(“Cacophony. Disarray. Disorder.”)

When I teach the Unwashed, a favorite analogy I fall back on is the vending machine.

 [If you aren’t familiar with it, go to this page and click the link you find there: https://woodsdressage.com/unscrambled.html]

The vending machine idea encourages passive riders to be less so. For those daring to “say something,” it provides a structure in which their nascent conversation can take place. In brief, the analogy makes two points: One, that a horse when put on the aids is constantly ready to offer any movement you ask for. Second, that you’re responsible for the continual interactive “testing” that ensures the first is true. I particularly like this image because it helps you establish themes in your work. It’s not enough to randomly “converse” with your horse. You have to have something worth talking about!

I hate to encounter what this second photo shows. Busted communication. Cacophony. Disarray. Disorder. In some such non-relationships, a horse can’t even manage a feeble “Make another selection.” Don’t expect to find any vending there!

Now here’s the rub. On one hand, you can’t let yourself get completely bogged down by theory. There must be some plasticity in the “rules” by which we ride—guidelines whose application are situationally defined. But as a rider, you’re much better off beginning with a solid structure on which to hang your “conversation” (the first photo). Once you have established that, you can freelance off it for a few moments while never losing your place or being unable to get back to the thick of your principles.

You might ask yourself: Is this an attitude you can cultivate as you develop your Dressage Mindset, or are people just born that way? Nature or nurture? Check out this guy. I’ll leave that judgment up to you . . .