The Big Guy and Me

Yes, I really do ride. Had a lesson today, and my trainer's friend was there, and kindly took a short video. I felt like a sack of potatoes in the sitting trot, but apparently we looked good. I felt Bruno was beautifully soft and relaxed, and using his hind end well, so he liked what I was doing in the saddle.

Thank you for dropping by!

Am I Permitted to Say I Like Them?

This was supposed to go at the bottom of the post, but ...

Life ... painting going well, riding not so much. I finally had a lesson, after a few months without. I thought we were doing well. I could afford to "show off" a bit. But as I've said before, horses always bring you back to ground, to reality. I had been riding him at too fast a rhythm. It's easier to ride, but not desirable. It does not allow nor encourage the horse to push off from the hind legs properly, and use the back well. Riding in a slower tempo, more powerfully, has the horse using its back so much more - if you look closely, you can see Bruno's back slowly vibrating. It is a STINKER to ride. Following Bruno's larger movement, translated to my body, has me moving all over the place. I look like the Energizer Bunny up there, arms and legs wubbling all over the place. What it means is I am going to have to get much stronger in my core. 

At least the painting is going well ...

"I Got Spots"
I have darkened the eye a bit, to bring more focus to the head, and I have added a ground by dry-brushing along the bottom. It looks finished, and I actually like it [and you all know I am hard to please with my paintings].

"Struttin'"
This one I have taken as far as I can take it without mucking up the feathers. I have done some direct glazing with a thin mixture of a dark brown to suggest form shadows - any more, and she will look like a very cross wet hen.


  As always, your comments are most welcome!

A Little Horsing Around ... or ... a Well-Needed Lesson

This is Rhonda, my horse-meister. She is actually a great hunter/jumper rider and trainer. She herself trained with Ian Miller [Captain Canada], of Big Ben fame. Yes, I prefer dressage, but she is such a great trainer, and so darn positive and most considerate of the horse. I really love riding under her tutelage!!!

Bruno and I walking out a bit, to give him a chance to get the saddle comfy before I really tighten the girth.

And we're off! I must say, seeing the photos, he is a big, beautiful lad, and a good mover.

We were taking a big learning step today, working on lateral flexion. It's something he really has not done before to any degree, as he raced, pulling a sulky - NO lateral flexion there, just boot and scoot!

WOW ... looks like he is starting to get it.

Almost done. Looks like I'm asking Rhonda how to keep improving the flexion, and being advised that it's going to feel pretty rough for the next month or so, till Bruno really gets the concept.

That is one soggy and dirty horse. I let him loose after I untacked him, and he very happily went for a good long roll on the ground. I spent the next half hour drying and cleaning him with towels - a nice rub-down after a good work-out!


BOY! Did I need a lesson! Not that Bruno has been "bad"; I don't think he has ever had a bad thought in his life. But, in riding, there is a progression. In dressage, the idea is to improve the horse's thinking and movement, so that you achieve a horse with better balance and muscle tone, a horse that is more graceful, powerful, flexible, fluid and more in tune with the rider. And it is definitely not one-sided; the rider must improve in much the same way. I LOVE it - find it compelling and fascinating! It is such a thrill to build one's sensitivity and communication with such a subtle and noble and elegant creature.
So, this is my other great passion. And if truth be known, if I had to give up one of the two, it wouldn't be riding!!!