Dressage Training Online Blog - Archive for the ‘Reisa's Corner’ Category

Three weeks of training 2 x per week, has completely turned us around. Jody had us re-learn everything! Sounds boring and cumbersome, but it is quite fantastic, a bit different and actually happens quickly. Halt, turns, new specific aid for canter, aid for long relaxed walk versus active collected walk. The whole basis for the training is simplicity. Anything with leg means go. Reins side to side open or shut, or mixed, is a turn aid, an on, off aid with a single leg on the side means lateral. Fixing the most basic of things each ride before even daring to move on to whatever is next. Jody largely follows the AEBC (Australian Equine Behavior Center) methods of Andrew McLean who takes alot from the French System of Riding.

As I write this, I think about the lesson learned. The significance is really not that finally, after a year, I can get a reliable canter depart anywhere anytime (soooooo remedial, but soooooo real), the lesson is that IF we are patient, have perseverance and are open minded, you will eventually succeed. If I apply that theory to anything in life, it continues to hold true.

I cant wait for tomorrow….to go for a ride, of course!

Reisa

Until now, I’ve stayed pretty heavily in the background, unseen and unheard within DTO,  but that’s all going to change! I do hope that is ok with all of the wonderful friends around the world who have been members or viewers of our website over the last few years. To all of you…thank you a million times, you have been incredibly supportive and outspoken and so very kind, it has touched my soul from day 1 that others found value in what DTO had to offer. It was my dream to do something worthwhile around something I was totally passionate about…you all made my dream come true! YOU ROCK!!!

Two months ago I had a bad riding accident, shattering my femur (thigh bone) in 3 places and my hip in one. Tore through the main artery and muscle and you can imagine the rest…I had a phenomenal surgeon and it was truly a blessing that he just happened to be at the right place at exactly the right time. He says I have recovered faster than anyone he has ever seen before I’ve worked really hard at it, because every day that goes by without my being able to get back on that horse, puts me mentally, secretively, one foot farther into a virtual reality called FEAR.

Have you ever felt like you were all alone in your fear….everyone else gets hurt and doesn’t think twice about getting on. That is what I thought. However, I have found, that is NOT TRUE.

With that said, I’m going to share my journey of getting back in the saddle with all of you. I don’t want one rider to feel the fear and feel alone. Im going to share my thoughts, my horses, my riding, my feelings and the steps I am taking to get stronger, physically and more important mentally so I can not only ride my own horses again, but better understand what went wrong and how to do a way better job of not coming off in the first place:)

You will see new content around these subjects, I hope you find the same value I found. If your reading this it’s because you share the love of our horses, the constant food for thought they offer us by our pondering  what is going on in their brains, the thrill of the ride and the absolute joy they so graciously allow us to gleen from them. We share this already…I look forward to sharing more.