horse notes, mmxvii-vii-xxx

I was going to work with Hot Shot in the round pen but he was already sweating by the time he was done eating so we skipped it.

family notes, mmxvii-vii-xxix

lesson notes, mmxvii-vii-xxix

15 chickens! Yay!

Hot Shot was a little squirrelly when we were grooming - not argumentative or anything, more like playful -  but after we got into the arena he seemed to get really quiet. Zen quiet, you know, all awareness - probably because Kelly helped me get out of my own head. I mean, I have to stop thinking about the parts and learn to feel the whole. Learning to ride is a whole different set of things than I imagined when I was starting out about ten months ago - it's not just about learning what to do, but more about how to be - and it's not enough to know how to be, but actually, you know, moving into that space and being that, if that makes sense. 

I've had some fun learning experiences in my life (who by their half-century mark hasn't) but this has been right up there at the top. Hoping to do lot more.

snippets, 7-28-2017

The earth is there to catch us when we fall (Texas Monthly).

scribbles, mmxvii-vii-xxvii

this might be nice cleaned up some huh

snippets, 7-27-2017

Cleaning the Uffington Horse (Smithsonian, h/t Echidne). "The only sounds are the wind, distant birdsong and the thumping of hammers..."

horse notes, mmxvii-vii-xxvi

the radio said today was our 23rd triple-digit day this year

kitchen notes, mmxvii-vii-xxv

garden notes, mmxvii-vii-xxiv

snippets, 7-24-2017

Wise people have rules for themselves (raptitude).

"To be a rider means to behave in a chivalrous way, which should be apparent in the smallest details." - Alois Podhajsky, The Riding Teacher, 1993.

trail notes, mmxvii-vii-xxiii

it's hard to walk fast when cicadas are settin' the rhythm

lesson notes, mmxvii-vii-xxii

 

This guy is magnificent. We had a time - we started early with a very nice lesson (Kelly is so awesome) and then I gave him a bath and took him for a short trail walk before we let him and Champ loose in the outer pasture. Oh and yeah on my way out the classical station on my car radio started playing Aaron Copland's "Outdoor Overture." A great, great morning. 

horse notes, mmxvii-vii-xviii

A hot evening, but I shared a little peace and quiet with Hot Shot.

trail notes, mmxvii-vii-xviii

garden notes, mmxvii-vii-xvii

critter notes, mmxvii-vii-xvi

a little rain, mmxvii-vii-xv

cracklin' lightning and thunder with this one, but boy the rain's nice

I washed my car this morning is why

lesson notes, mmxvii-vii-xv

Lunged and rode Hot Shot at a walk through some cool arena patterns under Kelly's guidance. Between some of the weight he's gained and his new shoes, he is moving marvelously. He's so awesome - when I get my seat right and my head up and I have my eyes on our destination, he gets me there, without me having to ask any louder than that, like he's telling me, look, I know what I'm doing, you just fix yourself. After my lesson I did a gratitude walk in the labyrinth; it felt nice to try to return a little spirit to the place.

field notes, mmxvii-vii-xiv

snippets, 7-14-2017

Common sense about horse communication (Relaxed and Forward). "Be curious in silence."

Tania Kindersley, in The Happy Horse, shares a similar sentiment: "...the really great horsemen and women have the gift of stillness. One of the greatest presents you can give to your house is to leave it in peace..."

Beyond communicating, I believe there's even more going on here. John O'Donohue, as quoted in Terri Windling's blog post, The philosophy of compassion (Myth & Moor): "Because the animals live essentially what I call the contemplative life, maybe the most sacred prayer of the world actually happens within animal consciousness."

I might have more to say on this topic but I think I'll just shut up and practice.

trail notes, mmxvii-vii-xiii

horse notes, mmxvii-vii-xii

Champ and Hot Shot

trail notes, mmxvii-vii-ix

horse notes, mmxvii-vii-viii

We did some fun groundwork in the round pen and then went for a quiet trail walk.

trail notes, mmxvii-vii-vii

trail notes, mmxvii-vii-vi

horse notes, mmxvii-vii-v

As I was driving away I turned on the classical station and they were playing Aaron Copland's "Billy the Kid."

great grandma came for a visit

:)