Believe..an evolution.

Yesterday I read a post penned by a lady who is currently fighting her own battle with the grace and dignity of a true warrior. Her words seared into my soul with such ferocity that I awoke this morning with them resonating in my ears and on the tip of my tongue, and as such spurned me into action and I achieved something today that I truly believed I wouldn’t be able to do again.

Now this mountain of mine would seem trivial to some and wouldn’t even feature on others radar. It didn’t on mine in years gone by, before I seem to have misplaced my brave knickers. But to me now it truly seemed a distance dream.

Today I hacked Archie around the village on my own. Without any nerves, trepidation or hesitation. Ok so maybe a little to start. ..but I buried that with a beautiful rendition of twinkle twinkle little star and then gabbled away to my beautiful grey boy, watching his ears twitch back and forth listening to his overly chatty rider and taking everything in his stride. I felt the cool misty morning air on my face, watched clouds of his warm breath billow as he strode along, enjoying the birdsong and intermittent game of ‘Where’s Wally’ as elderly residents pegged their washing or emerged from the light morning mist like extras from Cocoon.. I tuned in to the swing of his hips, the rhythm of his hoof beats and I beamed like a slightly demented version of a Cheshire Cat. Most of all I felt so happy to be alive, in this moment with my very best friend and just being together. It felt right. It felt like home.

So the words that woke something in me were:
“Believe in your horse and your horse will believe in you” (Ray Hunt)
I’ve heard these words many a time. Heck I’ve written about them in blogs before but these words, written by this special person and coming from her perspective of life and horses, shon a completely new meaning on them. I thought I knew what they meant but only now do I truly understand. You are a beautiful person inside and out my friend, much love to you, and thank you for your inspiration xx

Archie was praised as if we had just gone round Burghley and looked rather pleased with himself but humble at the same time, like all good heroes should 💕

I’m now off to swan about the house grinning and worry the children with my unusual megawatt permasmile.

See you on the flip side xx

#roadtobuck #horsebloggers
Pics courtesy Dana’s Doodles

We don’t need no education

Well we do, but with a hefty dose of common sense, and possibly sanctions against the health and safety police.

I have just spend some time this morning having a conversation with the equine and animal studies lecturers from a college local to me.  We discussed the discrepancy between practical skills held by their students, and the academic training they offer.  Now myself coming from a generation where the YTS (youth training scheme) was still up and running and I learned on the job for the grand total of £14.75 a week, if you had said to me a few years ago would I have done anything differently I would have bitten your hand off and declared YES! Send me to an equine college where I can submerge myself amongst capable horse people and fill my brain with the delicious knowledge I seek! But upon reflection I am now grateful for the path I took and here is why... health and safety.

Now the college I spoke to today is a further education college, so kids aged 16 plus who have done their GCSE's and are in academic limbo before going to University or out into the adult world.  When I think back to myself as a 16 year old, coming from a non horsey family I had spent weekends working at yards and riding anything I could. So, in retrospect I was pretty handy from the point of view that sure, I didn't have any refinement and probably didn't know a leg yield by its name, but I could sit a horse and get some things done, and I could have told you what a leg yield felt like even if I didn't understand what I was feeling.  I could drive a tractor, clean tack, muck out 3485 stables before lunch, get horses on and off a walker, tack up, boil linseed, wash bandages and numnahs, strap and groom and assist in lessons.  Yes, I was permanently grubby and used to eat in the haybarn covered in muck and although I may have grumbled at the wage, what I was learning was actually priceless.   In comparison now we live in a world where targets and pre requisites are needed to be met, and students turn up at college having possibly ridden all their life and do not know how to tack up a horse.   There are so many restrictions now with child labour laws prohibiting kids being able to help out at stables,  a coddled society not permitting children just to 'be' around horses and therefore learn from them.   As I said before a lot of these students are technically good riders but when I asked the lecturers if the students have any savvy around the horses they work with, well I got a few blank faces and then a very quiet no..

