The first clinic of the year blows in like the rest of spring: a sudden burst of energy and excitement and new growth. We have been working through the winter months on what we learned back at the end of fall, chipping away at old issues while discovering new ones in the process, and by the time the first clinic rolls around, we are all chomping at the bit (pun intended) to get to work alongside Joel and all the rest of our friends.
This was my second clinic riding Tiva, a fact that never quite loses its wonder. Without this horsemanship, without these clinics, Tiva (and myself) would be entirely different creatures. I all but guarantee neither of us would be in a saddle, no less together.
Tiva is at once very forgiving while simultaneously communicating very clearly that she does not appreciate mixed messages. She is the same way in groundwork, of course, for as Joel says, riding is just leading them from the saddle. She tolerates my own inexperience, but I know from the many many hours we have spent on the ground that as my signals become less muddled, the more content she will be.
Overall, the clinic was a tremendous learning experience for us both, as they always are. Much to soak in and work on, but the main lightbulb moment for me was gaining a bit more understanding on the “how” of keeping Tiva in my rectangle. The Tom Dorrance quote: “First you go with the horse. Then the horse goes with you. Then you go together.” Rings true here. For a long while, I was going with Tiva – for better or worse. This clinic, I worked on getting Tiva to go with me. And for the most part, go with me she did. Between this clinic and our last, she did a much better job of staying on the line I set for her, and while steering still feels a bit like driving on ice, it’s more that the road has patches of ice now versus being entirely covered.
Tiva does great in a group environment with lots of different energies – horse and human – whizzing around. There was a moment when she was on the rail and another horse came up beside her that she became a little tight, but she recovered quickly, and did not feed off the uptick in energy (mine or otherwise) for long. One of the things I admire most about Tiva is how little other horses affect her. She has never been a horse who is herd bound, and while she enjoys being around the other horses, the pull towards them is minor.
Working with Tiva continues to be an experience that is in equal parts rewarding and challenging. I am so thankful that we have been given the opportunity to grow together, and that we have Joel to help foster a more clear line of communication between us.
