Woe is me n’ shit!
Does the frustration EVER end in the horse world? Especially for my peoples, the middle aged and aging female population?
Please allow me a moment to talk about myself. Well sort of talk about myself. In fact I’m speaking about so many of us as we share so many of the same struggles.
When I was a young person I wanted to be a horse trainer. It was my dream job. In fact, at one point I applied for a job as an assistant trainer with an Arabian show barn. A barn full of gorgeous Polish Arabs who showed extensively around the country. I would have gotten to travel with them and ride and show them. Using the skill set I had amassed at that point, I won against the other applicants. I was so happy! Dreams coming true, right? WRONG. So I started working. My pay was crap. Not just crap, but crap crap. It wouldn’t even pay the rent. Plus it was in a neighboring state that necessitated bridge and road tolls. The drive time was about an hour.
I simply could not afford to work there. I had to quit.
My Dad insisted I get a job with a pension. I applied for a few jobs, one being with a very large police force. I could have retired in 20 years. I would have been 45 at retirement. But nooooo my husband at that time didn’t want me to do it thinking it too dangerous. I again acquiesced to outside forces and got a job working for the State. A 30 year type of job with great benefits, meh pay and a pension. I was a Peace Officer with the Courts and it was to that end that on September 11, 2001 I answered the “All hands” call in lower Manhattan, where I worked. I ended up working on and around The Pile for ten days.
That job I took for the benefits and meh pay ended up affecting me physically, emotionally and mentally. It tried to break me in several ways, not of my making. I ended up with 9/11 lung cancer, Stage 2B. They took out half my left lung and put me on the strongest chemo they could. It worked. I managed to be cured. Though the meds affected me for a long time with peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and toes, and the prednisone put me into PCOS(Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and insulin resistance, something I wouldn’t learn for another 5 years. I ate nothing, gained weight. I always hated food, usually ate once a day. I had also ended up taking Prednisone when they removed my ovaries due to a giant ovarian cyst and once more a year later when one of my calves turned pink with cellulitis from an unknown source.
So there I was one day, in my 50s and 326 mighty pounds of prednisone weight and regret. 326 frigging pounds. And not from eating.
Then I heard about this PCOS crap which seemed to fit me. It also fit in that despite 6, 7, 8 IVF treatments (I forget) I was unable to hold on to a baby. (Think more prednisone). I then went to a doctor who did the testing that figured all this stuff out. I had Prednisone induced Metabolic Syndrome, PCOS and insulin resistance. I was not, and am not, a diabetic. The doctor added metformin and long story short, 80 lbs are now gone. But I’m still heavy and the weight is in my belly. Weight that severely affects my balance in the saddle, pulling me forward and making me think I have to lean way back. Which I don’t, because it looks stupid.
I had stopped riding once I hit 250 lbs even though my horse is massive at a hair below 17 hands and 1600 lbs. I wanted to keep him around as long as possible, as healthy as possible and I felt that all my weight concentrated on what once was a custom saddle but now was more like a leather tampon that completely would disappear under my body once I sat in it, would hurt his back. I paid my trainer to ride and I would watch, occasionally coaching from the rail.
Now down 80 pounds, I started to ride again. Ordered me a custom western saddle so I could do some westerny stuff and trail riding again with whatever weight I still had more spread out over his back. Of course there will be more weight loss. As God is my witness there must be more weight loss as I need the old me back.
So here I am starting again, just like many of you. Fighting obstacles and opposition. Sometimes it seems I have lost everything. While your average adult schlep could just jump on a trail horse and go for a ride, I cannot. The changes to my body due to weight gain forbid it. I now must battle against my body instead of battling for it.
In the past I have always emphasized training and learning over showing. I knew I would retire early and then would have the time and the energy to show and do it right. I studied with the best. I did my job to prepare well. I was prepared to fight everything. I wanted to know as much as possible. I wanted to learn it all.
I was not prepared to fight my body this hard, for this long. That same body that had never let me down in the past. The body that beat cancer. The body that always could do man work. The body that was bulletproof. Or so it felt. I used to do such physical extremes my friend swore I had a death wish. I never did, of course. I just knew I had a weirdly strong, flexible, tough body that never let me down.
(Except in making babies, which I could not do, this body never let me down. At least now I know this too was because of PCOS.)
Thirty one years after starting a job I did not like, often with people who seemed bent on my ruination, I retired. I was 59 when I retired so I thought that with my pension, I could now finally pursue my dream job and show and ride my fabulous horse.
I had bought this nice new shiny show horse and began the training and accreditation needed to transition from a relatively unknown Adult Amateur to equine professional. I’ve accomplished a great deal of the mental part but now, my body isn’t so up to the challenge. Now, I am no longer superhuman. I have to say, this new realization pretty much sucks.
As we riders age, and we are all aging, we have our battles. But I figure that for me, giving up isn’t an option. This is supposed to be my time, my turn, my chance. I’m not giving up on my chance. I refuse to give up. Even if it kills me.
The question is for us all how shall we answer that challenge? For me, the answer is to fight for it.
The catch is that fighting for it hurts. A lot. I feel like I’m in constant pain. It won’t be forever.
To lose weight I took to the water. I’m a member of both a Jewish Community Center with indoor and outdoor pools, as well as L.A. Fitness as a just in case. For exercise I prefer to go into 6 ft of pool water with my headset and I tread water for 2 hours. Sometimes I tread to an audio book, sometimes music. Treading water burns a bunch of calories and water resistance is good for muscle being actively consumed by metformin. This, even though at my weight I’m my own flotation device.
There are other ways to win the struggle too. My wonderful trainers built me a fake horse out of wood so I can stretch my affected muscles on it. My iliopsoas are trashed from the weight gain weighting my pelvis to tip forward. My back aches from the readjustment. As I lose weight, things want to adjust back. My walking is limited. I need help swinging my leg over the saddle mounting and dismounting. And if I ride too long, someone has to physically lift my right leg up and over the cantle. My getting on and off my horse requires a team at this time. Yes, that’s right. A TEAM. And a 4 step mounting block on a palette. At times it is terrifying if I stop to think what would happen were I bucked off a 17 hand, 1600 pound horse.
So now I’m using some of that 3+ decade acquired government health insurance to go to physical therapy. It is helping very much, though I’m not there yet.
Quick, someone call me a wahmbulance!!
The point of this post is not to whine or do the woe is me bit. With enough work, I’ll get there. You too can get there from within your own struggles.
Let’s not dwell on where we are today. Let’s look at our own possibilities. Let’s make it happen. Let’s win, even if it’s a matter of winning against ourselves.
No way, no how did I wait 3+ decades to have my chance, my dream, my sacrifices die away from some boo boos. Failure is not an option. I will persevere. We all have our challenges. What are yours and how will you defeat them? How will you live your horsey dream and your best horsey life?
