I have been waiting and listening for tidbits from Ellen to see what she got out of the EAP; Emerging Athletes Program by the USHJA, for those who don't know what EAP is.
Today I got a huge piece. "I almost wish I took care of my own horse." Unfortunately, for us that isn't an option. Ellen does her own grooming and after lesson care but the nitty gritty stuff- stall cleaning and feeding- is left up to the grooms/stable workers. At 16 I think she has matured and realizes that there are certain responsibilities that come with riding but didn't understand the benefits of really caring for a horse.
Her comment, after only four days of being 100% responsible for all care necessary, up at 4:30 a.m. to feed and leaving the barn at 7.30 p.m. after feeding and barn duties she said she feels closer to this horse, Benjamin, than she has any other horse. This is a horse she had never even seen or heard of until the day before EAP began. And Benjamin isn't a perfect horse. He has his issues as they all do. She discovered during EAP exactly what those were and was patient trying to work through them. She didn't have the stellar ending that she had hoped for and that just gave her the motivation to keep him and become the best team they can be.
Ellen understands now that when you are there with the horses, in their stalls and riding and grooming, you reach a level of knowing and understanding like none other. And how much more in tune with them you are, which makes it easier to see when they are having a good day or are maybe not having a good day. Oh, that leg looks puffy. Or he's looking a little tired maybe I won't work him as hard today, just take him on the trail for something different. Bonding, as she put it. The horse and rider need that bond of trust and love to become the best they can be.
That HUGE nugget ( is that an oxymoron?) is worth more than any lesson she has learned EVER in her riding career.
More will be revealed as she processes everything they had crammed down their throats in four amazing days. Thank you to Anne, Anne and Kathy for the EAP.
Today I got a huge piece. "I almost wish I took care of my own horse." Unfortunately, for us that isn't an option. Ellen does her own grooming and after lesson care but the nitty gritty stuff- stall cleaning and feeding- is left up to the grooms/stable workers. At 16 I think she has matured and realizes that there are certain responsibilities that come with riding but didn't understand the benefits of really caring for a horse.
Her comment, after only four days of being 100% responsible for all care necessary, up at 4:30 a.m. to feed and leaving the barn at 7.30 p.m. after feeding and barn duties she said she feels closer to this horse, Benjamin, than she has any other horse. This is a horse she had never even seen or heard of until the day before EAP began. And Benjamin isn't a perfect horse. He has his issues as they all do. She discovered during EAP exactly what those were and was patient trying to work through them. She didn't have the stellar ending that she had hoped for and that just gave her the motivation to keep him and become the best team they can be.
Ellen understands now that when you are there with the horses, in their stalls and riding and grooming, you reach a level of knowing and understanding like none other. And how much more in tune with them you are, which makes it easier to see when they are having a good day or are maybe not having a good day. Oh, that leg looks puffy. Or he's looking a little tired maybe I won't work him as hard today, just take him on the trail for something different. Bonding, as she put it. The horse and rider need that bond of trust and love to become the best they can be.
That HUGE nugget ( is that an oxymoron?) is worth more than any lesson she has learned EVER in her riding career.
More will be revealed as she processes everything they had crammed down their throats in four amazing days. Thank you to Anne, Anne and Kathy for the EAP.
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