Friday, January 04, 2013

new math on november hill

What do you get when you add 1 brilliant Hanoverian in the arena, an unknown creature crashing about in the woods behind the back field, and a woman sitting calm and centered on the Hanoverian's back?

Beautiful, beautiful passage.

And a reminder that you don't need to learn how to sit a powerful stride if the horse is bringing his back up underneath you. Just put your body in the classically correct position, relax, and enjoy.

Thank you, Keil Bay, for your elegant, athletic, powerful, brilliant self!

8 comments:

Grey Horse Matters said...

Sounds like a good plan. Glad it all worked out so well for you and the big bay!

billie said...

The absolute beauty of it was there WAS NO PLAN. LOL!

We are having fun together in 2013. That's really my only plan. :)

Calm, Forward, Straight said...

We're joining the 2013 fun plan parade too - Spanish Walking perhaps?!

billie said...

"come on aboard, I promise you, we won't hurt the horse/ we'll treat him well, we'll feed him well/ there's always room for you/ on the band wagon..."

:)

This evening Keil and I did some groundwork in the arena as the sun set. It was the most beautiful sunset of the year thus far, and went 360 degrees around us. Every direction we turned was color. It was so incredible I ended up not going to a gallery opening I was slated to go to - how could anything top that?

Máire said...

That sounds like a peak experience - along with your sunset. I have sat passage with Ben out hacking - once on top of a hill in the wind with horses nearby. Ok, his passage would be rather different to Keil Bay's - much easier to sit I am sure - but I can see how dressage riders could get hooked.

billie said...

Maire, it was absolutely effortless, which I think true dressage is if you're riding a horse who is free to move from poll to hock and you're not blocking the movement with tension in the body. We have made it harder than it is, I think in the world at large.

It felt like each of his hooves had little springs in them - but not bouncy at all. Like pure power being controlled - by HIM not by me. It was pretty incredible. Not the first time he's done this with me, but this was the most sustained time so far.

I can so see Ben doing this on top of a hill in the wind - what a sight and ride that must have been!!

Matthew C. said...

A lovely description of a Kairos moment!

billie said...

M, you are right - perfect kairos. :)