home

Home > Dispatches > Daily Dispatches 2018 >Daily Dispatch #340

December 6, 2018: What Next?

It’s been almost a week since we had a “massive” earthquake. It doesn’t seem that long at all. Since, there have been over 2,000 aftershocks. There were two late this morning, a 4.3 and a 4.1. Pete’s been happily keeping track of all this. I’ve been putting it out of mind because my more introspective character lends itself to post traumatic stress disorder. Undoubtedly, there will be more earthquakes here. I just hope that when this does happen that I’ll be outside, standing on firm ground.

Thinking about earthquakes takes time from thinking about other things. That is another reason for eschewing the subject. It was actually an ideas day today – a

 Pictures askew but still hanging
Pictures askew but still hanging

good thing, I think. I feel bad for those who for one reason or another have to deal with inconsequential things because then they can’t then deal with consequential things. So for them, no ideas days.

I spent considerable time this morning, doing body awareness work. I’ve now got charts and I have my lessons on tape. I was able to come up with a lesson for myself on lengthening the spine. And I felt pretty good two hours later.

I then went outside and first got Tinni out. I did body awareness work on him and then we went for an outing. We first walked around the loop and then I rode him on the trail. We concluded with a walk. I did the same with Hrimmi, adding carrot stretches off the mat (I was too lazy to bring it down from the Playground) and python lifts on her rear legs.

Both horses were chipper and nicely forward. There was not a single moment of disconnect. The only disconnect all day was in the morning when I went to let the horses out. Raudi tried to barge past me, but because I pushed the gate inward, she was not able to forge past me. She was pissed and tried even harder to get her way. Now that I think of it, I’m not even sure this was disconnect. Rather, it was me saying that it’s either my way or the highway.

I would have gotten the other two out but it’s now getting dark out very early.

I still have not forgotten my video series idea. My idea today was that I write a book entitled Riding without Teachers. The title idea comes from Peter Elbow’s Writing Without Teachers. Elbow’s book caused quite a stir when it came out because he upset the academic status quo. He then knew, as I do now, that there had to be an alternative for those who want to write but don’t have access to traditional training. I’m actually a good case in point. I don’t have access to instructors here, so I am figuring out things as I’m going along. I should get some of the things I’ve been doing, in leu of teachers, on paper.

Another idea, article idea for the Icelandic Horse Quarterly: Write about the use of imagery in Centered Riding. The science of it, why it’s a valid way of teaching students to be better riders. I think that I can do this. All day I’ve been running ideas through my head; though admittedly, they are right now very piecemeal. So perhaps I should wait a few days before taking on what will be a very challenging writing project.

If it was light out now, I would not be having these ideas.

Next: 341. December 7, 2018: A Conversation with Ryder

Horse Care Home About Us Dispatches Trips Alys's Articles