Every Sunday right around 9:38 pm I get a little excited. I start checking my email. Sometimes even my spam folder to make sure I didn't miss it. Sunday evening, somewhere around 10 pm is when I get my schedule for the week... which horses when, how many rides.
I feel like back in high school when I had an amazing German Literature and English teacher who managed to challenge and engage me fully. One day he announced that the next class was going to be cancelled and we'd have an extra free hour. The whole class cheered, except for me, I was honestly disappointed to miss a chance to feel that excitement about learning. Most people thought I was being facetious except my seat neighbor... she knew me well enough: "You're serious, aren't you!" she said in a tone that expressed both disapproval and sceptic admiration.
And yes, I also do a quick scan to see where this week's schedule leaves me income-wise. But that's not what I worry or get excited about. I get excited about opportunity: Can I pick up a training issue with a horse that I worked with on Friday? Was there time for lessons? Can I catch my trainer schooling her horse to attempt learning by osmosis?
Sure, when my phone goes off at 5:30 am, I'm hitting the snooze. When I drag myself into the shower, I'm still sleepy. If it's cold and windy out, I bundle up and would just as well lie back down in bed. But instead of just looking forward to my all organic latte, I feel a spark of excitement about sitting on my first horse. Or pony. I remind myself how freaking cool it is that I get to go ride, train every day. And it's not just some place. It's a beautiful, professional barn with a fantastic trainer and great horses. And the most cuddly barn cat ever. Once I'm in the car, the one hour drive to the barn goes by quickly as the city fades behind me and I enter golden hills under pale blue sky with patches of coastal fog hanging around here and there; and the familiar voices of NPR reporters telling me the same news I just heard on my Germany news app.
This is what I have chosen fully, with all risk (economic and otherwise), and I can't get enough of it. Andrew Murphy once said in a clinic that dressage will make you a better person. I tend to agree. You have to be fair to the horse every day, every moment. You've got to let go of stuff. You've got to be in the moment. You've got to push yourself to get better. Hard. You need to stay grounded with success and not get unseated by failure. And you get instant feedback on how well you're doing with all of the above from the horse entrusted in your training. Or from your trainer. And every ride is training. You're either improving them or teaching them something unproductive. So here's to Sundays, 9:38 pm. And Mondays. And Tuesdays....
