Long Distance Dreams  I have ridden in many dressage tests and jumped over hundreds of coloured poles throughout the years, but it wasn't until Mr Apollo, my beloved Arabian x reached the grand old age of 23 this june, that I really decided what I wanted to spend the rest of his life doing. I have always held the arabian horse in the centre of my heart for as long as I can remember. Throughout my healing career and my teenage competition days, give me an arab over a warmblood any day. They have the scope of a big horse, the heart of no horse I've ever known and the presence of royalty. All in all, in my humble opinion they are gods gift to humans and are held in my highest regard. As many people will be aware, the arabian horse is bred and suited to long distance riding. With stamina, length of stride and speed they are very well equipped for this job. So one day whilst hacking out trying to plod along while my 23, going on 3 year old Mr Apollo was fighting his way through my concrete hands to kick up a gear, I had a moment of clarity. Why were we fighting each other? More to the point, why was I fighting him? I had joined the Parelli Natural Horsemanship program many years ago, but due to peer pressure and generally my ego, I hadn't played a lot with Apollo other than the level 1 stuff. He would become increasingly frustrated with our so called pottering about and so this would lead me to picking up my carrot stick and playing with him until his behaviour settled into some sort of pattern, before embarking on more months of false harmony once more. Anyway whilst one thousand thoughts passed through my mind on this supposed quiet hack, I realised something. Throughout our whole partnership I had allowed people's opinions to matter and we had stopped having fun. I had spent so long trying to prove that my little arab could do just what the other sports horses could do that I had forgotten one fundamental thing...to ask Apollo what he wanted! It had become so clear to me in one moment. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. All Apollo wanted to do was to just be a horse! Each time I reverted back to the Parelli program and stopped schooling we began to have fun. Then the hacking (which I enjoyed so much) became so much calmer and pleasurable. So I have pledged to my Mr Apollo - my should mate, that for the remainder of our time together for however long that may be, we will have fun and throw out the rule book on tradition and go natural instead! I have since rejoined the Parelli program and have booked up our first 5 mile pleasure ride on the 28th August. I will keep regular updates on our progress and hopefully my blogs will help to inspire people into listening to their horse and to follow their hearts. I am really looking forward to meeting new people and enjoying the countryside and the company of Mr Apollo. I know one thing for sure, and that is my horse will be enjoying himself too! Until next time Best wishes Claire and Mr Apollo xx |
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