Dare to Daydream?

I got to watch an old friends son have a lesson, I use the word “got” very deliberately. It was a privilege, even though I spend my life watching horses and being around them. The queries that arose about his riding potential were so much different from the ones I have to usually answer. Most riding discussion is theorizing and often defensive. This conversation was more of a “what if” rather than an “if only”. 

He admitted he had been caught off guard jumping because he had been daydreaming. His mum asked if that had ever happened me. I have to admit probably not often enough but it happens and when it does it’s precious. The outer world melts away, still often a trainers voice but more as background support than a main character narrative. The inner voices quieten and the dreaming starts. Not floaty away dreams or aspirations, those happen afterwards in examination of the progress. The dreaming I’m talking about is the final let go of resistance and absorbing of the feeling. More and more I get caught out just enjoying that feeling and not being prepared for the next moment. I have to be honest, I prefer to make mistakes because I’m in the moment, mesmerized by that awareness rather than mistakes because I’m fixed into correctness or formality. 

My old trainer said “Don’t get stuck in beauty” not in an effort to have me ride more casually or carefree but to remember to be mobile, adaptable and fluid about what I wanted my horse to learn while learning. My phrase to clients is learn to ride badly, well! Meaning owning the mistakes and the weaknesses and being honest enough to understand what it might be teaching your horse. I don’t have the will to only ever ride well, it’s too unattainable and often too damning. I can however promise to ride badly, well. Aware what the consequences are for my horse and staying ahead of them where needs be. Fine tuning the progress to the feeling not just the theory.

Todays reminder was to ride dreamily. Let the outside voices as well as the multitude of personalities in my mind quieten long enough to feel. Maybe one day I can do that and still be ready for the next movement but for now I’ll content myself with the moment, sometimes lost and then found again.