I’d love to read about all your challenges and your plans to overcome them. We are all blessed to be able to go and play horsey. Maybe reading each other’s struggles will give hope where it is needed and when it is needed. Let’s encourage each other’s journey for all our fellow equestrians of all ages, especially the silvery maned ones.
Let me know.
https://www.facebook.com/147578011978064/posts/4005122629556897/
Once upon a time in a universe far, far away I rode western. I competed in and organized open shows, rated shows, team penning, money western pleasure classes, Friday night gymkhanas…… all sorts of western things. I chased cattle – sometimes winningly well, other times laughably bad. El stinko. I’ve managed AQHA rated and I don’t know how many open shows. I’ve show secretaried, judged, ring stewarded, done the gate, the timer, the points, ring crew – sometimes at the same show!! I’ve invented and run entire year end programs. Suffice it to say, I’m familiar with the shows.
I also still have a lot of friends who ride those events, and we talk. Our conversations often take interesting turns when comparing horse show world realities between the western interests and that thing called dressage. And I’ve come to realize that dressage is inherently greedy as hell. The shows are insanely priced.
And maybe….. just maybe, that explains why shows aren’t as populated with entries as they once were while other relatively recent inventions like Western Dressage is growing exponentially.
Why? Why are dressage shows so damn expensive? Why are they losing entries while other entities – and let’s use THE Western Dressage Association like the WDAA – a USEF recognized entity – growing?
Well for one, western dressage is adamant about horse welfare. ADAMANT. And women – the majority of riders – LOVE that. They love it as much as I’ve said for YEARS that they would. And yes, many men do too! But another factor is the money, as well as just being user friendly for both the humans and horses. And remember BOTH are part of USEF.
But now, the WDAA takes it up another notch. A smart, initially Covid induced notch. They are permitting video entries. And they are USEF approved. Just keep remembering that they are. So now, with WDAA you can earn plenty of points and this year ride and compete in their biggest shows BY VIDEO. No travel. No stall fees. No gas. No trailering. No time. Except for your entry it’s all FREE FREE – FREE FREE FREE. And those scores COUNT. Smartly, in fact brilliantly, WDAA is considering keeping that as an option in the future in order to facilitate larger shows, happier members, healthier horses.
Imagine that.
Dressage shows could learn a lot from paying attention to what folks in other organizations are doing. Now let’s look at the Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA) for instance. Sure, they aren’t exactly USEF affiliated, but their format is comparable for purposes of show costs.
If you took two shows – one being a rated dressage show and the other being a rated PHBA show where both shows count for national points you’d immediately see major differences. Just compare the two. Simple. So I’ve done the work for you.
Sure, the cost of hauling to a show is comparable in both groups but once you get there many differences smack you across your face. They smack you hard, like a bitch.
The judges. Dressage shows have ONE per class. One. You go in your class and for your money you get one score, one opinion. Go to an PHBA show and the show is triple judged and triple placed. So in your one go you can place 1st, 2nd and last, depending on the tastes of each particular judge. Places can even be combined for a 4th award, a best overall as well. Now that my friends is a pretty fine bang for your buck! So, you get the opinion of three judges, you get three ribbons (or do not depending on placing).
The stalls. The very same stalls cost at least twice as much at dressage shows. Let’s check it out: I pulled up a show entry form for PHBA for 2021 and it says as follows:
Judges
May 14 – Betty Kowalski, Robert Milks, Mary Ann Fieltz
May 15 – Jeff Buck Pete McAllister, Daren Wright
May 16 – Mark Smith, Kent Kyle, Stephanie McConnell
May 22 – Ron Strefling and Stephanie McConnell
May 23 – Kathie Crowley and Larry Cline
August 6 – Emily Spray and Larry Cline
August 7 – Kim Garrett, Jeff Lechner, Vickie Oakley
August 8 – Robin Gollehon, Paul Zink, Kathie Crowley
Entry Fee: $25 per class/$85 show all day per horse (4 classes or more)
Office Fee: $30 per horse/day
Stall Fees: $35/day or $50/weekend for PHEI & HPA August Show
$35/day or $60/weekend for Midwest & HPA Spring Show
Grounds Fee: $15 per horse if you do not have a stall
Bedding: $6 per bag
Electric: $25 per day
Now not only are these prices CHEAPER than dressage, they are double or triple judged! So one trip, one stall fee, one office fee, but double or triple placings.
This means if you just went to the May 14, 15, 16 show dates and entered ONE EVENT PER DAY, you would end up with NINE scores. If you went to the August event as well, now you’re talking EIGHTEEN scores riding one event in 2 shows. Six rides, eighteen scores. Between the multiple day format, the tripled judges and the reduced rates, you’ve paid thousands less than a dressage rider would pay for just THREE scores…. That is if the dressage rider could even find a three day show.
Maybe it’s time for dressage to pay attention to what others are doing.
Now the fees for a two day rated Dressage show, same year, 2 day show.
In theory you are travelling the same distance, possibly even to the same venue as the Palomino show but your money gets you – assuming one class per day – just TWO scores. But check out the monetary difference:
Class Fee: $45 plus an additional $15 to qualify for other awards
Higher levels are $75 plus the additional $15
They are singularly judged.
Drugs and Medications Fee: $23 per entry ($15 drugs and medications/$8 USEF)
Penalty Fee: $40 Late entry fee, bounced check, change a scheduled ride, scratch
Schooling Fees: $45 plus Office Fee
Stabling: $200 duration stabling per stall
Stall Cleaning Deposit by a separate check, per stall: $50
Bedding: $10 per bag ordered with entry on or before closing date
$12.50 per bag ordered after closing date
Camper Hookup: $175 on grounds. Water and electric only.
There is no legitimate reason why a dressage class – especially the lower-level ones – cannot be triple judged. Or double judged. And double or triple placed. It would save EVERYONE money. It’s easier on the horses.
Recently, The Plaid Horse Magazine wrote an article about USEF show dates being held hostage by long time show date “owners” who have been basically grandfathered in. They then lease out those same dates at great cost to OTHER show producers who then pass along the cost to the competitors. The money quoted in the article cites hundreds of thousands of dollars. Is it possible this happens in other USEF oriented disciplines (dare I say dressage) as well? What else can explain the $$ difference ESPECIALLY since so many of these shows are conducted AT THE VERY SAME FACILITY!!
What gives? I mean REALLY, what gives?
Can we just assume that dressage is inherently greedy? Might they listen to what other groups are doing?
It’s just a thought.
This article was originally published in Horses For Life Magazine, Vol. 64 ~ 2012.
THE CRUELTY PARADOX
By Dressage For The Rest Of Us
Gitana
This is a picture of Gitana, a now 19 year old Andalusian mare owned by Holly Zech of Abacus Farm. The mare had just given birth to a little filly but the filly succumbed and died due to dystocia after a 45 minute struggle to reposition the little girl. She lived for just one minute after birth. This picture, taken 45 minutes after the foal died shows clearly to me and to a host of other good people that horses indeed feel pain. In this case the pain is emotional pain and clearly is excruciating, heart wrenching emotional pain at that. Gitana grieved for hours, lying next to her dead foal mourning her tragic loss.
