Opportunity knocking

While coaching my most lovely assistant, Sue, while she was riding my most lovely young mare "Romanze" today (did I say most lovely?), I had one of those "aha" moments in my teaching that very perfectly described in one word a concept that seems hard for some people to grasp....

OPPORTUNITY...

Many times, when I watch people ride, they simply go around and round. They do the exact same trot, stride after stride. Same tempo. Same size. Same bend. Same connection. They ride figures, but it appears to be more of a pattern than an exercise. They themselves appear mesmerized with the rhythm of the stride. There's no variation, there's no progress, there's none of the "intimate conversation" that I love to watch between a horse and a rider. You could almost set your clock by their riding.

It's predictable. It's the same. In a sense, it's boring.

Regardless, Sue and Roro are pretty mesmerizing to watch. Roro's huge motor and big elastic gaits, and Sue's beautifully quiet soft manner, I could watch it all day! But there it was...

OPPORTUNITY.....

Here's the deal....we can all ride shapes and patterns. Most of us can do a transition where we want it to happen. We can even make the horse work in a reasonably attractive outline. But the real training and progress only happens during those momentary opportunities, when we "hear" the horse saying he's ready for the next step, and seize the moment. It's a pity when they're missed...

To look for them, try asking "questions" by making the horse trot bigger or smaller for a few strides. Ask him if he's supple by working position left or right for a bit. Offer him both reins and see how he stretches. Ride in some way just a hair out of the comfort zone. Try to create moments where you can nicely ask for things to be just a little bit better....and give the horse the opportunity to respond. Risk those occasions where it might get a little less than pretty for the other times that you might be very nicely surprised!

Yeah. Opportunities. Look for them, and use them, and then watch how your training progresses!