tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post4111242293558192986..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: The Incredible Lightness of Being lllMugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-57703809929320490042012-02-17T10:41:50.368-07:002012-02-17T10:41:50.368-07:00penny33 - It works for the horses too. When they&#...penny33 - It works for the horses too. When they're doing a job they forget the tensions and just get it done, at the same time they use all the training we've put in them in order to complete the task.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-73756899188882869082012-02-17T09:30:34.813-07:002012-02-17T09:30:34.813-07:00Thanks for a great description of what you mean by...Thanks for a great description of what you mean by lightness, and I felt it the other day. I spent a lot of time while riding my mare consciously trying to "feel it". And I felt it at the most unexpected time...I was ponying my somewhat rambunctious yearling off of my mare the other day and the yearling was feeling very fresh. As I'm loping circles on my mare and fighting with the opinionated 500 lbs baby I realized that this is what you meant. I was making no conscious movements, I wasn't thinking about how perfect my seat, hands, and legs needed to be. Yet...we were loping perfect 20M circles at a beautiful cadence, relaxed and in sync despite the crazy yearling. It's amazing how things fall into place when you quit thinking and just make it happen. It made me think about that guest post about the therapy horses a couple weeks ago. Maybe if we quit obsessing about perfection in our horses and just asked them to do a job we would achieve our goals as a by product.penny33https://www.blogger.com/profile/08112405359577758564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-19450213600955618842012-02-17T06:36:31.675-07:002012-02-17T06:36:31.675-07:00So interesting!!! More expanding of the brain!!!
...So interesting!!! More expanding of the brain!!!<br /><br />Your concept of the air buffer zone is fascinating. I'll be thinking of that now. I always tried to visualize the opposite- that my butt was stuck to the saddle. I'd like to try this different way of thinking about it. <br /><br />I really like the part about a horse who needs a light hand. I agree with you - they all do. <br /><br />They can shake a fly off one square inch of hide. <br /><br />They can feel our cues.Heidi the Hickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639479864903922047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-35982000408231716722012-02-16T14:48:11.965-07:002012-02-16T14:48:11.965-07:00Thanks for sharing more of this!
It's difficu...Thanks for sharing more of this!<br /><br />It's difficult to get it with every horse I ride, but it's something to aim for, for sure. <br /><br />I rode western this morning and then had a dressage lesson this afternoon and fortunately (I think!) my rider faults and crooked parts (hips, left wrist) are just as bad in each discipline. In my lesson, the trainer pointed out a couple of things instantly, and as soon as I lightened up, really, they were solved. Funny how so much tension creeps in when we're meant to be thinking 'lightness, forward, happy.'Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386998873768199907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-69073682037446807482012-02-16T10:47:59.947-07:002012-02-16T10:47:59.947-07:00What a wonderful, thought provoking post mugs! So...What a wonderful, thought provoking post mugs! So much so it has taken me more than a half a day to put my thoughts down on paper. I can only hope that I express myself as well as you do.<br /><br />I think that lightness we are all seeking is blocked many times by us. Well, at least I block it.<br /><br />I suffer from what I call static. There are two types of static in my life: mental and physical.<br /><br />The mental static: family worries, work worries, frustrations, anxiety, prissiness, anger, FEAR, etc. <br /><br />Physical stresses such as my daily aches and pains of getting older, a braced body that collapses the shoulders, pops up those heels, tights those hips until I feel like a paper clip holding a stack of paper so thick you know that paper clip will catapult through the air with the least amount of provocation.<br /><br />When I’m full of static my riding sucks. Only way to put it. It SUCKS.<br /><br />But there are moments, brilliant shining moments I have that lightness, that oneness with my horse; that riding with a thread.<br /><br />What has dawned on me recently is when I have let the static go I’m riding in the here and now, as my horse lives and rides in the here and now.<br /><br />When I hear nothing but my horse’s footfall, when I can tune out people coming and going around the barn and in the arena, I know I am riding in the present, and my horse knows it as well. That is when we have a lovely dance.