements that look like collection, act like collection, are called collection and scored as though they are collection, but there is that vital thing missing - the reality of collection.
Let’s think a bit about the individual movements that are a result of collection : Piaffe, Passage, Canter Pirouette, Flying Changes, Collected Canter, Collected Walk, Extended Trot. Collection unfortunately is often mistaken as being synonymous with slow or short. We see many variations on these different movements and instead of writing a giant article, I think instead I will pull a collection of pictures together and make comments. I like the way my brain functions with visual interaction…
Many of you may or may not be aware, but I was in fact in a movie. Last fall I worked on an indie psychological thriller and am excited to say that the premiere is coming up fast! The premiere is open to anyone wanting to pay to get in the door, and is coupled with an eclectic mix of dj’s, art and several other films.
So many ideas swirl about in my head, and to nail one down… well sometimes it just seems like more fun to juggle 15 balls instead of one. But, for the sake of my wanting to do a good job, I have nailed down a pretty solid plan of action in regards to my musical ride for the “Dances With Horses” ASPIRE TRP Benefit ride.
Music
Have to have something picked out for music before I can roll any other ideas around… so the first song is “Superstar” by Lupe Fiasco… and it goes a little something like this:
Following that is “Wild Horses” by Alicia Keys and Adam Levine, which I posted a short clip of in my blog post here.
Choreography
Attempting to describe what can only be acted out… well what can I say? Other than it will definitely involve many fun and funny props during the first song, and be a bit more “girly” on the second song. haha
I do plan to employ two of Jobi’s fun skills - that being his beautiful rear, and lay down.
Costume
Initially I had a grand scheme of creating about 5 various costumes in which I would have layered strategically and de-robe to a new costume every so many strides.. but time is an issue, so I’ve settled on a single costume for myself and a tuxedo front for my pony. Seems fitting, for “Dancing With Horses” to have a dance outfit of sorts on and be all formal about matters. I myself am looking to be outfitted in a big dress, fancy but stylish.
Practice Makes Perfect
So, now that the kinks are being kinked out… I’ve been practicing some of the ideas with Mr. Jobi. He doesn’t seem to mind. I’d like to bring in some of the props soon, just need to start assembling them. He is always fun to mess with when it comes to normally scary objects. Let’s not forget that this is the horse I wrapped from head to tail in bubble wrap one time, and he attempted to help hold it for me so I could get it taped on properly… The first elaborate costuming scheme I had planned involved a rather large cape, and so I played around with a big sheet that at points he was stepping on while we were cantering, it was flapping around his head, wrapped around his bum, and even used as a mock whip. I think he just rolled his eyes and wondered when we would be finished with this and could go back out on the trail for some real excitement. Geldings…
Perhaps next post I will have more pictures, or even a short video of some of our practice! Stay tuned…
I caught this one on my way out the door for the day, and it put a smile on my face. Simple, easy, enjoyable. Reminded me of starting my first horse, minus two blondes… Oh, and for those that think this is a dig at the hair pigment challenged… fyi, I’m a blonde myself.
I won’t promise free grain for a year to some lucky participant, but those who do participate will not only contribute what is important to them, but they can also simultaneously subscribe to my newsletter and get the chance to get other cool offers like access to videos, articles, special events, discounts and sales and so on, so forth! How cool is that? So, what are you waiting for? Send in your opinion today!
I am happy to see a report coming to the public that addresses the downward spiral of Thoroughbreds in racing here in the USA. I am not a large supporter of the Thoroughbred racing industry, long have I seen it as being money motivated as the primary with the horse falling to the wayside as a disposable commodity. I am very happy to hear the round-table discussion going on that addresses factors such as not putting the horse first among other ideas… check it out for yourself.
Nothing like some deadline to put a fire under my feet. I have a ride coming up, October 4, just 4 days before my birthday - which is always an auspicious time for me. It is the ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program Benefit Ride in Waterloo, Iowa. I have a 10 minute slot in which to ride to music of my choosing and do whatever fancies my taste, and it has been requested that I do so using one of my Bashkir Curly horses…
For the interest of safety, and attractive and entertaining outcome, I have chosen my former stallion turned exceptional gelding, *Y.S. Tanjobi. A little bit about Jobi… I bought him back in 2000 as a 2 year old stallion from Trish Rosborough of Yanagi Stables in Ontario, Canada. We stood him as a stallion until 2004 when I opted to get out of breeding horses and focus more closely on riding and training. I entertained thoughts of selling him as a stallion, but in the end couldn’t part ways with him and gelded him for my own riding horse instead. I have never for a moment regretted it!
The original photos from *Tanjobi’s for sale ad as a long yearling which stole my heart.
Jobi sired 9 foals as a stallion. *Y.S. Kinyobi was out of his first foal crop and is now successfully standing stud for Trish Rosborough. I personally held onto his last two foals, *Truman Obi and *Theodore Obi, who are now coming 4 years old this fall.
There are many opportunities we are presented with as riders that can risk us putting the horse’s welfare second, or third, or…
Often it comes to me that difficulties in making decisions about a certain action, aid, cue, pursuing a particular goal, etc, arise when we are uncertain if we are putting the horse first or second. Many times the horse comes second to money, ribbons, trophies, praise, fame, and so on. Can the horse come first in many of these situations and still achieve the goal we are pursuing as riders?
A recent post on a discussion forum that I am a member of caught my attention this week. Relationships are what I deal with every day, think about at almost every turn of my mind, and am involved in constantly. The relationships I have with my horses, co-workers, colleagues, family members, friends, acquaintances, so on and so forth. There isn’t an interaction that we have with other people, or animals (including our four-hooved friends) that doesn’t involve the dynamic of relationship.
It seems to be a common thread, that we are to ‘parent’ our horses. We are to tell them when to move, how to move, what direction to move, what speed to move, what amount of energy to put out or contain, etc. We also provide the horse’s meals, water, accomodations, travel, health care, beauty care and protection. It could certainly look as though the relationship should naturally be one of parent/child. We parent, the child listens to our directives because we know best, and we all live happily ever after.
If we were to believe 100% with all of our being that a negative thought could produce a negative action, a negative reaction and a negative outcome… would we continue to have negative thoughts?
It has been well documented by those who experience it firsthand, what we think we create, or we attract, or we become a part of in some way. Yet breaking out of negative thoughts and moving into positive ones that not only support who we want to be, but also what we wanted to be surrounded with and involved in, is not always as easy as knowing we ’should’ do it.
I have two more video clips to post from this weekend’s Core Workshop held in Milton, Wisconsin at Awareness In Riding. Thanks again for those who participated!
The mind’s deepest desire, even in its most elaborate operations, parallels man’s unconscious feeling in the face of his universe: it is an insistence upon familiarity, an appetite for clarity. — Albert Camus
Oh, and for those that think this is a dig at the hair pigment challenged… fyi, I’m a blonde myself.
