Lately I’ve been thinking about making progress and wondering if I’m making good use of my time with Finn. On the one hand, my motto is no moment is wasted that is spent with my boy. On the other, there are things I’d like to do with him someday, and I’d rather it not take many unnecessary years for no better reason than I didn’t do enough to keep myself on track.
It’s just tough sometimes to balance the “lets get stuff done” against the “everything means something, nothing means nothing.” Last week, for example, I got caught up in some stuff at liberty and the idea of getting our transitions to movement freed up and coming from behind, and pretty much everything else has gone by the wayside, even though I spent almost 20 hours with him! On Saturday evening, I decided to mix things up by having some fun trotting and cantering over poles, which caused me to realize how LONG it has been since we’ve consistently cantered during our rides. Once again, I got caught up in all the little exercises I learned at the Buck clinic, and they’re wonderful, but they have kept me from just riding my horse forward. When you’re like me and have a heightened sense of quality and feel in EVERY moment, sometimes it feels like you never get past square one.
It is possible I am making a mountain out of a molehill. I know we’ve made progress in the last six months, quite a lot of progress. But when I’m taking input from so many sources and trying to sew it all together into a plan that works for Finn and I… well, sometimes I feel I’m getting too off track.
I’ve thought about the possibility of taking monthly lessons to help me focus my efforts, and I’m not entirely convinced that’d be a bad idea, but money doesn’t grow on trees around here. Beyond that, I’d need to find a REALLY exceptional instructor who is willing to work with me as more of a sounding board and coach than a traditional instructor. I have someone in mind who might be able to do it… but I’m a little nervous about trying it out. One big plus of this option though: I think my riding has gotten quite sloppy. Finn would probably appreciate it if someone held me more accountable on that front.
I’ve also considered setting more short-term goals and making more short-term plans for the time I have with Finn. I could set monthly or weekly goals… or goals for whatever chunk of time I have home between braiding bonanzas. I’m leaning towards weekly plans… similar to what I laid out a few weeks ago, since that worked quite well. That way there will be some flexibility, but also some structure that will hopefully keep me from just doing the same thing every day and getting too fixated on one small detail.
Well, I guess I’ll contemplate as I head down to see Finn and perhaps come up with a plan for this week. A plan that will include taking Finn out riding and camping overnight at Washoe Lake on Friday night! We’ll be going out with a group of six other riders, a new experience for Finn who has so far only gone with groups up to three! Luckily we’ll get to do it twice in a row, which is always a recipe for improvement, because I think it might blow Finn’s mind a little to have so much company.
Anyway, I’ll get back to you on the plan. It’s about time to start preparing to head to the barn.
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