Now if a horse could feel both a fly landing on his flesh, and grieve so completely, do we need to wonder how horses feel the world over as they are physically or emotionally stressed by us their care givers?
(Thank you Holly Zech and Susie Solomon-mabe of Facebook for use of this picture!)
• As another FB friend says: Kathy Palumbo
This picture is incredibly moving; lets all of us never forgot how feeling and emotional are equine partners are. This image will stay with me for a long time. The next time we are impatient or grumpy remember.
And THAT is the point of my story, The Cruelty Paradox.
When it comes to issues of equine welfare (or any animal for that matter) deciding what is right and what is wrong is often not clearly defined to many people. But to others it is indeed quite obvious.
However, there is one thing which must be noted: The intention to harm need not be present for a horse to in fact, be harmed.
And I find THAT is the most prevalent type of abuse – the veiled, unintentional abuse – strung together with kisses and carrots, done by people who profess their undying love of their horse or horses.
Abuse, intended or not, is multi-national and spans all equestrian disciplines. All of ‘em. Yes, yours too.
Name any person accused of cruelty and the tale will be told of how much they love their precious horsey and how every night they kiss him on the hiney and tuck him into a bed of 3 feet deep of clean, bright, pristine shavings.
And you know what? I believe them. I believe that in their mind they really feel they love their horse and are doing right by them. I mean after all there are kisses and carrots, no?
But I know better. I know that I’ve always loved my horses dearly, often like a mother loves a child. And I still managed to do some very stupid things when I was younger. However for me, one day something changed.
Perhaps I was able to change because to me horses have been hobby, passion and art, and being a novice there was no monetary temptation to look away when something I did or was taught didn’t seem quite right. Not having a vested financial interest gave me the freedom to be receptive to new ideas and concepts and to use fresh, open eyes to evaluate what was going on. Plus, I’m not a particularly greedy person.
Maybe I had done enough winning (even at my silly lower level shows) that my ego was intact and winning even more wasn’t that necessary.
I do credit my own change to the very nature of the horses I was dealing with. They were magnificent teachers. They MADE me change. They simply gave me no choice.
Horse by horse I had to reevaluate what I’d learned from those humans around me. Each horse in its turn made me change my ways by simply saying “NO”. And they protested whenever I screwed up.
Thank goodness they did. My bruises and I owe them one hell of a debt.
So I evolved. As I went from rank beginner to novice to an even more advanced entity I learned. The evolution never stopped. I was truly blessed.
I learned so very much from these horses who told me “NO”; sometimes the hard way. Whether by bite or by buck they sent the message loud and clear so that even a dweeb like me could understand.
God bless their souls.
I consider myself very lucky that I had such horses as teachers such horses. But I do have to give myself a little credit in one respect. They were able to tell me what they wanted only because I was ready and willing to listen. Ego did not get in the way.
Nowadays, I find myself in a strange situation. I seem to constantly come across people who are supposed to be far more evolved than I when it comes to horses and the training of them.
But it would seem that at some point, they stopped listening.
Very often these people are show people who have become so indoctrinated in the “WIN WIN WIN” mindset that both their minds and their eyes have closed. Or, even more inexcusable are those who know what they are doing is bad but ignore it because the ends justifies the means in their calculation of things.
They are amateurs who want to see a reward for all the money and time they spend pursuing their equestrian dreams and these equestrian dreams consist of winning. All of their precious pride depends on it.
They can also be amateurs who emulate what they see around them and do as they are taught, putting all their eggs into the basket of blindly and sheepishly following the words and deeds of a trainer who also lost their way a long, long time ago. Or perhaps they never had it to begin with.
They are professionals who seek the win so that they get more breedings, product endorsement deals, medals or monetary prizes. Without realizing it they’ve sold their souls and in the process are destroying the souls of the horses in their charge in their never ending pursuit of fame and glory. They got greedy for it.
And all of these people will do anything to achieve their goals and fulfill their ambition. Ambition can be a very dangerous thing.
Now there is nothing wrong with achieving goals, fulfilling ambition or winning. The problem arises when it becomes a matter of ethics and in this the victim is sadly always the horse.
Even more disheartening is that many other of us have become so jaded in our own standards that we validate outrageous and harmful training practices like rolkur/hyperflexion/LDR, excessive spurring, soring up of horses and lord knows any other demented and perverse thing people do in the name of “training”.
Just today I had a friend comment on the state of affairs with her breed saying “Those people videotaping the warm ups and the abuse at the Quarter Horse Congress should just get a life.” And although she herself doesn’t ride that way jerking her horses face to kingdom come while grunting like some primordial beast, she is perfectly willing to ignore those that do, maintaining that “It’s none of my business really”.
“IF YOU ARE NEUTRAL IN SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSOR” ~ Desmond Tutu
“THE WORLD WILL NOT BE DESTROYED BY THOSE WHO DO EVIL, BUT BY THOSE WHO WATCH THEM WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING” ~ Albert Einstein
Even with the recent scandal involving the bloodied grey/white Lusitano horse during a demonstration ride by Haras Dos Cavalieros at the IALHA (International Andalusian Lusitano Horse Association) show showing a bloodied side, there were a number of people willing to offer up the usual parade of excuses.
What are they? Dressagula? Is blood the thing that vampires and FEI dressage have in common? In addition to both sucking that is…..
So I’ve decided to examine these excuses and present my responses to them.
THERE WASN’T THAT MUCH BLOOD: This statement immediately made me think of a Monty Python skit where the characters arms and legs were systematically hacked off and the stoic character responded with “It’s just a flesh wound”. So I have to ask, exactly how much blood IS acceptable? A pint? How much blood would you as an athlete be willing to bleed at someone else’s hand for no reason other than……. Well, heck, there is no reason now is there! In my mind there should be NO BLOOD EVER. Not from the side, the mouth, the foot, the butt or anything else ever known to bleed in horsedom. And, if a horse should happen to bite its tongue, well thems the breaks! In all my 30+ years with horses I’ve actually never seen it happen and even for those who have seen it, it’s only happened once or twice. Except now it seems to be urgent enough to require a rule change.
I’m calling out “bullshit” on this one, plain and simple.
This rule change would affect the highest top sport horses – like the Olympic ones – because those folks are experts and THEY KNOW how to bloody a horse the right way. The rest of us must do it all wrong. Or at least that’s what they would have us believe.
Now we have a proposition before the FEI to allow a horse to continue in the presence of blood if a vet says it’s okay. Really? Something that happens that infrequently needs a new rule?
Thankfully that insanity has been put on “hold” until after London, 2012. I’m not so sure we have a victory here. I think the Sjefs of the world are simply regrouping in order to find a new angle with which to get the bullshit rule passed.
