Sdp Dressage

In the list of things that cannot be bought, I do not think a person can have proper and thorough feel without numbers 1-6

Horse world things that CAN be bought---
1. Fancy horses
2. Fancy farms
3. Good saddles and equipment
4. Fancy horse clothing
5. More lessons
6. Ability to travel to ride in temperate climates year round
7. Trucks and trailers

Some of the things that CAN’T be bought
1.Courage
2. Strength
3. Agility
4. A good seat
5. Intelligence
6. A calm and kind nature
7.Feel
8. Perseverance
9. Drive
10. Athleticism
11. Horsemanship.

So which list is more important?

You must be strong enough to keep from compromising the athleticism of your horse, in the very least

Physical Fitness

My guess is that if a comprehensive survey could be made of the average sports team, irrespective of which sport, at the high school and college levels, one common denominator would be an emphasis by the coach on physical fitness, strength, endurance, general “toughness.”

So here’s a question to consider---“Is physical fitness high on the list of the average horseback rider?”

And if not, why not? Wouldn’t a fit rider have a far easier time than someone who lacks strength and agility? And yet we see so many riders who the average coach of any average sports team would tell us need to get on a fitness program.

This is the ONE THING that anyone who rides has a degree of control over. And it comes right down to another question----“Are riders athletes?”

Each rider has that to decide.

(Barring, of course, illness and injury.)

On the daily 🙄

So simple yet so complicated 🫠