Meditations on Equestrian Art

The Project:

One Mustang directly off the range, One trainer, No tools, Just body language

The Goal:

To discover how far Equestrian Art can be developed solely using body language.

Splish Splash!!!

The first week of July, still and warm, the sultry air lulling my soul into a sleepy rapture- I watch as the gleeful children and their horses playfully splash in and out of the pond, and I can’t help but grin. The ease with which they play in the water, bareback, with only a halter and one rope, the horses clearly enjoying the game as much as the children. I reflect back to my childhood and feel that perhaps the happy splashing and playing we did with our horses had slightly more sinister edge to it then. When I was a child I never questioned why some horses could be ridden in a hackamore, and some needed a curb bit with a chain that tightened hard under the chin to keep control. It was just the way things were. When one of the horses didn’t want to go swimming it became a fun challenge to switch horses and see which one of us was a strong enough rider to force the reluctant one into the water. From my childhood perspective all I remember is the exhilarating fun of the activity…. In hindsight I wish I had known then what I know now.

Even the next day when the weather had turned cool and the horses were not so enthusiastic to jump in the water, it fed me to my core to watch the kids using tact, patience and understanding to coax their horses into the game.

What is exciting to me is knowing there is no such thing as perfection. Every day I know a little more than I did before, every day I can set up the learning environment for my students with a little more grace. I am in love with the ease I see in the partnerships all around me every day, and I still know it is only going to keep getting better.

I want to say I can’t wait to see where we are ten years from now… but in all honesty I am having too much fun right now, I wouldn’t want to miss one moment of it.

So splish splash everyone and enjoy your summer!

Elsa Sinclair

EquineClarity.com