Yeah, so I’m suspicious. Sue me.
As for bleeding from the mouth it would almost seem like someone is planning for the future. One could speculate that perhaps someone’s training platform results in bloodied mouths consistently. Why else would one want to change a rule over something which has NEVER happened to the majority of horse people? Strange, isn’t it?
Makes you just want to sit up and go “Hmmmm……”.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT: (In regard to the Lusitano cut by spurs at the IALHA show we all heard about) Accident my ass. This was a rider who chose to ride with roweled spurs which must have been sharp enough to slice up the thickest pizza and which managed to cut an admitted 2 cm cut in the horse’s side. After watching the video of that ride I can clearly see how. The riders uplifted heel was constantly nagging at that horse’s belly and side, firmly implanted there in fact, raking back and forth. In fact, people who contacted me privately – witnesses to the event – stated there was damage on both sides.
Unfortunately there is only photo evidence of the one side, and having not been there myself I cannot swear that this is so, even if I suspect it is. I do hear rumors of other pictures showing two sides existing, but so far they’ve proven to be as elusive as the Holy Grail.
But even if the side managed not to split open, wouldn’t the constant bombardment of the spur on this ride (and so many rides you see in FEI competition and competitions everywhere) at the very least bruise like hell? Even more abhorrent was that the association whose event this was, engaged in the typical “deny deny downplay” way that so many, including the FEI, are so very fond of. And the idea it was an accident means that there was some level of ignorance involved, as in: the rider didn’t know, or realize, that he could cut or was cutting the horse.
Just like in the FEI there is whispering of friends protecting friends so that nothing of meaning would be done. Later on, a picture was posted of the horse cleaned up afterwards. You can see the slash. The slash itself was longer than 2 mm or cm but there’s no way of knowing how much of it actually bled. But it was a lengthy slash mark and had no business being on the side of that horse.
Let’s stop a moment so you can consider this: Even if a spur is isn’t bloodying your horse’s side, it still can be bruising it. The horse is an animal who can feel a friggin fly land on it. You don’t think your jabbing spur (even a dull one) poking him with every stride is gonna cause a bruise? We don’t see it because a horse’s hair hides it. Feel free to experiment. Jab a spur into your rib cage a couple of dozen times and tell me how it feels. Does it give you the warm fuzzies? Do you feel like being a happy athlete afterwards?
THEY SAID THEY WERE SORRY:
Yes, abusers (intended or not) are always sorry. The key is whether or not you’re willing to change how you conduct your riding business. It’s a start. In the case of the Lusitano spur stables, they can change, or we can lump them into the same category as we do…. Say… Mexican rodeo. We all know what that reputation is!
I find it very difficult to come to grips that all of this even has to be a conversation. I would have thought that logically horse welfare is a no brainer. I mean didn’t we learn about it as kids? I was immediately reminded of my many readings of the great book “Black Beauty” by Anna Sewell. Anna devoted an entire chapter to ignorance, of things done unintentionally. And don’t discount Black Beauty as being a child’s book alone. According to Wikipedia:
Sewell did not write the novel for children. She said that her purpose in writing the novel was “to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses”[1]—an influence she attributed to an essay on animals she read earlier by Horace Bushnell (1802–1876) entitled “Essay on Animals”.[5] Her sympathetic portrayal of the plight of working animals led to a vast outpouring of concern for animal welfare and is said to have been instrumental in abolishing the cruel practice of using the checkrein (or “bearing rein”, a strap used to keep horses’ heads high, fashionable in Victorian England but painful and damaging to a horse’s neck).[3] Black Beauty also contains two pages about the use of blinkers on horses, concluding that this use is likely to cause accidents at night due to interference with “the full use of” a horse’s ability to “see much better in the dark than men can.”
I quote from Black Beauty:
Chapter 19. Only Ignorance
I do not know how long I was ill. Mr. Bond, the horse-doctor, came every day. One day he bled me; John held a pail for the blood. I felt very faint after it and thought I should die, and I believe they all thought so too.
Ginger and Merrylegs had been moved into the other stable, so that I might be quiet, for the fever made me very quick of hearing; any little noise seemed quite loud, and I could tell every one’s footstep going to and from the house. I knew all that was going on. One night John had to give me a draught; Thomas Green came in to help him.
After I had taken it and John had made me as comfortable as he could, he said he should stay half an hour to see how the medicine settled. Thomas said he would stay with him, so they went and sat down on a bench that had been brought into Merrylegs’ stall, and put down the lantern at their feet, that I might not be disturbed with the light.
For awhile both men sat silent, and then Tom Green said in a low voice:
“I wish, John, you’d say a bit of a kind word to Joe. The boy is quite broken-hearted; he can’t eat his meals, and he can’t smile. He says he knows it was all his fault, though he is sure he did the best he knew, and he says if Beauty dies no one will ever speak to him again. It goes to my heart to hear him. I think you might give him just a word; he is not a bad boy.”
After a short pause John said slowly, “You must not be too hard upon me, Tom. I know he meant no harm, I never said he did; I know he is not a bad boy. But you see, I am sore myself; that horse is the pride of my heart, to say nothing of his being such a favorite with the master and mistress; and to think that his life may be flung away in this manner is more than I can bear. But if you think I am hard on the boy I will try to give him a good word to-morrow — that is, I mean if Beauty is better.”
“Well, John, thank you. I knew you did not wish to be too hard, and I am glad you see it was only ignorance.”
John’s voice almost startled me as he answered:
“Only ignorance! Only ignorance! How can you talk about only ignorance? Don’t you know that it is the worst thing in the world, next to wickedness? — and which does the most mischief heaven only knows. If people can say, `Oh! I did not know, I did not mean any harm,’ they think it is all right. I suppose Martha Mulwash did not mean to kill that baby when she dosed it with Dalby and soothing syrups; but she did kill it, and was tried for manslaughter.”
“And serve her right, too,” said Tom. “A woman should not undertake to nurse a tender little child without knowing what is good and what is bad for it.”
“Bill Starkey,” continued John, “did not mean to frighten his brother into fits when he dressed up like a ghost and ran after him in the moonlight; but he did; and that bright, handsome little fellow, that might have been the pride of any mother’s heart is just no better than an idiot, and never will be, if he lives to be eighty years old. You were a good deal cut up yourself, Tom, two weeks ago, when those young ladies left your hothouse door open, with a frosty east wind blowing right in; you said it killed a good many of your plants.”
“A good many!” said Tom; “there was not one of the tender cuttings that was not nipped off. I shall have to strike all over again, and the worst of it is that I don’t know where to go to get fresh ones. I was nearly mad when I came in and saw what was done.”
“And yet,” said John, “I am sure the young ladies did not mean it; it was only ignorance.”
I heard no more of this conversation, for the medicine did well and sent me to sleep, and in the morning I felt much better; but I often thought of John’s words when I came to know more of the world.
