#59 Time...

#59   Time

Good heavens - I can't even seem to find the time to put something new on the blog - so Lordy only knows how you folks find the time to ride - especially those of you that have "real" jobs or have to go to an arena.

I do everything from right here at the ranch and I can't get to writing just a tad.

So, I guess, the lesson here, is not to beat yourself up badly when you can't get out there to see your little darling.  It is not always easy but always keep in mind that first of all riding should not be a chore.  Nor should it be something that you get upset over.  Nor is it anything you should feel guilty over. Nor anything you should be getting stressed over.  Nor anything you should be getting yelled at about.  Nor is it anything that your horse will hate you for.  (sometimes, they are just tickled pink to have a little vacation from you !)

So, now I need to take my own advice - knock it off Mary - the horse riding and the blog writing are gifts from the gods and the gods are compassionate and empathetic.

snowy Mary

Lazy rolling...

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

#58 Ships in Bottles & Horses in Hula Hoops

#58 Ships in Bottles & Horses in Hula Hoops
The hula hoop came from the dollar store.  Lots of fun for a buck !

Just for fun try this and send me photos to Smilla13@gmail.com

Dusty is always so happy - he makes no secret of it.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

#57 A Touchy Subject !

#57  A Touchy Subject  !

This is a touchy subject when it comes to riding - but it is something I have seen many times over and it is from these observations that I am writing.  

And, it has to do with fear, nervousness, and lack of confidence & maleness and femaleness.

There are more woman than men riding the past 2 decades than ever before in history.  AND, the "fear" or "nervousness" thing is just not discussed because we are too embarassed to talk about it and are afraid of looking like a sissy or a baby.

So, why is there so much fear among females when it comes to the little darlings and riding ???

It is very simple and easily explained.

As a rule, woman don't have that "male ego" thing that is what makes men get into fights and into challenging each other and bragging and being #1.  It's just not us.

(this is not an absolute statement by any means - but it does seem to hold true for the majority)

AND, we don't have the testosterone which is responsible for the above.

Nor, do we have the physical strength.
And, we never had lots of crashes like boys when we were young.

Nor do most of us love that big adrenalin rush that men thrive on.  

So, it is those things that we battle - and struggle with.

As was noted before - riding is not for the feint of heart.

I love scaring the bejesus out of myself - and overcoming that fear - when I am working with an outlaw horse or training an unbroke horse, but let me tell you, I am not having a good time.  I am a wreck. But when the day is done, I am tickled pink and know that I had a ball.  But only when the day is done and I am still alive.  I thrive on it and so do lots of other females, but I daresay there are tons more females out there that don't want a thing to do with it, and when faced with it become a wreck, and/or after a crash won't ride again.

We are just different than men.

Most of us are able to overcome it and / or  we simply learn to deal with the nasty fear because our love for the darlings or for the sport is just too great.

And, some just can't do it.

It is nothing to be ashamed of.  We are just different.

It is the nature of the beast.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

#56 Elephants and Darlings

Henry & Dusty'

#56   Elephants and the Little Darlings

The little darlings have an incredibly short attention span but one heck of an  excellent memory  (if only we could be so lucky !)

That being said translates into "once taught, they never forget.)

Too often we inadvertently teach them the wrong behavior because we just give up and/or do the release at an  inappropriate time.

It is our responsiblity to be AWARE of whatever it is that we are doing & or around our horses.
  This is pretty tough to do but if we keep trying to be aware, we'll get the hang of it.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com