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ON CLASSICAL DRESSAGE ...
"... Theories, techniques, mechanics are all just dead, inanimate topics for discussion ... the FEEL is what riding any discipline is all about. Yes, there are certain seats and certain reins etc. that will help us to achieve that feel, but until we actually *do* feel the movement, it's all just head knowledge. Nothing more. Once we get the *feel* of the executed movement, the horse also is moving as one with us. The horse feels it too! It isn't something forced with pressure or equipment ... it is a heart matter for both rider and horse.
I am glad to hear of your success. Particularly that you ride from your center ... see? That's where the feel is after all! Think of a horse and rider as two circles ... intertwined. While intertwined, the ""centers"" of the circle are not together. Once the circles are perfectly together, the centers of each become one. That is/should be our goal when riding any discipline ... dressage, cutting, penning, hunting, jumping, vaulting ... even driving. It is definitely something that can be very elusive! Particularly when trying to describe in words!!!! *G*"
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ON LISTENING TO THE HORSE ...
"... a subject near and dear to my heart. there's no other way to work with horses or any other animal. If people could keep the scripture below in their minds when working with animals of any kind, I think there'd be a whole lot LESS abused and psycho pets than there are now;
"But ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;' or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of ***EVERY*** (emphasis mine creature and the breath of all mankind."
--Job 12:7-10
That scripture was shown to me a number of months ago. It has tickled my brain and pierced my heart. I am going to make a bumper sticker of it to put on my van ... and I have become fanatical about it. BUT ... it's a good thing because it validates everything I've always believed. It has brought to the surface everything that was hidden away due to hearing ""Oh??? You 'talk' with the animals, do you? Well, don't you think that it's just your over active imagination? Animals don't 'really' communicate to us. They're just dumb animals. They don't have souls like humans. I think you might need some help, honey!"" etc. etc. etc. My 'favorite' comes from my own husband
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