THEY LOVE THEIR HORSES:
Yes of course they do and Hitler loved his beloved German Shepherd Blondi before he had her brains blown to smithereens in that bunker. Parents who beat their children and people who starve their animals all profess to love them too. You can file this meaningless statement as crap people say which is meaningless and while they have their eyes wide shut.
Yes western pleasure folks love their horses too. Then some of them put staples in the poll (as in stapler staples peeps) to get them to perform quieter. If that doesn’t work, they just drain the blood. Think vampire again.
THE OUTRAGE SHOWN IS DISPORPORTIONAL TO THE ACT:
When people respond strongly and negatively to a seeming act of cruelty there will eventually be assertions that the “mob” chastising such an act is overreacting to the situation and that they’re going too far. The outrage is seen as inappropriate. That’s a heck of an assertion to make because it assumes how much outrage someone would display with an even more offensive act. It also is no excuse for the act itself.
All of this is actually easily solved. Don’t do offensive acts and people won’t “overly react” to them. Err on the side of better judgment. Accept that things are different now, and if you are recorded or seen abusing a horse in a public setting, that a bunch of loud mouthed cows are going to go batshit about it.
Call it the new normal.
So all I can ask of myself and of everyone reading this is that you take a moment to reflect on everything you do with horses. Every little stupid thing. Look at each and every situation with eyes wide open. Have yourself in the position to consider possibilities and to just, for a little while anyway, push away ego and agenda, pride and profit, goals and gold. Ask if there is a softer way, a better way.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to declare war on one another over riding horses? Wouldn’t it be nice if gold wasn’t the standard of accomplishment but rather the righteous, kind and fair process of training was to be honored? I mean the word “dressage” itself does mean training after all. And western pleasure SHOULD be a pleasure. And reining should be about controlling not with the bit….. or should we call it “bit yanking”.
And for those who hate the fact I speak up: You created me. I’m like an Ankenstein or maybe a Frankenblogger. Your cruelties created Dressage For The Rest Of Us. Cruelties to horses and to each other.
But know this: The tide will turn. It’s already turning. Already you are under watch and under suspicion. Cameras are everywhere.
Already governments and courts across the USA are holding conferences and seminars, issuing policy and statute changes as they find a definite correlation between animal abuse (intended or not) and child/spousal abuse.
But above all else remember these words the next time your horse takes your stupidity with quiet dignity:
“…… for horses must bear their pain in silence”
~ Black Beauty
That’s just what horses do and not because they like it or are into S & M. They bear their pain in silence because they have no choice and that holds the same for both emotional and physical pain. Don’t kid yourself that this isn’t true.
“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”
– St. Francis of Assisi
If we are to think of things in generalizations it is because sometimes, or at least often enough, they are true. Dressage has within it a few generalizations as well such as the epic dressage queen or the quintessential generic dressage snotty bitch.
Now there are snotty bitches all over the world, but for some reason dressage snotty bitches have achieved a level of stupidstardom, I mean superstardom which simply surpasses other snotty bitch levels. I think it’s because even when they are trying to be nice they still come off as snotty bitches.
SBS, (Snotty Bitch Syndrome) can manifest itself anywhere from bullying to simply not engaging ones brain before opening ones snotty bitch mouth as well.
I believe snotty bitch is a condition which is often times incurable. So if you are a victim of a snotty dressage bitch, in a way you might for just a moment feel a little sorry for them. That is until they say another snotty bitch thing to you.
Snotty Bitch Syndrome manifests itself in various ways, the first and foremost is in being judgmental. But not just regular horse people judgmental, but super narrow minded snotty bitch piaffe judgmental. And when they see something they aren’t used to they freak………. And so the snotty bitch emerges.
I was recently told a story by someone new to dressage and its competitions. Like many of us this rider had achieved a measure of success in other equestrian disciplines but it is new to dressage. An equestrian immigrant as it were.
Now we all as riders have our little issues. Okay sometimes we have big issues too, and big other stuff (like asses) as well! But for some of us dealing with health stuff some of the issues are really hard to work with. And when someone is resourceful enough to figure out a way around it, they should be respected, should they not?
Well with this particular rider the challenge is MS which causes limitations to mobility. Add to the equation a horse the size of a Brachiosaur. They call them Percherons in the horse world, but I know there’s dino sizing DNA in there somewhere. This particular one is 19’2 hands, which I couldn’t mount on a good day unless I had with me either a) forklift or b) another smaller horse to stand on.
So this remarkable rider with the MS, and who is accomplished in another discipline, trained that Percheronsaurus to kneel so that the rider could safely mount.
Positively brilliant!! (I am going to have to mention this to my own Mr. Thang who looks at me with disgust when I stomp up the mounting block).
Imagine this scenario: Rider excited to be going to their first dressage competition overcoming the challenge of MS and the gigantor horse. The horse obediently responding to the cue to kneel. Rider mounts safely and without incident. Horse then lifts up, and they’re ready to go.
Enter at A: Snotty Bitch speaking these pearls of wisdom as they look up at the rider way up there in the sky from their much smaller horse and state:
“I hope your disability doesn’t hinder you from controlling that monster”.
This my friends is quintessential snotty bitch. But is it you?
Remember please, it’s much cooler to be kind. Don’t be a thrush mouth.
There is a wonderful update on the continuing saga of the snotty bitch!
After posting my blog entry I got a wonderful update which is best put here in the person’s own words. I laughed so hard I fell off the couch ~ Apparently at this event the rider had the opportunity to do a short demo ride showing similarities between reining (a former event they competed in) and dressage.
“We had a wonderful time but the best part came when SB rode up and commented that she would never have believed a horse like mine could spin and slide stop like that! I laughed and said I get that alot. Then “Accidently” dropped my head band and said “OOPS” My giant black angel reached down, picked it up, reached around and handed it to me and I gave him a cookie. The people around us dropped their mouths and said how amazing the “trick” was!
Snotty Bitch said “I never feed my horse by hand!”
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any Snotty Bitchier, there ya go!! LOL
Spring is here and we’re all dusting ourselves off, ready to ride in anticipation of the glory weather days of the better three seasons. That evil fourth season, winter, still tries to hang on from time to time, but clearly winter knows its ass has been kicked to the curb by spring and that it’s time to head for a different hemisphere.
Actually, I don’t really care where winter goes, as long as it is gone from here.
I find myself bouncing back and forth between waiting for spring and trying to expedite spring. I’ve raked the last leaves up (they seem to still be multiplying though they were cleaned in the fall) and I’ve planted new lily bulbs.
For those who are unaware I take great pride in my garden, especially my array of lilies. I grow lilies (except for tiger lilies) because they are non toxic to wandering chickens. Chickens who find them delicious, and from whom they must be protected until fall comes and my very active hens can take them down to dirt again just about in an instant.
