Therapist Hands
Spicy's been home for three months. It's kind of crazy when I think about it - it feels like way longer. Especially given the amount of progress he's made, I find myself scratching my head wondering if I tripped into a wormhole or something.
There are only a few of us at the barn who ride competitively, but there were still enough of us to make it worthwhile for a local dressage trainer to swing by and learn us some dressage. It was my first time taking a lesson from a pure dressage trainer (and while since I had any lessons at all...), so I was looking forward to someone telling me I wasn't ruining my horse and maybe vaguely point me in the right direction.
The day of dressage humid and about 100* Kelvin so I couldn't wait to blind myself with sunscreeny sweat dripping in my eyes. I told our new DQ trainer (hereafter known as CC) about Spicy and me's life story and she directed us to walk off and quietly watched us for maybe the most terrifying 30 seconds that ever happened.
She immediately latched onto my hands and centered the entire lesson about doing things but with a less restrictive hand. Turns out, I have elbows. Not only that, but they bend as well. Who knew!
CC uses the little Voice of God headphone in the ear to teach, so as I was walking she told me about the things that would change once I kept my hands still and allowed them to 'be there' for Spicy. To me, it was like my hands need to be a therapist right now. There if he wants and needs them but also completely invisible and neutral at the same time to allow.
As the voice in my ear reminded me to follow with my hands I started to feel Spicy tentatively reaching out to meet me, and he got more sure as time wore on and my hands weren't a concrete wall in his mouth.
I wasn't sure I wanted to canter because things were going so well and I didn't want to ruin it with canter-flail, but I told myself to suck it up bitch and we did some cantering. At the time of that lesson I had cantered this horse twice under saddle. I know I get crooked in my transitions so I was terrified of screwing him up. Turns out there was nothing to worry about; Spicy felt my outside leg slide back and without even a verbal cue picked up a lovely balanced canter.
His canter made me salivate to start jumping him more... but that's it's own post.
I have a lot to work on until we see CC again, but now that I know I have elbows it'll probably all be great!*
*hopefully
 |
| this was more than a few weeks ago now. check how dry the grass is... |
There are only a few of us at the barn who ride competitively, but there were still enough of us to make it worthwhile for a local dressage trainer to swing by and learn us some dressage. It was my first time taking a lesson from a pure dressage trainer (and while since I had any lessons at all...), so I was looking forward to someone telling me I wasn't ruining my horse and maybe vaguely point me in the right direction.
 |
| his neck looks about two feet longer now |
The day of dressage humid and about 100* Kelvin so I couldn't wait to blind myself with sunscreeny sweat dripping in my eyes. I told our new DQ trainer (hereafter known as CC) about Spicy and me's life story and she directed us to walk off and quietly watched us for maybe the most terrifying 30 seconds that ever happened.
She immediately latched onto my hands and centered the entire lesson about doing things but with a less restrictive hand. Turns out, I have elbows. Not only that, but they bend as well. Who knew!
CC uses the little Voice of God headphone in the ear to teach, so as I was walking she told me about the things that would change once I kept my hands still and allowed them to 'be there' for Spicy. To me, it was like my hands need to be a therapist right now. There if he wants and needs them but also completely invisible and neutral at the same time to allow.
As the voice in my ear reminded me to follow with my hands I started to feel Spicy tentatively reaching out to meet me, and he got more sure as time wore on and my hands weren't a concrete wall in his mouth.
I wasn't sure I wanted to canter because things were going so well and I didn't want to ruin it with canter-flail, but I told myself to suck it up bitch and we did some cantering. At the time of that lesson I had cantered this horse twice under saddle. I know I get crooked in my transitions so I was terrified of screwing him up. Turns out there was nothing to worry about; Spicy felt my outside leg slide back and without even a verbal cue picked up a lovely balanced canter.
His canter made me salivate to start jumping him more... but that's it's own post.
I have a lot to work on until we see CC again, but now that I know I have elbows it'll probably all be great!*
*hopefully
Whut r elbows?
ReplyDeleteapparently its a part of your arm that moves, news to me tho
DeleteArms do not bend. Don't tell me these lies.
ReplyDeleteAlso, he looks so lovely!
FAKE NEWS
Deleteyeah he feels great when I don't constrict the crap out of his neck. It's been crazy...
aw Spicy <3
ReplyDeletehes the cutest. not a fan of nose kisses (yet)
DeleteOh man I feel you so hard on the elbows, the struggle is real. Mine constantly need to be reminded they are a bendy joint.
ReplyDeletenext she'll probably be telling me my fingers close...
Deletelol elbows bend. GOOD TO KNOW> HA HA HA so glad Spicy is spicing up your life. IN a good way :) AND YAY for lessons.
ReplyDeleteoh man how many spice puns can we make...
Deletehaha yes I totally know what you mean "what do you mean i have elbows and they bend - witchcraft!"
ReplyDeleteshe kept casually mentioning it throughout the lesson... of course i kept forgetting. "circle here and also don't forget your arms still bend!!"
DeleteHe's looking good. I love the giant pom on top of your helmet! Also, my elbows nothing, so you know, ymmv.
ReplyDeleteomg i love the pom so much. sara HATES it hehehe
DeleteLove this analogy. My hands need to take a few college courses I think. They're more of a dictator than a listener.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you and Spicy. Sounds like you two are on a great path!
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ReplyDeleteOMG ELBOWS! I rode competitively and successfully for many years. Then out of the saddle for 25. I’ve been back in the saddle )without elbows) for about five months now. My sister and I were watching a video and she goes, “where the fuck are her elbows?” And I was like, “oh shit... that’s how I have been riding!” I found my elbows yesterday. It was a good dressage day yesterday. I love your blog!!!
ReplyDelete