<br /><br />I have also noticed that when I do not have the mental static playing against me and my horse, the physical static is lessened as well. I guess the heel really is connected to the hip socket, and hip is connected to the shoulder bone, which is connected to the back bone, which is connected to the brain.<br /><br />Without all my static my cues are more subtle.<br /><br />Without all my static I feel him more. And when I can feel him in the present, I don’t over cue (would make a great post, over cuing) which is a HUGE problem with me. <br /><br />With static in my mind/body, I don’t feel his try, his give, his willingness, or his softness.<br />Without the static I know where his feet are. I don’t have to look at his shoulders to see where his feet are; I feel them.<br /><br />Without static he knows I am with him in the here and now. He knows I am not dwelling on problems with family or dwelling on problems we had in a ride last week/month/year. We are working on what needs fixed today, or what needs learned today. Or he feels I just want to be there with him.<br /><br />Without all my static, when he does what I ask, I let him be, instead of nagging him for more. Another HUGE problem with me….nagging for one more step or one more lap. I need to learn to shut up.<br /><br />I wish I could find that light spot…. that quiet spot when it is just me and my horse working quietly together, more often.<br /><br />Training myself to train him, well, all I can say is what a ride it has been. And what a ride it will continue to be. I don’t care how long it takes. I will just enjoy the ride in the here and now as often as I’m graced with it. And pray I’m graced with the here and now more often.<br /><br />Thank you again, mugs. Wonderful post.scsarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-2942067451061239442012-02-16T09:47:51.068-07:002012-02-16T09:47:51.068-07:00I've been thinking a lot about how we muddy up...I've been thinking a lot about how we muddy up a horse's training... and finding all sorts of silly habits I never knew I had. It's amazing how simple riding really can be if we don't let ourselves complicate it.RHFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02513212465360292806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-22393849506427167202012-02-16T08:54:20.436-07:002012-02-16T08:54:20.436-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Horse-pet-products.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16713639093502739065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-60221678655994343832012-02-16T08:53:01.246-07:002012-02-16T08:53:01.246-07:00KD - with a standard curb I stay loose.
I maintain...KD - with a standard curb I stay loose.<br />I maintain a slight contact with both the spade and the snaffle.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-31602972169508947662012-02-16T07:57:15.373-07:002012-02-16T07:57:15.373-07:00Well said...now I have to read it a couple more ti...Well said...now I have to read it a couple more times to let it sink in.<br /><br />Do you keep slight contact or just enough rein so that if you do tighten, squeeze or lift it's felt?KDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06062208340163864225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-19711912340026363262012-02-16T04:51:39.203-07:002012-02-16T04:51:39.203-07:00Di- it's imaginary. I imagine a 1/4 inch of ai...Di- it's imaginary. I imagine a 1/4 inch of air space between me and all contact with my horse.<br />I want to maintain it at all times. <br />So if I'm crooked, my seat bone and leg will be breaking into the air spac.<br />If my hands are uneven, or my reins, again, I'll invade the air space.<br />Every time I cue, it's an break in the space again.<br />When I first cue (oops, next article) I will have to break in, because neither I or my horse understand what it takes to get the job done. As time goes on, I'm continually trying to see how light I can become and still get what I need.<br /><br />My goal is to just "bump the bubble," a cutting horse term,have my cue be know more than pressure on the air space.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-17843359242074944762012-02-16T03:37:30.733-07:002012-02-16T03:37:30.733-07:00Great post, well put. I feel the same way. Can yo...Great post, well put. I feel the same way. Can you explain the 3/4 inch cushion of air please?Dihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05077382147781767424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-20400383458706030842012-02-15T21:40:35.124-07:002012-02-15T21:40:35.124-07:00This is the first time I can remember you mentioni...This is the first time I can remember you mentioning the 1/4 inch of air. Such a simple concept! I can't wait to try it! I bet it is way harder than it sounds...Whywudyabreedithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12069453160852561143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-5138444489051662372012-02-15T21:10:29.183-07:002012-02-15T21:10:29.183-07:00Bravo, you described that well. I feel the same wa...Bravo, you described that well. I feel the same way.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13675631291488697042noreply@blogger.com