30 Day Blogging Challenge Day 17-My Favorite Discipline and Why
Well here we are at day number 17 in my 30-day blogging challenge! This is 17 days down, 13 more to go! We are over the halfway point on this challenge! Oh my goodness! By the time I am done with this challenge, you will all know so much more about me and my horses as well as my strengths, and my weaknesses. I wanted to offer a little more to you about myself, and thanks to me reading the incredible blog She Moved To Texas, I found her 30-day blogging challenge and decided to emulate what she had done. Today’s post is all about dressage and why it is my favorite discipline.
Why is dressage my favorite discipline? I think because it sets the principle foundation for which all other riding styles build upon. Does that make any sense? It does to me!
My Favorite Riding Discipline and Why
Right now, I would have to say my favorite discipline is Dressage. I am just getting started with dressage, but it is my favorite because if the ‘discipline’ of the discipline, if that makes any sense. It seems to me that dressage is focusing on the groundwork and flat work. And by having a very good foundation, no matter what discipline you choose to pursue, if you have a solid foundation the rest will be simplified.
I want to have a very solid foundation with my horses. Both on the ground and in the saddle. I think that by stepping back to the basics will make me a better rider.
I have the ground work down. Whenever it has been a while since I have ridden, I always focus on my groundwork. This could partially be due to I don’t want to fall off. If you have a quiet horse on the ground before you jump up on his back, your chances of falling off are reduced. Maybe it is because I am an orthopedic nurse, and I have seen some bad accidents from people falling from their horses, or it could because I don’t like the idea of pain, but I do not want to fall off my horse.
Being a Better Rider
I also want to make more videos of my riding. But I don’t want my legs flailing all over the place when I am jumping. And I want to have a secure seat, so I can use my aids appropriately so I don’t confuse my horse. I feel that by having a good foundation for flat work will help me to achieve this. And dressage is all about communication between horse and rider.
And honestly to see a horse and rider duo competing through challenging moments effortlessly is truly a beautiful thing.
And I really want to take my horses to a show. I want to be tested, and have someone else see what I can do. If I have done a good job, we will place in the class. If I have not done a good job, well, we all know what that means, no placing.
Dressage is so beautiful and fluid, which is why this is my favorite discipline. I also know this is something I can achieve, in time. We will see how it goes this summer, with my goal of going to a horse show. I am fortunate that I have a barn close by that has dressage schooling shows. And taking my horses to a show is something I really want to achieve this summer.
Hopefully I will have a few videos for you to review, and see if I achieved my goal, and how we did. Time will tell, so stay tuned and subscribe to my blog as well as my YouTube channel to see if I have been able to do what I hope I can do!
