~Quin's Corner~

Grimm's second lesson is one that  I will  be learning for the rest of my life -- and it was such a hard lesson at the beginning that he needed back-up.  That's where Heather came in.  With Heather acting as a sort of Rosetta Stone to bridge the gap between us,  I learned that, first, I will never be done learning to listen.  Second, Grimm has taught me so much more than just how to be a good partner for him; he's taught me to really, truly strive to understand.  Every horse I've worked with since meeting Grimm has given me something new to listen to and try to figure out, something about what they need, what they fear,  where it hurts, how they think, what they want me to tell their rider. (Click on Blog Title above to read full entry)

I’d like to tell you about one of the most challenging exercises I was ever given in a jumping clinic. Before I describe the exercise to you, though, I want to set the scene.... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

You’ve talked on a walkie-talkie, right? There’s radio silence until somebody pushes a button. Then, sometimes there’s static or a click that serves as a warning for you to get ready to listen … or sometimes the talking just starts, maybe even with the first or last part cut off, so you have to guess what the person on the other side just said. If you happen to key your mike at the same time the other person does, nobody gets to hear anybody. It’s not an efficient communication system. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Friends, I'd like to share with you the Ultimate Answer to Riding, the Universe, and Everything, and no, it isn’t 42 -- although it felt like it took that many years for me to figure it out.  Until I learned the trick, though, I struggled and struggled and struggled to improve my riding ... especially in dressage. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

How many times have you wished that you could read your horse’s mind or longed for a magic spell to make your horse talk, even for just a minute?  I don’t know about you, but if I had a penny for every time I’ve made that wish, I’d be a millionaire.  Being able to know what a horse is thinking or feeling at a given time would be like the magic key to the equestrian universe, but sadly, no such spell exists.  There is something that’s close, however:  tiny changes in your horse’s behavior, tiny signals that, when you listen, can be the magic key we all wish for. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)