Behind the Bit

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Riding lessons: A confession Posted: 14 Dec 2009 01:51 PM PST I had my lesson, and it went well. Harv has "still got it," I learned some new exercises, and I left the ring feeling invigorated. Actually tickled pink. Never one to take a good feeling and run with it, I pondered why I was so jazzed. It was a good lesson, but I didn't exactly piaffe around the indoor, and the instructor found some substantive problems to work on. It just got me to thinking. What did I get out of this session that put me on a natural, full-blown John Denver high? Bear with me while I hyper-analyze... Obviously the point of a lesson is to learn and improve, and yes, I want to learn and improve. But that doesn't account for the "happy drug" effect. When I really think about it, when I'm uncomfortably honest with myself, learning isn't the only motivation. There are others... The other motives There are other motivations behind lesson-ing, and well, they're all kind of embarrassing. There are the three that I isolated in my hyperanalytical mode... I'm looking for praise. There. I said it. In my defense, I'll say that my riding does not compel instructors to gush with praise, and I don't hold it against them. "Not too-too bad" was the phrase of praise used by one long-time instructor. Any little tidbit is accepted gratefully. I'm looking for undivided attention. Again in my defense, I think this motivates a lot more adult behavior than most people realize--hence the concept of the inner child. Some people have a life coach; I have a dressage coach. But I'm saving the worst for last. It applies mostly to new instructors or clinicians. Maybe my new coach will recognize my riding genius! Okay, I'm being facetious. But still, hope springs eternal, and there's always a tiny kernel of hope that a new instructor will see potential in my riding that others have missed. And they'll have the key to unlock my inner Anky (or Guenter, or Isabel). Personally, I'm hoping for Guenter. That guy's heels are always down. A riding lesson always carries the hope that there will be a breakthrough moment that changes your whole approach to riding. It's never happened, at least not in the transformational way I'm looking for. But maybe next time...

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