I jump all over the gardening thing as soon as the weather permits because I want it done so I can hang out Bar-B-Q-ing. Plus I want to spend time at the barn when it’s warmer out, my favorite temperatures being from 60-85 degrees for riding. The only thing I can’t do is plant the veggies yet, though my grape vines will soon be getting clipped and whacked back. My vines grew like mad last year and for the first time my three year old grape plants tossed out some grapes, though they were mutant grapes which didn’t mature perfectly. I’ve read that this year they would. They had better!!
My horse is shedding like a banshee, though I’m not even sure what a banshee is or if it sheds. I’m also amazed at the amount of winter hair my horse as he’s a thoroughbred and really never grows a winter coat anyway. Almost like a horse going from crew cut to bald as a winter coat sheds into summer sleakness.
He’s shiny, energetic and raring to go. If only I were like that!! My middle age catches up with me more and more it seems as bones creak and thighs bulge. My lower back has this weird thing happening in that it hurts during yard work, bending or sitting a boingey trot, but as soon as I stop it’s fine again. What’s up with that?
My bra size has expanded and now I think I should just sew two or three of my old bras together to make something which fits better. It’s better than having to go out and buy a size Kazillion Triple G. In my mind, (though sadly my mirror disagrees) I’m still ravishing, 20 years old and a 130 pounds. This is my story and I’m sticking to it!!!
So my doc now has me on thyroid meds and with the ever increasing doses I find myself with more and more energy, which is good, because I was really starting to wonder there for a while if I would soon be unable to walk from the bed to the potty and I anticipated the need for one of those pantie pads – maybe even the faux item I made up in one of my video creations “Earls Pony Personal Panty Pads”.
I am determined to once again become the strong, brave beast bitch I once was. I need warm weather to help. Help get me outside and help with sunkissed energy. Longer daylight hours mean I can get things done at home after work, making weekends less complicated. Or at least that’s the plan.
I am sure many of you fellow middle aged amateurs are feeling the same and I want to encourage you that you can do it!! There just might be a little discreet peeing when you drive your horse forward with your seat, or perhaps an escaped poof of a fart when you drive them forward. It’s okay. That’s why indoors are big!
It also helps to have a horse whose belly routinely “bloop bloops” when it trots. Hides the body noises and moans coming from the rider! As for fart noises please note that is quite proper to always blame the horse.
Of course this is also why most of us have dogs. We can always blame the gassy smell on them.
Soon grass seed will go down, veggies will be planted and besides mowing, weeding, fertilizing and repairing chicken caused bare patches the lawn and other plantings will be good to go, and all I’ll have to worry about is going to the barn and riding…… whilst not peeing myself.
I wish you all fine spring riding and dry underwear.
So I spent the winter being a bum, at least in the minds of the horsey types. For the first winter ever in over 30 years I didn’t really ride. I didn’t feel the urge nor the necessity in torturing myself. My middle aged body didn’t want to be cold.
Now you could understand someone not wanting to be cold, except for one thing. When I did go to the barn to visit, I wasn’t cold. It was just the IDEA of being cold was such a turnoff that I decided to hibernate indoors, except during my brief barn visits. Never before have I stopped riding for the winter. EVER. Truth be told, it was kinda nice. Hubbie was happy. Work at home got done.
My horse seems to have thrived with the time off. His body is 100% and he looks gorgeous despite being in his mid teens now. Seems like just yesterday he was a butthole ex racehorse! But he’s nice and round, coming off the winter exceptionally well at this newish barn. He was able to spend daytime out in his semi-private field of grass. Nice healthy tall grass. I’m not exactly sure how big his field is. Maybe five acres, maybe 7? It’s just a big plop of land which is ideally placed behind the barn owners house but most importantly it allows for him to run, and run, and then run some more.
I spoke to the barn owner yesterday and she delighted in tales of her dog, a large Belgian Melanois and my horse playing chase with each other despite the stout fence which separates them. Apparently it’s a daily joy for them both, a surprise to hear as when I first got my horse in 1999 he absolutely abhorred dogs and would tried to hoof their faces at any given opportunity.
My horse shares this large pasture with his buddy, an aged horse belonging to a friend of mine. The other horse plays with mine, but soon tires, and so my horse uses the dog and horses in an adjacent field to get his play on. So physically, emotionally and mentally there’s been plenty to engage his mind during my cave dwelling winter days.
As soon as I smelled the first warmth in mid February I had the barnboyguy begin to lunge my horse twice a week, just to get my horse used to moving under human command again. We did this for three weeks and then I began to incorporate riding again. I chose the perfect day to have that first ride. Conditions were ideal to a good experience for both horse and I.
The barn was quiet and the temps were warm. My girlfriend was riding her horse, my horse’s pasture buddy in the arena as well, so everyone was nice and relaxed.
I didn’t expect to do very much with my horse and just wanted the first ride to be a calm, happy experience. I worked him at first a long time in the walk and kept his very active “go-ee” brain occupied with cavaletti, shoulder in, haunches in. I did some walk/trot/walk transitions and then let him settle in a nice training level type long reined trot. Canter went smooth as silk, relatively speaking and our canter/walk transitions took a little time to warm up to (which was perfectly alright) but soon were dead on.
I don’t like to canter my horse ad nauseum, and I much prefer doing transitions in and out of the gait. Basically, I do because my horse tends to load the front end too much and since he is far from sure footed, often he’ll trip with a too long rein. The transitions help to pick up that front end without having to shorten the rein too much and it is also so much easier on my middle aged body.
We ended the ride on a good note, with great success. Afterwards my girlfriend commented saying it was as if we had been riding all along. I figure it doesn’t get any better than that!
Our subsequent rides went likewise. First rides after a few days off were all about bending, shoulder in, haunches in, and a little half-pass tossed it when it felt right to.
My most recent ride found me riding the absolute most perfect half pass left we’d ever done. I was ecstatic and jumped off him and loved on him tons. What a good boy!!! I quit the ride then, and after caring for him and putting him away went to call a friend to talk of the perfect half pass. But she didn’t answer. I spent the rest of the day trying to call friends to speak of the perfect half pass but no one was around!! Another day passed, and still I was unable to communicate the perfect half pass to anyone. When the perfect half pass comes and no one is there to see it, have you really half passed at all?
Part of me can’t believe it’s gone so well so far. The bug to ride is back inside my belly and it feels good to have it again. And although my house and garden show the result of my time away from riding (yes my lawn and garden are ready for planting) it does feel good to greet sweet spring once again and look forward to a glorious warm weather season.
I hope your rides go as well, and urge you to remember that the power to have the best rides lies within you.
It’s so much easier when you AND the horse just want to.
Twas the night before Christmas Poem also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas”
Clement Clarke Moore (1779 – 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas” in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem Twas the night before Christmas has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story of Twas the night before Christmas St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers!
The author of the poem Twas the night before Christmas was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem. The condition of publication was that the author of Twas the night before Christmas was to remain anonymous. The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success. It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry. Clement Clarke Moore came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington.
