The Art of Natural Dressage

Don't know why I landed here tonight, other than synchronicity...

Was just about to go offline, realizing that I'd once again left the AND window open (which is why it looks like I do nothing other than hang around the forum -- I do actually, occasionally do other things! -- such is the downside of a combination of wireless internet access and laziness...)



Anyway, earlier today I was talking about the first real "ride" I had on Circe yesterday, and a thought I'd had about sending energy forward/visualizing to invite her to move forward (trying to explore from the git go other tools than using leg to push her forward).

I was just about to close the site and hit this thread instead. I'd started watching her videos a while ago but got distracted -- and tonight just saw her "stop/go" training with arm movements. SO cool! Caught my attention particularly because I've been discovering that stroking Circe's neck opens her energy to the front when I'm on her -- her arms lifted forward cue seems like such a logical next step.

And then I realized that she's doing a clinic just down the road from me in August -- whoopie!

Gonna go, gonna go, gonna go...can't wait!



Leigh

Hi Leigh,

here is a clinic report by Faith: Cynthia Royal clinic. I am very curious what you will report after having attended her clinic.

Warm Regards,
Romy

Oh, I want to hear too!! Will you be taking Circe with you? You should!

I think it would be very interesting to take a clinic with her. She is very passionate about what she does. I hope you have a wonderful time!

Hey there:

Thanks, Romy, for the link to Faith's report (I saw the mention to it but hadn't tracked it down) -- very interesting to read, and reinforces several of the things that I had noticed in her videos. (Both things I thought were splendid and questions that arose for me about how much pressure was involved in what she was doing.)

I quivered about taking Circe but I don't think I'm going to -- I don't have a trailer, so would have to enlist help (which isn't a huge deal but definitely another layer) -- and more importantly, I'm rather zealously guarding how I'm communicating with her right at the moment for a variety of reasons -- I think my instinct is to go watch and learn and then translate for us what feels appropriate. I like auditing -- it allows me to concentrate differently without risk that either me or my horse will be pushed into something that we don't want. (Have seen that happen a lot at clinics and am very wary about it.)

I'll definitely report back! I'm excited about having a chance to watch someone who's playing in this way live -- not a typical chance for me. And I'm intrigued to see how she's walking the relationship/showman edge.

And I'm going to audit another Paul Belasik clinic later on this summer (hope it's not the same weekend) -- he comes a couple of times a year to Ojai, where I live, and I've sat in on several. Always learn something!


Leigh