I once had a trainer who would say, "if you know you are going to miss, make it look like you did it on purpose." I have found that advice to be very valuable throughout my riding career because, well, sometimes I just don't see anything. Or sometimes I see a long spot; or a deep spot. Not …
Tag: horses
Trust and Telepathy
I had a really cool moment while riding Chance the other day. We were cantering toward a small jump, I did not know where we were so I was prepared to sit still, hold, and add a step. Yet, Chance new exactly where we were; and more than that, I knew that he knew. I …
Seeing Beauty
This morning, I went for an early run and on my way out I saw steam rising from our pond, and our property had this lovely yet eerie morning glow. Fall mornings are always a little haunting, with fog, falling leaves, and sharp chill in the air. I ran a couple of miles through my little town. …
Still Crazy
I posted a while ago that I was having trouble coming up with things to write about because I am often more inspired by the tough times of my riding life in "A Simple Ride and Writer's Block." While Chance has still been pretty good lately, today he reminded me that he is still a little crazy. Everything …
Happy Halloween!
It is a gloomy, spooky Halloween here in Montgomery, Texas! Being under construction, there are contractors in and out of the farm every day so I go check on things and make sure everything is locked up at night. My dog, Khloe, goes with me and thinks it's the greatest thing ever. I, on the other hand, …
Wildness
Horses have been a huge part of my life since I was twelve years old. I think my love them began much sooner, however. As a girl, I was always an animal lover. Rather than watching cartoons, I watched the Discovery Channel. To this day, I know a lot of random facts about wildlife. Horses …
Riding in the Rain
With fall comes rain, at least in Texas. Actually, the past couple of days have not felt much like fall at all. This morning, it was warm and humid; and rainy. Chance was not too thrilled about working in the "inclement" conditions today. He wasn't terrible, but wasn't great either. He was a little lazy, …
Love It As An Art
"Think of riding as a science, but love it as an art." - George Morris There are many technical details to think about while on a horse, especially in the hunter ring. Creating a good ride often involves breaking down and analyzing each detail about the course and how the horse will react to it. However, …
A Simple Ride and Writer’s Block
I have had writer's block when it comes to this blog lately, and I realized that it is because my riding life has been going well. Most days are pleasant and simple. I seem to draw inspiration from the hard days, the days that are so incredibly frustrating yet so educational. I started this blog in …
Like a Pro
I have an extremely difficult horse that is oftentimes out of my league. I could sell him and get something quieter, more broke, or just easier but I seem to be ridiculously attached to him; and honestly, I think deep down I love the challenge that he is. Even though we are not cleaning up …
Laurel Ashton Equestrian 