tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9953222.post6985579550922396290..comments2023-10-19T08:41:05.278-06:00Comments on Inspired Work of Self-Indulgence: Around hereDuly Inspiredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667265361131163774noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9953222.post-47622601751755835322009-10-23T22:54:13.696-06:002009-10-23T22:54:13.696-06:00You know, there aren't too many patios and fri...You know, there aren't too many patios and friends in my life either... and it's affected my own blog. <br /><br />I hope you get through your test and that we all settle into this 'new normal' soon.CreekHiker / HollysFollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14987597104795294851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9953222.post-25504048284542215572009-10-23T08:24:01.978-06:002009-10-23T08:24:01.978-06:00Alison, Go somewhere and ride a horse this weekend...Alison, Go somewhere and ride a horse this weekend. Don't feel guilty, don't do anything except get outside and use the other side of your brain for a bit. Don't do math for ONE whole day. When I was showing in dressage, when I got to the medium/upper levels (which is all very mathmatical until you do musical freestyle) I would work and work and work and my horse and I would think and think and think and be precise over and over again for days on end, repeating every movement that wasn't perfect. Then, when I thought we'd both die from the seriousness of it all, when my head was going to bust and she was beginning to get grumpy and round her back at me when I'd ask for a lead change or something, I discovered something that made all the difference. The day before a show I would put a western saddle on her and take her out on the trails for a few hours. Used a hackamore so there was no bit, left my reins long and loose so there was no contact, nothing that reminded her of the ring work or moving away from the pressure of my calves or seat bone, nothing but meadnering and lollygagging and grabbing mouthfuls of tall grass as we meandered the trails. Worked like a charm. The next day, because we had had the day without studying, everything clicked in both our minds <i>because we had allowed it the freedom to do so</i> and she went into the ring relaxed, and all business. We performed perfect (well, almost perfect) tests. I discovered this by accident, and when one time ... only once .... before a really big show when I was far too nervous to take her on the trails, we didn't go and we were both so full of things like equations and precision and beats and tempos and numbers that our test was mediocre at best and we left the ring exhausted, weary and never wanting to show again. Give yourself a break and remember, God made the two sides of the brain different for BALANCE. Use it! And good luck!Pony Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14575541703081384855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9953222.post-90691958176459001382009-10-22T19:31:43.056-06:002009-10-22T19:31:43.056-06:00you pray for your people alison. ill pray for you...you pray for your people alison. ill pray for you.ghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13451732568725703142noreply@blogger.com