Summer is my favorite time of year. Life always seems to slow down a little. I love feeling the hot Texas sun on my back, and jumping into some kind of water - whether it is the ocean or a lake, or a pool - to cool off after a hot day outside. Pool parties …
Tag: horse and rider
Back Again
I have been a little absent from the blogging world the past couple of months, but now that life seems to be slowing down a bit I plan to get back to it! What has been going on? Of course work has been crazy, as well as farm planning. Also, Texas keeps trying to float …
When It Rains
When the weather will not cooperate with riding plans, it is beyond frustrating. Texas is having its own monsoon season. So. Much. Rain. Yesterday, it cleared off in the afternoon so after a busy workday I was more than ready for a ride in the evening. I headed out to the barn, tacked Chance up, was …
Working Without Stirrups
Perfect practice makes perfect. - George Morris Working without stirrups is so incredibly beneficial for our riding. It may not be fun, but it strengthens our legs, stabilizes our position, and allows us to really feel the horse. I once had a trainer who made me flat without stirrups every time I rode for a …
Horse Show Rituals
We all have our own little routines that we complete before heading off to a horse show. We likely also all have little superstitions, or "good luck" things we do too! The first thing I do when getting ready for a show is groom my horse. Touch up clipping, bathing, mane trimming are all …
Moving Forward
I have not posted about the horse show I went to last weekend because, honestly, I have been trying to erase it from my mind. I do not want the fact that we completely bombed our jumping classes derail me in the show this weekend. I sometimes have the tendency to carry past experiences into …
Change is Subtle
The other day during my yoga practice, I realized that one of the standing asanas has become easier for me; I can lift my leg a little higher and hold it up a little longer. It was not a major change - I could not suddenly put my leg behind my head or hold a handstand for …
Update
Some of you have asked how Chance is doing since I posted a bit about his body soreness a while ago. He is doing great and fully back to work! It turned out that neither of my saddles fit him quite right. He never acted like his back was sore and it seemed to fit him …
Spring is in The Air
Some old fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. - Laura Ingalls Wilder Spring finally arrived in Texas! It has been warm, humid, and sunny! After all the rain, the grass is so incredibly green. Wildflowers are popping up, birds are chirping, the earth is coming back to life. That is …
Imperfect
I have never been the perfect rider. I have never had perfect equitation. I did not have a natural eye for distances. And I have had to work very hard for my nerve. I have never had perfect horses; they have all had strange little quirks. However, their quirks made them interesting; just the same, …
Laurel Ashton Equestrian 