The Way

Can't sleep tonight even though I am exhausted.

I have been wondering the last few days what Ray Hunt really meant when he said "Think." Thinking got me somewhere to begin with, but I couldn't think my way there again.

For a while I had been stuck in a moment. It was a profound experience that I blogged about last year in "A Case of Circles". That moment in time sent me on a quest. An unquenchable thirst for answers. Science couldn't explain it, but neither could religion. In the nights of research and reading books, I found experiences that sounded familiar, or touched me in some way, but there was still a gaping hole in a dark abyss with neon letters spelling out WHY?.

An opportunity arose for me to start a filly late this summer. Strega is a petite Arabian with a great mind. To be back on an Arab experiencing funny Arab quirks is a great feeling.

The first three lessons were foundation-building consisting of groundwork, saddling, flag work, moving her out of my space, and teaching respect while building her confidence. Each of these foundation days, she taught me something while I was teaching her. She showed me when I was doing too much or not enough.

I was going to leave the first ride up to her, but when she allowed me to lead her up to the fence on which I was sitting in Lesson 4, and let me step into the stirrup and lean over her body, that day became the first ride. The next few rides were in a halter just getting her to move. Fast forward through bridling (not one of the easiest things to do with her just yet), dabbling with side passes and leg yields, walk, trot, lope, and lots of serpentines and bending to ride 10 and we ventured out on the trail today.

Riding Strega

As I continue down this path, the horses seem to be showing me the way that I didn't think I could find on my own. But the answers seem to have been here with me all along.

And the answers are within you.

There is no time like the present. And its up to you to decide what you are going to do with it.