Shameless self promotion because I think my horse is cute. Photo by Wenzhao Zhang.
For your mid-week brain puzzle, I give you the term Karma Yoga, which is “focusing on a task with no thought as to the outcome of that task”. This is a particularly interesting concept when it comes to training horses, as many of them require this type of zen mindset in order to become successful. This is what it takes to find joy in the smallest of steps forward, and the long term rewards that we find from the most successful partnerships. Ponder the Karma Yoga in your life on your next hack!
U.S. Weekend Preview:
News From Around the Globe:
Several weeks back, a video from a Mark Todd clinic circulated around the internet – it was a clip taken during a clinic, and it caused a lot of conversation and controversy on social media. This podcast is not about that video in particular, but the video did spark some reflection and larger conversations around what we deem acceptable in horse training, what we don’t, and how those standards are set and upheld. In this episode of Equestrian Voices, host Caroline Culbertson sits down with eventer Matt Brown, show jumper Anne Kursinski, and dressage rider Jeremy Steinberg to discuss. [What Does Doing Better Mean?]
Thoroughbreds are made for Eventing. Even though they don’t show the popularity they once did in the original days of our sport, the thoroughbred horse is still fantastically competitive and present at the highest levels of the sport at a consistent rate. Holly Payne is a fantastic lover of the breed, and explains in this article why she still prefers to ride thoroughbreds over some of the biggest tracks in the world. [An Argument for the Thoroughbred]
The equestrian community mourned the loss of a legend when eventer Gemma Tattersall announced the passing of her top horse Arctic Soul, who died at the age of 19 last week. Arctic Soul — an ex-racehorse by Luso known as “Spike” at home — was one of the greatest cross-country horses of all time, and he developed a formidable partnership with Gemma, which spanned over a decade. [9 Glorious Moments from Spike’s Career]
Sharon White advocates forming an identity as a self-confident leader in the relationship with your horse. No matter if you have a timid horse or a brash one, Sharon believes taking the role of leader will help. “The key to communicating with your horse, figuring out what he needs and letting him know what you want—in other words, making yourself the leader—is always the same: education and repetition”. [Become A Self Confident Leader]
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