The tradition of reading Twas the night before Christmas poem on Christmas Eve is now a Worldwide institution.
This is the poem refurbished DressageForTheRestOfUs style. I guess it was on my mind.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the world
Horses and Horsemen, their stories unfurled
There were horses for show and some were in training
In jumping, dressage and many in reining
There were horses for experts and those that were not
They trained at the canter, lope, jog or the trot
There were horses for trails and some, they raced
They galloped, they jumped, trotted or paced
And in some barn I heard such a clatter
Two ammies were fighting over who was the fatter
So away to Facebook I flew and I flashed
Opened the laptop to see who was bashed
Each rescue accused others of crimes don’t you know
Horses killed or abused just to make dough
Like a soap opera they yelled for all who would hear
Homes condemned, animals taken, lies and truth never clear
I shut my eyes to think and to think quick
For some Christmas spirit, a poem of St. Nick?
I’d change it to suit us, try not to be lame
And for goodwill I won’t say a name
Now rescues and shippers and trainers in kitchens
You chase folks away behaving like bitchens
Us ammies are clueless, or so you say
Then get it together and show us the way!
We need to learn in a way most conducive
To riding as art while not being abusive
To develop our minds along with our seat
To compete like humans, compassion complete
But instead you conspire and train oh so foul
Many discourage and throw in the towel
So on this night with miracle’s force
I write what’s in common, our partner, the horse
I imagine a horse world, good all around
Where kindness and compassion are known to abound
Where greed is a thing far away put
Not valued in training, it’s squashed underfoot.
A bundle of knowledge that no one would lack
Training that’s good for horse, leg and back
Not what is easy like some famous would do
Horses curled up like a giant groomed poo
Horse eyes should twinkle, focus complete
That’s what should win when we compete!
Performance need be there too with the rules
That should be coveted, not just the drools
And never should chin touch to a chest
The Masters taught us, why make up the rest?
So for one night let’s make it global
Do what is right and do what is noble
There are horses who hurt, are hungry or dying
Let’s stop it now, all should be trying
From BLM mustang to those who need bail
To slaughter and rolkur we must not fail
So for one night and maybe a day
We must do what’s right, or so I will pray
And lay aside the anger and greed
Our best Christmas spirit is what horses need!
So I’ll spring to my keyboard, fingers fly with a goal
To write what I’ve been thinking, deep down in my soul
That if goodness embraced us all would be right,
“Happy Christmas to all, work together, good-night!”
I had looked forward to the WEG with great hope, enthusiasm and anticipation. And while I found some inspiring things, they were not in the areas that I though perhaps they would be or should be.
Part of my brain is surprised by this. Part stunned that the stupid half of my brain still doesn’t get it and holds onto the sliver of hope that one day international will regain its collective honor.
I have made a conscious decision to accentuate the positive in this situation. So let the accentuating begin…… I’m trying very hard not to be a Debbie Downer.
Inspiring to me was the wonderful saddleless and bridleless demo by Stacy Westfall. Now while riding bareback and even bridleless is no great thing in and of itself, the two simultaneously in such a large, loud, charged venue is something to be quite admired.
Quite frankly every rider should be able to do this, or do something close to it. Every rider should be able to at least take their horse into a familiar ring, with the right conditions, and be able to pull off walk, trot, canter without getting killed given adequate exposure, diet, training and trust.
The greatest display of the true meaning of dressage I found in a cross country rider named Rebecca Holder riding her grey horse Courageous Comet. The fact that we are both from the USA is purely coincidental and played no part in my admiration, though it is kinda cool.
This team won my heart during the cross-country phase due to their harmony. Perhaps a part of the reason is that this rider isn’t built like the svelte blonde stereotypical advanced riders you see. In fact, the lady is beefy and for some reason I found that quite refreshing and admirable considering the stamina it takes to ride such a course. But mostly it was because for every stride and every jump that lady and her horse were ONE. No deviation, no momentary hiccup. And her horse’s expression showed it.
Lovely.
Although she withdrew from later competition, she and her OTTB now have a place in my heart.
Admitttedly, I didn’t watch every ride of every event. Although I DVR’d the TV shows and paid the thirty bucks for the online Universal sports coverage it was only days before I found myself bummed out by much of the riding, most notably in dressage and reining. Truly a hyperflexion heaven disappointed me profoundly.
Clearly the WEG riders warming up had decided they were going to do what they wanted to do in full knowing that no one was going to cry foul, unless of course there was blood. Eventually there was blood and a disqualification followed but that’s besides the point.
So I did what any self respecting big mouthed blogger would do. Or at least what this self respecting big mouthed blogger decided to do. I went riding. I did cleaning. I did everything I could but watch the rest of the WEG. I removed myself from the chatter, then went back in to view with fresh eyes. I found that my fresh eyes, and old tired eyes saw the same thing… force, domination, unhappy horses.
Yes, Tortilla looked happy enough, but he was incorrect enough to negate that. His extended trots didn’t happen as they should, and I wondered if there was a reason for the conservative execution of them. Was it me or did it seem the line blurred from time with the trot? There seemed confusion as to whether it was a trot or passage or perhaps some new gait called “trossage”.
So, after weeks of staying away and not blogging but rather doing fall cleaning and organizing, paying bills and whatnot I have finally decided how I feel about all of this and has decided my position on such matters.
Not that anyone would care mind you, but if you do, read on.
My position is: It doesn’t affect me.
It also doesn’t affect every other rider who wants to use a better standard, one that they can live with within their own morality, in their riding. Of course those that prefer such means as what is seen in the horse show world will profoundly affect the horses ridden within that method, but for me and others like me, the world and our training objectives carry on.
The FEI and the like are moving farther and farther away from me, and me from it. With every demonstration as to what that community feels is justifiable, I am repulsed further away to pursuit differing dressage and riding avenues. I don’t want a horse whose head is positioned so as to sniff his own pits or nibble at his chest.
It also occurs to me (based upon the standing ovation for Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz and Fuego XII) that a huge part of the audience just might be feeling the same way about things. That audience, along with countless of later viewers on the internet, sung the praises of this team and were quick to forgive the few errors. That audience admired that combo so much that they leaped to their feet in a sudden and stunning display of admiration, inspiration and appreciation.
Can it be that THAT crowd wants change too?
It is also apparent that the residents of Mt. Olympassage (like the great god Sjeus) are perfectly happy with the status quo. They don’t want to change a thing and are maneuvering skillfully to make sure they prevail.
The FEI also doesn’t seem to mind at all, along with the folks at WEG, who after the brave act of disqualifying bloodied tongues, didn’t say boo squat to all the horses being warmed up in various degrees of torture… errr hyperflexion.
It therefore is becoming increasingly apparent that another equestrian venue is required to accommodate the wishes of a worldwide audience. A “Dressage As Art” venue as opposed to the current “Dressage As Sport”. I’m also going to bitch that after watching a lot of the reiners, maybe “Reining As Art” should be next.
