This Journey with Horses
I often talk about the connection that is possible with the horse, what I don’t often talk about is what that potential can be.
As many of you will know (those who follow my social media at least) my muse is a fiery little Lusitano mare. What many may not know is that her and I have journeyed to very deep and dark places together. When she came here in 2018 it was as a riding and breeding mare in the hopes of have purebred foals. She had a different agenda. This is a story about connection with another being, it is a story about sharing a journey together, and the potential of being with your horse in love vs fear. It is by no means a story with an end, as journeys rarely have ends, only new beginnings.
Dinastia was bred and trained by my mentors Dominique and Debra Barbier. She has impeccable bloodlines, classical movement, and an inquisitive mind. My plan was to work on improving my riding, while also breeding her. The first derailment of my plan happened when she became sick traveling from California to Alberta. The second was when she had an allergic reaction to the extender in the semen used.
My plan and her plan didn’t align.
As frustrating as it was at times it always has felt right that she is in my life. I didn’t realize at the time but we are on a trajectory together. Before coming to Canada, Dinastia was a walk/trot only horse. She was mostly ridden on a lunge line, slow and steady. Her ground work and manners were impeccable, she wasn’t as confident under saddle. So I stayed on the ground, she has taught me so much about intention on the ground, seeing the movement, and communicating through subtleties. I developed much of my understanding of in hand work through the hours we spent on the ground; I have often experimented with technique, knowing she will give me honest feedback.
I didn’t get on her for at least six months. We built a conversation and a relationship first. Why? It never felt right to ride, I wasn’t willing to push her. When I am off doing clinics I often recommend people stay on the ground for at least six weeks. I do this because I meet horse’s and rider’s that are having trouble, the little bit of time on the ground allows the horse to find a more functional way of travelling, the rider to build confidence while seeing and feeling how the horse is working, and the pair to find a little bit better connection. The rider’s that do it find a whole new level of success with the horse. When you develop the movement you want to ride and the conversation that works for both you and the horse, the result is a better relationship in the saddle.
Dinastia taught me that in those first six months we spent on the ground. When I did get on it was because I was invited, she then proceeded to show me things I didn’t know were possible. Uninhibited forward, complete lightness, communication through intention. That first ride blew my mind, it wasn’t anywhere close to what I thought was possible.
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