I've agreed to purchase a mini stallion. He is a leopard spotted cutie, Spotted Eagle, "Spot" for short. Too funny! He is like a big dog in some ways. I will purchase him on Tuesday, but the current owners will continue to board him for 2 months and begin teaching him to pull a cart. (You know, I'll be the favorite aunt now!)

In the meantime, I have to get a stable and fencing on my property, decide where everything is to go (including manure), get a couple of goats to keep Spot company (Nigerian dwarf goats---they're like dogs too!), and probably a couple of barn cats (hope they don't go galavanting around the yard with the resident feral cats and pick up some dreadful disease).

Then I begin to think, I might as well bring the 2 big horses home sooner rather than later, since I find it difficult to work barn trips into my daily schedule. I feel the horses need more turnout, and I'd rather be putting the monthly boarding fees towards loan payments for my own barn and fencing.

So all of a sudden, things are starting to move towards my goal fast. I was supposed to win the lottery first!

How does this apply to my riding? When I am afraid Mirakel is going too fast and I might get hurt, I involuntarily tense my muscles, hunch my shoulders and curl forward. I'm sure I get heavy in the hands too. So I'm giving Mirakel mixed signals to slow down, and go faster, at the same time. No wonder she took to stopping abruptly, causing me to flail forward onto her neck--whomp. At least SHE knew what she was doing in the moment. Suffice it to say, there was a lesson when I couldn't get her to trot more than two or three steps and she would halt in order to give ME a chance to collect myself. Hahaha! :)

I want this transition to trotting towards my goal to be smooth and as effortless as possible. I will manage that by settling into my center and grounding my seat (or feet, as the case may be)....relaxing my abdomen and my thighs and breathing deeply into my belly. The rest of my body will follow the breath into relaxation. I will remain aware of the present moment, discerning the signs by noting my body's emotional reaction to each new event. I will enjoy the ride and see where my "horse" takes me, guides me, teaches me....just as Mirakel has guided and taught me about being a horsewoman, a leader, and one who can be trusted and trust in herself.

I'm excited!

Melinda

PS: I think I need to draw/paint this metaphorical Horse, helping me to fly without wings....