I'm not saying that only those who possess an inherent gift with horses should be allowed to study at college, but how are students going to develop themselves as horse people and gain confidence if they don't experience the un-prescribed, because I am pretty sure horses don't run by any rule book I've read. Also, it is sad to think if I was a teenager now I would probably be exactly the same, desperate to learn about horses but lacking practical skills due to lack of opportunity to gain them.

I do believe education is vitally important, (this is a frequent conversation with my kids) the more we understand about horses the better for them, and us.. it allows us to develop ourselves and knowledge is indeed power, however there needs to be a balance, otherwise a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Educators of any subject do not wish to trundle out graduates who can't reach their potential due to lack of relevant experience and I did get the impression that staff feel tied and would like to offer more.  More opportunities for work experience would certainly help.  The one skill that we all agreed was vital is common sense.. again this is developed through exposure to the world and sadly I don't think some children are given the chance to flex this muscle nearly enough.

All that want to learn should be offered the opportunity to do so, and that a sound academic grounding with plenty of practical experience is the best of both worlds, and with horses you NEVER stop learning.

I did give the college the link to the MSU colt starting class headed by Reata Brannaman (link below) to show them how things could look, or at least to offer something different for the students to be exposed to in a lecture, and it looks like Archie and I possibly may be going along to do a bit of a demo too which might be fun.   Either way I hope I gave them something to think about, because nothing inspires you more than a great teacher, Buck certainly inspires me everyday and I never stop learning.

https://www.facebook.com/msucoltstarting/

See you on the flip side
xx

Shine Bright Like A Diamond

"We are all broken, that is how the light gets in" 

                                                                        - Ernest Hemingway

So Happy New Year everyone!  2018 is the year of having my ducks in a row, as opposed to trying to herd squirrels which is how the last few years have felt.  Exciting plans are in the making for Archie and I.  Firstly we are off to the Emerald Isle to spend time with my good friends Jane and Marc, who are hosting a clinic with Joel Conner in April.

Check out Joel here http://www.joelconnerhorsemanship.com

So finally after 3 years of failed attempts to cross the Irish Sea, Archie and I have our passports in hand and are looking forward to a few days of friendship and excellent horsemanship.  It is a bit nerve wracking shipping your horse overseas for a clinic, and also me getting on a plane...  but this year is about stretching my comfort zone in order to become a better horsewoman.  Plus can wait to see my pals (bonus), learn from Joel and meet lots of like minded people.

In May I'm attending a cow clinic with Guy Robertson.  Now cow work is something I desperately want to do, and actually something I want to work to succeed at.  However, I had a particular incident back in 2016 which I will entertain you with in another blog, that has dented my confidence a wee bit.  In addition, I have it on good authority that Archie isn't exactly keen on cows either... however real purpose is the making of a horse and indeed a human, and I feel deep down in my lily livered core that cow work is the purpose Archie and I need and WILL excel at.  I'm confident that in continuing to develop our relationship, enjoying our weekly lessons with Alan of Payne Performance Horses which have been instrumental in helping with said ducks in row, and being in the very capable hands of Guy when it comes to meeting the killer moos, that our goal is achievable.

I am continually revisiting all of my Buck material and notes.  I seem to find that the more I attempt to put into practice, the more I realise I need to refine my feel, and the less I think I know.  Good old conscious incompetence and I are old friends.  It's easy to get sucked in to the dark places that all the rubbish stuff that has happened tries to take you to, it is easier to not try.  Is it better?  No.  I want to see what I am capable of, and what Archie and I are capable of together. 

2015, 2016, 2017 hammered me from all angles and I'm not going to lie it has taken some processing, and still is, but its also given me some clarity as to where I want to take my horsemanship and indeed my life.  Every blow to myself and my family has produced cracks in me that will never heal, but as Hemingway says, that's how the light gets in.  So grab your sunglasses, as together with Archie, I intend to shine!

See you on the flip side xx

Links for clinics and trainers

Joel Conner Clinic

Guy Robertson

Payne Performance Horses