Need to vs Want to

Posted on January 11, 2012 by JennyP

Need to verses Want to.  That opens a big conversation, what I want to do.  I think it really is a mindset, as there are things we must do to get along.  We could learn to approach them in a positive “want” and it will make that task easier, and we will probably do it better.  Find something in the task that you can feel good about the doing, this brings a lightness and happiness into the chore, even if the best you can come up with is “I got it done”.    I think we should change the word “need ” to the word “want” and see if it doesn’t make your chores easier, and help you stay positive.  It will open a new excitement to your daily tasks that will change your mood, and outlook on your situation.  “I want to clean the house.”  This builds a different mood for  you, and if you build on this it can change your life.  You need to do certain things, wouldn’t it be fun to want to?  Try it , it can’t hurt.     I want to be happy and have fun, how about you?

Go forth and WANT TO   :}

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They are treasures.

Posted on January 10, 2012 by JennyP

Today ended the life of a great dog.  Toby, an Australian Shepard, who I brought from Texas to give to my best  friend Kathy.  He lived about 16 years give or take my inability to remember time.  He was smart and well trained and a really good dog.  As things like this make you think a little harder, I was reflecting on the stages of a dogs life.

You get the puppy, and it is exciting and fun and dealing with their mistakes is a happy part of the growing process.  Then they get self reliant and neater and the majority of their life is just fun.  The last stage, they decline and the messes happen, but they do not get in trouble, as they do not want to be doing it.  The key to this story is to stay in the happy healthy part of your life.  Enjoy everyday, treasure your life, and all those great animals that enhance your life.

RIP Toby.

 

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Lessons, Clinics, New Trainers.

Posted on January 2, 2012 by JennyP

I  was watching a lesson the other day, given by a guest instructor.  It occurred to me that there is a really interesting thing that happens when people take lessons with different people, they seem to try harder than they do everyday. They seem to bring more interest, attention, and try than to most everyday lessons.  The funny thing is is, they will give the guest teacher, clinician credit for such a great lesson, when it is themselves who make it better because of their better attitude.  I am not saying that it is not beneficial to have lessons with different trainers, I am just commenting on bringing the best “You” to all of your lessons.

The same thing seems to happen when people move to another trainer.  They subconsciously blame the past trainer for their lacks,  and go to the new trainer with a better attitude, and outlook, so they will usually do better right off the bat with the new trainer, then as time goes by their old worries and habits often show back up.

So what is this mean?  You can change yourself whenever you change your outlook or attitude about the problem.  I do recommend you get the best trainer you can, but make sure you work on taking the best “You” with you whenever you practice.  It will be more fun and productive, than if you do not give 100%.  Get the little details right and the big things will take care of themselves.  Be safe and have fun!!

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Leo Free Jumping

Posted on December 2, 2011 by JennyP

Second time jumping

I have a three year old warmblood that I raised, and this week was his second time to free jump. His name is Leo, and he is 17 hands tall. I have been very patient and allowed him time to just grow up, because he is so big. He enjoys working and is trying to figure it out. I like free jumping the young horses, because it allows them to learn from their mistakes. I like my horses to think for themselves.

When learning something new every one has to make mistakes. And I find it interesting that I do not give myself the benefit of making mistakes without ridicule, or thinking badly of myself. I am learning that that is very silly, as why wouldn’t I make mistakes when I’m learning something new. Our judgments about our self can be debilitating, yet we do it all the time. Or should I say I did it a lot in the past, not anymore. Back to free jumping.

I was happy to discover that Leo is smart. He ran full speed at the jump, an almost fell down. And the next time he chose to slow down think it out, and jump cleanly. A good lesson was learned, and I had to allow him to learn that lesson on his own. I am looking forward to the next time to see if he remembered his lesson.

So the philosophical lesson is to be kind yourself when you’re learning new things, and never stop learning. Keep the challenges fun and keep trying new things. If it is something you really want, you will get it. Enjoy even the smallest gains toward your end. I often tell my students, you know you’re getting better, when you’re bad days get less bad, and farther apart.

So don’t be afraid to make mistakes, be safe, keep learning and growing.

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November 2011

Posted on November 27, 2011 by JennyP

November is the month for thanksgiving and it got here so fast this year.
Since I like to have gratitude to all year, it is like the Christmas of gratitude month. So what are you grateful for? How often do you think about what you are grateful for?

Appreciation is a great way to go through life, as it seems to make everything more vibrant. To appreciate what you have is such a gift. And no matter what we have, we all have gifts. I think it would be very neat if everyone would quit comparing themselves. We are all blessed, with so many different gifts. Think how boring it would be if we were all the same. There would also be very long lines for that same event. So I guess we should all appreciate our differences, and stop judging each other.

So let’s make November the Christmas of gratitude month. Spend more time every day appreciating what you do have, and letting those you love know how much you appreciate them. This should not be hard, in fact it should be quite fun. What ever happened in the past is over, and now would be a great time to set out new. Write a note, say a prayer, just feel the goodness in you for those you love.

So I wish you the best Thanksgiving ever! Everyday!!

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Start off well

Posted on November 21, 2011 by JennyP

I judged this weekend and had a great time watching young people try to guide their ponies and horses around the course.  My biggest observation was that the communication was lacking between the kids and their animals.

