GOING GREEN...

Serenity Now!

I graduated from an Agriculture and Environmental College (Cook College, Rutgers University) during an era where folks really, really thought about the Environment...  not as a "selling" point but as a movement... a passion for making a future healthier. 

This is not about the Environment...  nah...  This is about a mindset... thinking young and innocent and building trust slowing and methodically until it is embedded once again.  You see, the realization that maybe, just maybe I wasn't the only one having a confidence crisis surfaced at our last Jumping Intensive.

Hey, just a thought, but why don't we act as if Sugar's a green bean, a youngster, a baby...  a horse trying her heart out but just doesn't know...  Treat her as if she hasn't been the recipient of thousands of dollars of professional training. Forget that she is a solid Training Level horse and act as if she's never seen a Prelim course. 

Sug with Trainer
prepping for Prelim

How kind and nice it is to think and act Green.  So exciting to see your little girl try even though she's scared.  It's such a nice energy... far kinder and more positive than - MARE-ISH, spooky, naughty and all those salty phrases that are bandied about.  (Oh, she is that...  but in this mindset, we want uplifting.)

So neck strap/sissy bar firmly in place, the rehabilitation begins another phase.  Oh, did I mention that there is "No I in Team!"  My "up/down" jumping lessons are strengthening the same trust muscles weakened along the way.  The hardest battle, so far... is fighting with a fragile ego and resisting the urge to should've-ing all over myself. (I should've jumped more...  should've jumped bigger, should've been anxiety-free, should've wanted more.)

Ahhh, the underutilized neck strap...  when my trainer first suggested it, she apologized.  She did not want me to think it insulting.  If Sug spooked, I could let go of her face (don't pull) and really steer with my legs, letting her work it out.  And if she jumped huge or awkward, the neck strap helps to kick on...  no pull on her mouth.  I love the neck strap... but often forget to grab one and go.

Going to get there!
Photo used with permission
www.flatlandsfoto.com

Today was a most awesome lesson with the New Barn Girl's trainer - the Long Lining Goddess.  She had us bending, turning and jumping...  on a longish rein using our bodies to turn.  It was twisty, and turny.  And I laughed, smiled and, even learned alot.

And, when the lesson ended...  I was hungry for more... more height, more jumps and more fun... 

Going Green - fun for the whole Team!