Saturday, August 31, 2019
I intend to end this month with courage and step into September feeling renewed. The other day, I felt myself a looser for not having better been prepared for the driving clinic I attended. Even after this summer’s many lessons, I couldn’t seem to comprehend and follow many of the clinician’s instructions.
In the day between that lesson and another this afternoon, I drove both horses on the neighborhood streets. This time, instead of having them trot several miles for exercise before coming home, I changed the format. I moved them in differing speeds and asked alternately for a whoa, walk, trot, slow, and trot. I used both rein and voice commands and when possible, tapered vocal instructions, using only reins. Sunni adapted more easily than Rosie, who disliked my interrupting her focus on possible bears behind trees, but she had to cooperate.
Both mares adapted well enough during a first lesson on neighborhood streets. But I had an epiphany…couldn’t get them to turn smoothly (correctly), neither left nor right, nor in circles. Most of our driving lessons have centered on turning and circling and I’ve not been practicing. Instead, I compartmentalized those lessons, set them aside for a show ring someday. No practice and somewhat forgotten.
Today is a renewal. I’ll listen differently and use what I learn. From now on, our drives will include technical lessons. Although it’s embarrassing to try and work with an expert, and simply not “get it”, the jolt of a wake up call is worthwhile.
Dear Friends: Comprehension and learning are complex. Never give up. Diana
Diana's Morning Blog 
The ability to persevere is a rare gift.
LikeLike
I remember going to good clinics but then not practicing enough and I would return for another clinic with little to show from the earlier lesson. Not motivated enough, I guess. I think dressage riders and maybe good drivers need to be a bit OCD, which I am not. Always loved to jump and be challenged in that way but the details of dressage, the bends and softness, not my forte
On Sat, Aug 31, 2019 at 6:44 AM Diana’s Morning Blog wrote:
> trailriderincentraloregon posted: ” Bending the horse Saturday, August 31, > 2019 I intend to end this month with courage and step into September > feeling renewed. The other day, I felt myself a looser for not having > better been prepared for the driving clinic I attended. Even after thi” >
LikeLiked by 1 person
On the second day, having got my head in the right place, the lesson was excellent. The rest is up to me, and the challenge as you suggest, is staying motivated.
LikeLike