To set the stage, the show was in a small indoor ring, and the first jump was coming back to the ingate on the diagonal.  I was just amazing to me that only a few riders really had a good rhythm to the first jump.  So I got to see a lot of bad first jumps.  Since the first jump is important to my first impression, we should try to have a nice first fence.  There really wasn’t a good way to do a circle in the far end of the ring, so the rider must be able to get the canter and get the rhythm right away.  Most of the riders just started and were stuck to ride out the poor rhythm they had, lots of chips because the horse did not have the power to make any distance look good.

The question being asked is:  How do I get a good rhythm in a short space?  It goes back to having your horse well broke, and responsive.  Practice at home doing lengthening and shortening exercises until you can dial in the length of stride you want without worry that you will get too much, or too little power in your canter.  Training will teach your horse to listen and respond.  Poles on the ground with a set number of strides, practiced in different number of strides will help you feel what your horse’s power and length of stride are.

When I enter the show ring, knowing I must strike off and get to work right away, I plan my entrance to give me the most time CANTERING, so I have more time perfecting my rhythm, before I am aiming at the first jump.  The beautiful trot across the diagonal is nice, but if you plop over the first jump, what good was it?  After I pick up my canter, I will ask my horse to go a little bit bigger than I want for the jumps, then I will collect him back so that his balance is coming from his backend.  This prepares his balance to help make the first jump look good no matter what distance you find.  An even rhythm is the most important “look” of the round.  Creeping into the line, and zooming out, is not pretty.  Running down the last line and eating the last jump, just shows me that your horse is not listening to you, or you are not aware of what is happening with your horse’s stride.       Practice , practice, practice, that is the fun of this sport.  Have fun, be safe.

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Sadness of Loss

Posted on November 6, 2011 by JennyP

I learned on Facebook today that Hickstead died today.  It is so sad when we lose our loved ones, animals and people. It seems like no one lasts long enough.  I just wrote about Andy Rooney retiring, and a month later he passed.  We all will go, it seems like the ones left behind have the heavy burden to handle.  I just hope we could learn to live everyday to the best of our happiness, and let those who are important to us know regularly.

Live, Laugh, Love !

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Andy Rooney

Posted on October 2, 2011 by JennyP

Tonight on 60 Minutes, Andy Rooney gave his retirement speech.  As I have always enjoyed Andy, I was interested in what he would have to say.  He was eloquent as usual, and he touched on the fact that you must keep learning and sharing what you know.  I really have been interested in those ideas lately.  I feel it is important to learn all you can about those things that are important to you.  There is no one perfect person or thing to learn from, many sources are important to use.  You build your life, and it is up to you to create the things you want.  If anyone tells you that there is only one way to do things, be careful.   Learn from everyone, especially people who have done what you are trying to do.  There is nothing wrong with using others experience to ease your journey.  In fact it is the best way.  Be a sponge and soak it all in, and keep want you want for yourself.  :}

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How much is too much?

Posted on September 11, 2011 by JennyP

I had a fun week end.  I was a clinician for one day and a judge the next.  It is so fun to watch people and their horses or ponies work together.  There is so much we learn from working with horses it is always different and challenging, and fun.

Respect is the word that needs to be used and understood. Horses need to respect their person enough to listen and do what is asked to stay safe.  People have to respect their animal enough to ask the right questions that will get the right answers and then good happens. Should situations arise that the horse cannot figure out,  people need to assess what is happening, and help the animal get the right answer.  The lessons we learn lead us to growth and success.  With every situation there is a lesson, it is how you put all your lessons together that brings to you your future.

Horses want to feel good about themselves just like we do, and if they do not feel good about what they are doing, it will show.  The true horseman will make a plan that allows the horse to understand and grow to get to its full potential.   So I hope more people want to be real horsemen and respect themselves and their horses.  If your horse is not doing what you want it to, ask  yourself what needs to be changed. What you are doing? The question you are asking? How you are asking the question? Is this something your horse can do? Is it something your horse would want to do? Now? Ever? What does my horse need to know to do this?   The moment the problem is happening may not be the best time to decide, as your emotions might cause you to react more strongly than when you step back and look at the problem when you are in a different state.  Get help from someone who can help you look at the situation and plan a path to get where you want to go.  Give yourself time.  You cannot do it all in one day, as being an athletic endeavor, you cannot ask the horse to jump so many jumps that even if they wanted to do it right, fatigue would keep them from being able to do it well, or feel good doing it.  There is always tomorrow.

I believe we can reach our goals if we stay respectful of ourselves and our horses.  Have fun stay safe.

 

 

 

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Questions about Judging.

Posted on August 30, 2011 by JennyP

I was watching America’s Got Talent for the first time tonight, and saw some parallels to Hunter judging.  First of all everyone has their own opinion, and there will always be disapproval from some on others opinions. That has to be true, or there could be one horse show for the year, and those would be the results for all. It is good that we are questioned week after week to judge what we see.

Another thing that came to my attention, is that talent is judged differently by all.  Everyone has their own likes and dislikes.  I think a common debate is whether an average round without mistakes should beat an excellent athlete with some small mistakes.  I think the answer has to come from the judge, and only the judge can give his or her opinion.

This will always be able to be debated, and I wish there was an answer that is as simple as the jumpers, in concrete faults, but it is not.  So lets keep watching and learning and competing.

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