Today as I rode Belle we were struggling with her connection to the right rein and turning left without falling out the outside shoulder. She has been really super lately, and if I let it this could have really frustrated me. So we stepped it back and did some leg yields and shoulder fore. By the end of our ride it was better but not as good as it can be. I need to remind myself that she had the last two days off. Tomorrow will be better I’m certain.
Then there are rides when suddenly all the pieces come together and I just want to celebrate. It’s ok that most of the time no one is around to see these moments. I know that something awesome just happened. We may not be able to replicate what we did today or tomorrow but it was there and we will get it again. Whether it was that perfect canter walk transition or that amazing feeling in the trot those are the moments that keep me going.
Tonight as I was at home getting dinner ready for my kids, I had a phone call from my friend which epitomized what I’m talking about. The first words out of her mouth were “I need to tell you how amazing my ride was tonight!” She then went on to describe the work she did with her horse. She used exercises to move his body around that ultimately led to getting a canter half pass that she was now celebrating. She described how well they maintained the jump in the canter while staying wrapped around her inside leg. “And I was able to sit where I’m supposed to! It just felt so right!”
She went on to describe how they then did the same canter half pass in the other direction and it was, well, less than perfection. “I know he’s weaker on that inside leg so that’s ok,” she told me. That we recognize when our horse is trying his best but just can’t do what we are asking is also a huge part of this sport. So there was that fabulous canter half pass then not so fabulous half pass but that’s ok because it’s all going in the right direction!
Just like anything else riding/training dressage is like a rollercoaster. Every day is not going to be your best. Riding a dressage horse isn’t like driving a car. Horses are living beings and they can have bad days just like we do. These bad days make me appreciate the fabulous moments even more. So the next time you have a not so great moment or even not so great ride, remember to take a deep breath and let it go. The next time you put your foot in the stirrup all the pieces may fall into place and that in my opinion is better than a blue ribbon. It’s these moments that keep me going even in the cold and dark of winter.
Amy Dahlgren of Dahlgren Dressage is a USDF Bronze and Silver medalist offering quality dressage instruction in central Virginia.
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