Raised the bar

Today was a wonderful sunny day and the rain we were expecting was moved on by the soft wind. Out at the stables I found Countess in her paddock and spent ages grooming her until she shone in the bright summer sun. It was a tough lesson with lots of work without stirrups but after a grueling 45 minutes it was time to start jumping.
Today was the day when the bar would be raised for the first time. Not by much but enough that Countess and I had to work a little harder. It was so great to feel her strength under me. She barely had to increase her effort but now I could feel her tighten her muscles and hear her breath a little deeper. I remembered everything that Mary-Ann, my instructor, had been teaching me and I could tell that Countess trusted my ability more this week than she had before. It was a wonderful feeling to connect with this lovely mare and know that she was starting to trust in my commands and that we were becoming a real team.

We were up to the last jump-round for the day. The full course consisted of a small cavaletti to start then down and around the arena to a oxer, a loop at the far end of the arena and then back down to a flower box wall and then up over a 2 fence straight to finish. We jumped a clear and it felt great to go further than we had before......Then the unexpected happened. Countess tripped, over what I don't know, but she tripped on the right and I stayed firm in the saddle but then as she tried to right herself her left leg gave out and she banged down on the knee. I lost my seat then and landed heavily but luckily wasn't hurt. Countess and I were righted and up in a flash and luckily neither were any worse the wear. Back into the saddle for a quick work out to make sure we were really both fine and then we called it a day.
Taking a spill is expected in horse riding and today was certainly not the first time for me but what I didn't expect was the instant worry I felt about a horse that I don't even own. My concern for my self was far out waited by my concern for Countess, the horse I ride only once per week. Today Countess and I raised the bar in our jumping, and then we raised the bar in our friendship.
Goddess bless you beautiful Countess!

Love and light,

Freedom

Today at my horse riding lesson I got to do something new. I got to jump which was a huge thrill for me. Countess sailed over the jumps with lots of ease but she ensured I was doing my job and asking her correctly otherwise I would of been going over the jumps alone :-)
The freedom I feel when riding is like no other feeling on earth. Connected, in balance, aware.
Find you freedom and bath in it as often as you can.

Embracing Your Equine Heart

Every Saturday I have the pleasure of a horse riding lesson. My partner in this lesson is a lovely bay mare named Countess. She is ridden by several people each week and willingly puts up with each of our flaws while we learn to ask her to do things that she has been doing for many years now.

When sitting and thinking of this patient but willful animal I realize the lessons she teaches me that go far beyond my horse riding abilities. Each time she allows me onto her back or each time she responds to my gentle request to collect her trot or extend her legs, to change her lead or to stand perfectly still I realize that she has agreed to work with me despite me ignorance and flaws.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we humans were as gracious with each others flaws as this humble animal is with mine?

She holds no grudge when I use my leg a little too hard on her side or when I loose my seat and land heavily on her back. Countess simply expresses her displeasure immediately with a swish of her tail or a flattening of her ears and then our tiff is over and all is forgiven. We can learn so much from this instant and honest display of emotion and the instant release of a discomfort allowing ourselves to return to peace with no unresolved issues.

I did a meditation over the weekend that asked me to revisit my past and I found myself crying for wounds still fresh but that are years old. I thought then of Countess and wondered if my wounds would be so fresh if I had shown all of my true feelings in the moment as she does rather than "Managing" them as many of us do and then carrying them around with us like ridiculous badges of honour. If we fill up our hearts and souls with old unresolved events and emotions then how can their be room for the joy and happiness that we each long for?

Change is never easy but it is a gift and I will being trying to change how I "manage" my emotions and I will be striving to embrace my Equine Heart by living and releasing in the emotional moment.
{Thanks Countess! I predict many carrots in your future :-) }
Love and Light,