Category Archives: Thinking Out Loud

General musings on the horse and the industry

What is the goal of training?

Posted on October 12, 2018 by

If you hang around the classical Dressage crowd for any length of time, you will hear someone say something to this effect: “Horses already know how to do the movements, in the field; training only consists of teaching them to … Continue reading →

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To be a teacher

Posted on August 18, 2018 by

From a young age, I was fascinated by why some teachers were easy to learn from, while others made things seem even more confusing.  I was particularly fascinated with riding instructors, and exactly why I preferred some to others.  I … Continue reading →

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“Can they suffer?”

Posted on July 22, 2018 by

I was only recently introduced to Jeremy Bentham.  Perhaps because he was the author of a piece that criticized The Declaration of Independence, or that I avoided philosophy in college – but his name was never one I came across … Continue reading →

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From Shutdown to Shining

Posted on June 30, 2018 by

Everything in my life always comes back to horses.  It’s not just that they’ve been a passion, and it’s not just the physical presence of the little herd that lives in the back.  It’s the lessons they’ve taught me that … Continue reading →

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Deadlines, bottomlines, stress … and letting go!

Posted on June 26, 2018 by

“There is no joy in deadline. The desire to be something is ego-oriented and useless to the horse. Strive to do something instead! Do not seek arrival but enjoy the process of getting there.” Charles De Kunffy, The Ethics and … Continue reading →

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Is your instructor worthy?

Posted on May 1, 2018 by

One reason I dropped out of teaching and training was the epidemic of anyone who won a few ribbons hanging out their shingle as a trainer.  In some cases, people who rode horses trained by other people were getting their … Continue reading →

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Apprenticeship

Posted on April 27, 2018 by

In this era of learning everything by YouTube video or Facebook posts, people seem to rarely have the patience to spend time learning anything in depth.  I have read many an article that says we no longer need experts because … Continue reading →

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