In “Dressage as Art” there could be scoring, placing, competing and judging but with a closer eye to more acceptable riding practices.
Sort of like Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling as compared to Hulk Hogan type wrestling. The Hyperflexors could even borrow Hulk’s pink feather boa if they would like to add a little “sumpin sumpin” to their performances. I’m 91% sure this would work.
With all this on my mind I rode my horse this weekend. Never did I feel more compelled to ride with finesse and lightness. Of course I’m just of the herd of middle aged female dressage riders trying to ride more graciously with our horses and from what I see, it’s really becoming all the rage.
We ammies just eat this shit up.
I’m happy to say that my horse gave me as much as his present conditioning would allow and in the end he was so forward and so strong I really had to work my body to contain the energy as opposed to using the reins to do so.
I loved the opportunity to test my skill and I could see by the horse’s reaction where I performed well and where I needed work. However, considering how infrequent my rides have been, coupled with the active winds and cool temperatures, my horse was so into the ride that it seemed impossibly magical, and it was actually easy at many points.
Like butter.
Now we are riding no where near FEI level but with these rides I got a sense that if I were to ride consistently correctly, and train more often, that we’d progress by leaps and bounds as if overnight.
It left me happy and wanting more, and more desirably it left my horse wanting more too.
Now isn’t that how you’re supposed to feel?
It sure is nice to win at shows and even nicer to win at big ones. But I have no doubt that I, along with innumerable others, would rather have great mid level rides on their horses than forced, domineering rides that are apparently necessary (or at least seem to be so) in what currently is masquerading as dressage competition.
Given this, I’d like a place to go and show before a judge so that our progress can be expertly critiqued according to the standards I and many of like mind, hold dear. Of course this would require a judge unimpressed by anything less than correct and the proper venue in which to place said judge’s ass and the judge would need the guts to score folks as they should be scored, even if those folks didn’t like it.
Then you’d need the herd of middle aged women to fill the class. Of course you would fill the classes as we love torturing ourselves.
As for venues such as the WEG I find myself in a stage of continual distancing. I’m distancing from the FEI dream and I’m drawn to find new sources of learning a la Walter Zettl. I’ve been checking out Manolo Mendez with great enthusiasm and will be attending/organizing clinics in the future. Although he could never, ever be duplicated I would like to find a bit of Zettl in Mr. Mendez. In this regard I’m checking out other notables like Dominique Barbier and I plan on soon studying some things new to me, like Cynthia Royale (trainer of Shadowfax – Blanco from Lord Of The Rings) in addition to others I’ve previously written about.
So far each has given another piece, and I’ll be paying attention to all of these folks some more. So far, and for the most part, I’ve liked what I’ve seen.
For now, I’m not renewing any memberships until I see more of what will happen in the future. For now, I’m going to take my hard earned money and direct it to those who teach a better way.
I never did understand those riders who never show but still somehow mysteriously advance. Now I do.
Now I do.
See, I DID learn something from the WEG!
I received this comment in my comment section and I thought it worthy of specific mention. Mostly this is due to the fact that the word “Revolution” was in the title, as that word clearly indicates how I’m feeling after recent events. I’ll be posting more on this but in the meantime, warm up your gums with this.
Now I haven’t looked into the site yet, but I will later, but it seems to be something worthy of at least discussing and investigating.
From Erin Martin:
I am developing a mailing list of like minded rider/trainers/competitors who are passionate about preserving the principles of classical dressage. Check out my posts, and if you like what you read, I hope you will help me to promote it. My goal is 100 subscribers initially. Link broken
I am writing this to you to tell you how very special you are to me. When I found out you had passed from that sudden heart attack a short time ago I felt awful, and continue to feel rather melancholy. I’ll miss you, ya big lug. You know, you were definitely too young to die.
I know it makes no sense to write and post this on a blog as heaven may have many things, but I’m thinking an internet connection is not one of them. In a place of infinite wisdom, it’s probable that the internet is not needed as all the knowledge of all the ages is already there.
When I moved from the barn you managed we hugged goodbye and you told me how sad you were I was leaving because I was one of the “good ones”. Well, you were one of the “good ones” too.
But as senseless as it is to post this online, my heart tells me to honor you in some way, and this was the best my feeble mind could come up with. I guess sometimes we just need to get stuff off our chest, even if the reason for doing so is a bit silly. But you know me, silly to the end. In fact, that was one of the things you liked about me, always wanting to have fun and always being a goof.
I came to your barn not long after my horse had undergone colic surgery and when I moved in, you listened patiently to what I had to say. You made sure the vets advice and suggestions were followed to the “T” and you kept a watchful eye over my horse.
In those years that passed you caught the little belly aches (which no longer happen thankfully) and you took care of my horse when I wasn’t able to be there because of work. You treated untold numbers of abscesses and when my drama queen horse got a piece of hay stuck in his eye and it swelled shut. You gave him his meds every day, in fact several times a day. We both joked how silly it was to amass a one thousand dollar vet bill for some miniscule piece of hay. You always made sure to be there for the vet, with me or alone, as you had a true, genuine interest in my horse’s well being.
You held my horse a million times for shoers and vets and never complained. Every time I saw you I’d see you smile, glad to see me. That was always a good, warm feeling.
Together we laughed at all the torn blankets, disappearing halters and tossed shoes which fell victim to my silly horse. The day we watched my horse tearing around the ring, flat out running with his hind legs passing in front of his front legs, you turned to me, pointed and started laughing your ass off. I laughed too and turned to you and said “I ride that?” You know, I never told you, but seeing him run like that I got a little scared. Just for a second though, as once I swung my leg over his back, he was a perfect gentleman.
You understood the nature of my horse and were never put off by it. You always did the right thing, by me and him, even to the point of changing flat trailer tires so we wouldn’t be late (again) for a lesson. In fact, you’ve done so much helping me with trailers and their mechanical issues that I would have been lost without you.
Do you remember the day of the trail ride and barbeque? They had the auction for the shiny jeweled western buckle you had your eye on. And because you had earned it with all your help, I made sure I bought it for you and I outbid all those other people! But there was no way, no how, you weren’t going to get that buckle. You also earned every single penny of those Christmas bonuses, strawberry cheese cakes and any other silly thing I did in my feeble attempt to repay your kindness.
I’ll miss you dear, kind Bill and I hope your place in heaven is full of your beloved horses. I’ll pray for your loving wife (your soulmate) who is left behind. One day, when I too pass, we’ll go for a trail ride in heaven and we’ll joke and make fun of all the people from the old place.
Many wonder of the definition of a “true horseman”. Well Bill, you ARE the definition of a true horseman and also a true friend. I can give you no greater tribute.
God speed, God bless. Take care of yourself up there.
Your Friend,
Dressage For The Rest Of Us